Advice needed

[Nicola roberts]

Hi,ihave a 2 nearly 3 year old female piggie,she is caged on her own but gets lots and lots of attention and cuddles, our home life is changing soon and both me and my partner will be out of the house nearly all day so was thinking of getting another lot younger female piggi for her so she doesnt get lonely...(i no the bondong takes time) would you recommend this ...

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes, we would all highly recommend she gets a friend. Guinea pigs are herd animals and shouldn’t be alone. Sadly human contact isn’t enough for them.
has your piggy always lived alone?

Wheh it comes to finding a friend, age is largely irrelevant. What is important is character compatibility. The best and safest way to find a new friend for her is via dating at a rescue centre. That way, she is able to choose her own new friend which will result in a good bond. Also you can be sure the piggy you are getting is properly sexed, healthy and not pregnant.
We understand not everybody has access to a rescue centre though but if you do buy a piggy from a pet shop for her, then you do need to be aware that the piggy you choose may not be the piggy she would choose and they may not be compatible. This could mean they won’t bond and then they would need to live separately in side by side cages for interaction through the bars. Hopefully all would be fine though and they will like each other, but it is something to be aware of.
if you do get a piggy from a pet shop, as they are likely to be under four months of age, then you must carry out the bonding immediately when you get home (piggies under this age require constant piggy contact). This means you do not quarantine baby piggies. You will also need to be sure of the new piggy’s sex by checking for yourself.

if you carry out a bonding yourself, then you must carry it out properly following the procedure in the guide below (neutral space bonding pen etc). A bonding is an all of nothing thing - it needs to play out over a couple of hours of being in the bonding pen, if successful, you then move them to the new cage together.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

 

[Free Ranger]

You will see a whole new side to your girl when she gets a friend... it really is the most wonderful thing in the world for them, and so important that in some countries it is actually illegal to keep a lone one. Sometimes bonding takes time but sometimes it's love at first sight and they're inseparable Good luck, you're doing a great thing.

 

[Nicola roberts]

Thank you...yes my minnie has always been alone she is a very very spoilt little madam sits in a cage and playpen besides mine and my partners sofas,she is always sqweeking when anyone knocks on door or either of us come in the room as she knows she gets a treat so definitely going to get her a little friend as dont want her to get lonely when we both start working long hours x