Another?

[Love my pigs]

Hi!
I was wondering if it would be wise to buy another guinea pig. I have 5 pigs ~ winter and autumn who live together and Lola and Sue who live in a different cage from the other 2 ~ but I have one wee girl Amy Panda who is on her own. I try to get them together in the run as much as possible but should we get her someone to live with? She is about 3 months old and is the boss of the others ever though they are older So any ideas if I should cause I know they are meant to have another piggy to live with but I unsure about bonding or do u think she will be fine occasionally being with the others and getting hugs from me? Thank you x

 

[rosie and bramble]

Couldn't you bond her with one of your already existing groups ?

It would be normal for some dominance behaviour to be displayed. They of course would need to be introduced on neutral territory x

 

[Wiebke]

Here are our tips for introducing piggies, perhaps that may help you when trying to bond her with an existing pair. Acceptance has obviously happened, but you need to sit out the dominance phase, which you can't with just short meetings.

Only if a serious attempt to bond her has failed would I look out for a new companion just for her. Where are you located in Scotland? Could you get her to a rescue where she could be paired up with a suitable sow or neutered boar under expert supervision?
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/

 

[1GuineaPig1]

Try to bond her with one of your other groups. I'm not really sure how wise that would be, but you might want to be prepared. If your other piggy doesn't like the rest of your herd, chances are she may not like the new piggy. If you get another one, be prepared to rehome it or get a friend for her in case your piggy now doesn't like them.
Hope this makes sense, it's early here and I just woke up...