Baby & Adult Bonding

[okjazz]

Hi guys!
I had rescued a very timid female piggy and a female rabbit about 6 months ago (they were found in a box in the bush) and I very sadly just lost my rabbit. I immediately thought the piggy would need a friend as these two were always together. Bought a baby female piggy three days ago and have been going through the bonding process. The big piggy bibs the little one sometimes, pretty normal dominance stuff but now that i’ve moves them into their two story home, I never see them near each other.

Big one stays up stairs most of the time and the little one just stays in her hideys. Do I need to get the baby a friend of her same age group? or is this normal? very confused on what to do. Please help!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys!
I had rescued a very timid female piggy and a female rabbit about 6 months ago (they were found in a box in the bush) and I very sadly just lost my rabbit. I immediately thought the piggy would need a friend as these two were always together. Bought a baby female piggy three days ago and have been going through the bonding process. The big piggy bibs the little one sometimes, pretty normal dominance stuff but now that i’ve moves them into their two story home, I never see them near each other.

Big one stays up stairs most of the time and the little one just stays in her hideys. Do I need to get the baby a friend of her same age group? or is this normal? very confused on what to do. Please help!

Hi and welcome

It can unfortunately be that your original piggy has partially lost the ability to interact with guinea pigs and perfers doing her own stuff.
Perhaps you might want to get your baby a same sex companion in this instance when you have a natural outsider. Your first piggy will still have the company and interaction to get gradually used to a social piggy life (which can be a lengthy process as I know from previous singles I have adopted), but your baby needs that companionship now. If she has accepted one baby, she sould be OK with another one.

Please sex any piggies upon arrival and waive the quarantine with sub-teenagers; their need for company is overwhelming.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[okjazz]

thank you for replying!