Boarding, fighting, separating

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Zombiepanda

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Hello to everyone! I got a new Guinea Pig about two months ago, shes still young and wild. The others are 1-3 yrs old. At home in their very large cage they’ve all gotten along fine. No fighting or problems at all.
I’m out of town and boarded them for a couple days so their temporary/travel cage is a bit smaller.
Day 2 of boarding the adults started ‘picking’ on the little one. They called and said they were nipping at her and cornered her. She got separated out because they were worried about her. They tried over the day to put her back in once and put another in with her for company and she got bullied each time.
My question is that I won’t get back until Monday night and they’re firm in keeping her separated while in their care, which I agree with. I thought it maybe the stress of a smaller cage and a new place causing a problem that wasn’t there previously. What should I do? I can’t do anything while out of town. Will I be able to reintroduce her? Did this break any bonding permanently?
Thanks for any advice
 
I’m sorry to hear this. Are the boarders experienced in guinea pig bonding and behaviours?
How many piggies do you have?
How long have the piggies been together?

You might do best to wait in any case until you get home so you can see things for yourself.
Nipping is a gesture of power but does not break the skin. This is dominance.
If they are biting and causing breaks to the skin and actual fighting, then that is very different and means they dont want to be together.

When you get them back, put them in a neutral territory bonding pen. Put them into the pen together (no hides, just a pile of hay) and see how things go. This will give the piggies the chance to make the decision on whether they still want to be together or whether something has gone wrong

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Bonds In Trouble
 
A neutered boar (3) and two females(2-2.5) that have been together for 1.5-2yrs. And then the little one is a few months old and been with us for 2-3 months, she makes four.

Yeah I’d like to be the one to reintroduce, ideally. When I first introduced her I kept switching their blankets to get their smell on her and introduce them to hers. Should I try this again? Keep the cages close? For how long before moving to a neutral zone?

The little one is so hyper and shes Literally just a bundle of zoomies and popcorns. Is it possibly she just irritated them during a stressful moment? I’m hoping this is just a stress thing and not permanent :(
 
I would just put them straight into neutral territory and try to reintroduce when you get home.
If the little one is under four months of age then she is too young to be by herself so you would want to try to get her back in with other piggies straight away (this is why you can’t quarantine young piggies under four months and must immediately bond on the same day you bring them home)

Leave them in neutral territory for a few hours to sort themselves out and then if all goes well you can move them back into their cage. The guides I linked in explain the process
 
Also just to add, up until that moment, they’d gotten along perfectly and there hasn’t been any issues. Smooth sailing from day one
 
Thank you! I think she’s 6mths, but also not 100% positive on that either. I’ll ere on the side of caution just in case
 
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