Bonded Guinea pigs.

[KLY]

Hi I am looking for some advice. The last time I had posted on here was back in June when we lost our dear little Flora. My remaining guinea pig Fauna coped 4 months without her cage mate but a rescue place had notified me that they had an older guinea pig to bond with Fauna. She was 3 years old and had a similar story to Fauna. I dropped Fauna off on Friday with a heavy heart to bond with this pig. Supposidly the first interaction did not go well as the other pig went for Fauna and "was nipping at her hind end", so she separated them and put dividers inbetween them. She wanted to persist with it and me being new to guinea pigs said ok. With persistance they calmed down and began to share a cage with each other. They were eating together and sleeping side by side. I picked them up today and put them in a clean cage. Fauna settled back in very well however the other pig (Cleo) was apprehensive and not wanting to eat anything. There has been no issues and I have heard no bickering.
I have just brought Fauna out for lap time and have noticed there is a chunk out her ear. I feel soo guilty and don't want to imagine my baby is being hurt. It looks like it is scabbing over but it wasn't there before she went in.
My question is sill they be ok? I'm worried to go to sleep and work tomorrow. Any advice or comforts will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi I am looking for some advice. The last time I had posted on here was back in June when we lost our dear little Flora. My remaining guinea pig Fauna coped 4 months without her cage mate but a rescue place had notified me that they had an older guinea pig to bond with Fauna. She was 3 years old and had a similar story to Fauna. I dropped Fauna off on Friday with a heavy heart to bond with this pig. Supposidly the first interaction did not go well as the other pig went for Fauna and "was nipping at her hind end", so she separated them and put dividers inbetween them. She wanted to persist with it and me being new to guinea pigs said ok. With persistance they calmed down and began to share a cage with each other. They were eating together and sleeping side by side. I picked them up today and put them in a clean cage. Fauna settled back in very well however the other pig (Cleo) was apprehensive and not wanting to eat anything. There has been no issues and I have heard no bickering.
I have just brought Fauna out for lap time and have noticed there is a chunk out her ear. I feel soo guilty and don't want to imagine my baby is being hurt. It looks like it is scabbing over but it wasn't there before she went in.
My question is sill they be ok? I'm worried to go to sleep and work tomorrow. Any advice or comforts will be greatly appreciated.

Hi! Please give the girls a go and let them settle down as long as Fauna is OK with Cleo. It sounds like the other one is on the fear-aggressive side because she is feeling very much out of her depth and then has a tendency to overreact. Give Fauna time to help settle her in; by the looks the bite has not happened since her return.
Use piggy whispering tips to make friends and avoid any behaviours that could trigger her high alert prey animal instincts.
Take any hideys with only one exit out until Cleo has settled down. She needs understanding, patience and love to bring her out, but it is worth putting the effort in. You will likely notice some dominance behaviour once Cleo is starting to find her feet. Peg a sheet or blanket over the cage for the night to give Cleo an added sense of security; she will come out and eat then.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Sow Behaviour
Bonds In Trouble

 

[KLY]

I have a wooden sticks tunnel to one side of the cage and they can squeeze through the back of these if need be. Am I better removing these just now and just have a blanket with cut ends to separate them just now? I have removed access to the ramp and second level of the cage at present to prevent cornering etc.

 

[KLY]

I should say I have 2 of those tunnels side my side.

 

[Wiebke]

I have a wooden sticks tunnel to one side of the cage and they can squeeze through the back of these if need be. Am I better removing these just now and just have a blanket with cut ends to separate them just now? I have removed access to the ramp and second level of the cage at present to prevent cornering etc.

Put the tunnels side by side, with the exits facing in the same directions and being accessible from either side, ideally rather in the middle of cage. That means no piggy can control more than one tunnel at any time. If you have more, have another one a way from the others so they can get away from each other if needs be.

This is the set-up for my rambunctious quartet. Since they have all the same and can't control more than one tunnel at a time anymore, the group has calmed right down.

By all means put the sheet up!

 

[KLY]

Put the tunnels side by side, with the exits facing in the same directions and being accessible from either side, ideally rather in the middle of cage. That means no piggy can control more than one tunnel at any time. If you have more, have another one a way from the others so they can get away from each other if needs be.

This is the set-up for my rambunctious quartet. Since they have all the same and can't control more than one tunnel at a time anymore, the group has calmed right down.

By all means put the sheet up!

Thank you very much for replying to me. I appreciate it very much! I will bring the tunnels forward a bit more so they can have easier access to escape if need be. Will persevere with it because it's nice to see Fauna with a friend again after her previous partners quick and devastating departure! Just new to the whole bonding experience so just want to make it easier for them.... and for me!

 

[Merab]

Hope the girls do settle.
I’m sure bonding is more stressful for us than the piggies

 

[JEFF&JOJO]

Good luck, I am bonding two piggies at the minute and completely understand your worries. I couldn’t sleep last night either and ended up on the sofa next to the cage. All went well though and I was worried all day in work, but again no issues. Still can’t help feeling stressed. Just know you are not alone, it’s so hard x