Bonding A Trio?

[charley.b]

dose anyone one have any tips for bonding a single guineapig whith a pair of guineapigs ?

 

[MrArthurMrDogal]

I recently done this so after a few days of keeping them in the same room so they could get accustomed to the fact there was another piggy, I didn’t feed them their breakfast and held off until mid morning then put a scatter tray in the centre of a ballpit with tunnels and hideys and got three of us to hold one piggy each then lower them in.

Hubby watched from arms length and I cleaned out the main cage and put everything fresh in. There was loads of barbering, bonking and chasing but they soon settled, I then reduced the size by just filling the ballpit with things they couldn’t move so they had to get closer and they all huddled together.

Then again we all lifted one and put hem in the cage together and monitored.

Make sure you have enough space for 3.
3 bowls
Hay racks.
Plenty of hides you can remove at a later date.

Do not separate them after this, if you take one anywhere take all 3.

 

[Merab]

I bonded an older sow who had lost her cagemate with 2 baby sisters. They were already bonded do I knew they would be fine if Merab didn’t take to them.
Babies had their own cage for a week to settle down - in the same room as Merab so they could hear and smell each other.
Then I let them out to meet each other.
There was a lot of posturing and some lunging as well as a lot of noise but by the end of the afternoon they were happy together and had made their own decision to move in together.
We still have an occasional dominance issue but never anything serious.
That was nearly 3 years ago.
This was my pre forum days and I followed the best advice I had found

 

[Wiebke]

dose anyone one have any tips for bonding a single guineapig whith a pair of guineapigs ?

In my own experience it can work, but may not necessarily as a happily bonded couple is not always willing to accept a new member. It is one of the trickier bondings, not least because trios are the constellation most prone to outsider problems of some sort. While I have and have had some great trios, the majority of them has failed either during bonding or in the longer term.

If you are thinking about adding a third a boar, then the answer is a clear 'no'!

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

 

[charley.b]

In my own experience it can work, but may not necessarily as a happily bonded couple is not always willing to accept a new member. It is one of the trickier bondings, not least because trios are the constellation most prone to outsider problems of some sort. While I have and have had some great trios, the majority of them has failed either during bonding or in the longer term.

If you are thinking about adding a third a boar, then the answer is a clear 'no'!

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

will my single guineapig get depressed whithout a freind ??

 

[Wiebke]

will my single guineapig get depressed whithout a freind ?

You can try an intro but be aware that if you have three boars, introducing a third can destabilise the original pair. Adult older boar trios can work out, provided that the boars can choose each other and are no longer fully hormone driven. Have them live alongside first and see how it goes. Don't expect them to.

Have a plan B in the form of your bereaved piggy being a live-alongside neighbour with 24 hour interaction and stimulation through the bars with your pair. That should prevent depression. I assume that they are all the same gender?

Alternatively, if you can get to a good rescue, you may enquire about a new mate for the remaining lifetime of your bereaved piggy if you do not want to continue with guinea pigs; ask whether the rescue is OK with this. Some rescues are helpful with finding a solution for an 'end of the line' piggy.
Rescue links for several countries are at the bottom of this guide here: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[charley.b]

You can try an intro but be aware that if you have three boars, introducing a third can destabilise the original pair. Adult older boar trios can work out, provided that the boars can choose each other and are no longer fully hormone driven. Have them live alongside first and see how it goes. Don't expect them to.

Have a plan B in the form of your bereaved piggy being a live-alongside neighbour with 24 hour interaction and stimulation through the bars with your pair. That should prevent depression. I assume that they are all the same gender?

Alternatively, if you can get to a good rescue, you may enquire about a new mate for the remaining lifetime of your bereaved piggy if you do not want to continue with guinea pigs; ask whether the rescue is OK with this. Some rescues are helpful with finding a solution for an 'end of the line' piggy.
Rescue links for several countries are at the bottom of this guide here: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

ok thankyou for your help i have three sows ill give bonding a go if it dosn't work then ill look at some local rescues.

 

[Wiebke]

ok thankyou for your help i have three sows ill give bonding a go if it dosn't work then ill look at some local rescues.

You have more of a chance with sows; it all depends on how dominant the bereaved sow is and whether the dominance issue can be resolved.
This guide has one chapter that looks at the dynamics of a bonding between two fairly evenly matched adult sows. You may find the whole bonding guide very helpful as it talks you through the whole bonding process and what dynamics to look out for at every stage. Again, living alongside first can help with depression and to relax.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

With bereaved and single sows you can look at both sows or neutered boars of any age as companions; as long as they click.

 

[charley.b]

You have more of a chance with sows; it all depends on how dominant the bereaved sow is and whether the dominance issue can be resolved.
This guide has one chapter that looks at the dynamics of a bonding between two fairly evenly matched adult sows. You may find the whole bonding guide very helpful as it talks you through the whole bonding process and what dynamics to look out for at every stage. Again, living alongside first can help with depression and to relax.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

With bereaved and single sows you can look at both sows or neutered boars of any age as companions; as long as they click.

ok thankyou