Bonding advice - quickly if possible!

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Loopylou

After a really good start, I'm not sure how well it is going between Kinder Lindt and Star.
Kinder (existing female) did a small charge at Star (new female) but stopped short of actual contact.
They are all making a lot of noises that I'm not sure about - one that sounds like someone rolling their r's - is that teeth chattering? Its almost like loud purring.
Star is mostly staying very still - I think she is quite scared. I have put in lots of tunnels and hidey holes. Not sure how normal this all is - I am new to guinea pig bonding.
There does seem to be a lot of posturing and dominance behaviour.
When should I be worried? Or is this all par for the course?
 
I would keep a close eye on them for the time being. I could just be a case of them getting to know each other and sort out who's boss. My girls were like this at first, and I did get quite worried. I get the occasional rumble now and again, but I've always found that on the whole they are absolutely fine. You've done the right thing by putting in plenty of tunnels etc. The only time to be on alert is if teeth chattering becomes persistent followed by a showing of teeth (like a giant yawn), which could culminate in a fight! But I wouldn't worry too much as yet, as its early days and they are still getting to know each other :)
 
I have just taken Star out as Kinder was chasing her round very aggressively and possibly bitting her rear and Star was really squeaking with fear :(
What do I do now?

Would it be a good idea to put Star inside a carrier and put in itno the cage so they can still smell and see each other but not fight?
 
Ok, after you've calmed Star down for a bit, have you got a large kind of neutral space that you could place them all and sort of let them come up to each other and for you to keep an eye on proceedings? :)
 
Yes, you could try there and see how they behave and interact with each other. How about putting a bit of veg down for them all? Distraction is always good!
 
They had lots of veg in the cage - and hadn't touch it much at all! I don't think it was a good sign!
 
Ok, how do they seem now? Sometimes introductions can take a bit of time, and you could always put Star inside the carrier in the cage if you are worried. Are things calming down a bit?
 
Thinking about it, I am reluctant to leave them in together tonight in case anything happens.
I think I will keep them close, but separated and start in the morning by putting them in the run (as they were fine like that yesterday) and then I will have the whole day to observe them.
Does that sound like a good plan?
 
The run they were in, that was Kinders run?It has her smells in it. When introducing new piggies it needs to be new territory with new smells :)
 
The run they were first in together was the rescue's run so was nuetral.
They then had the journey home in the carrier (about an hour) and they went into Kinder and Lindt's cage which I had cleaned out and wiped with vinegar to remove smells.
I've now put Star inside a good sized carrier which I have put into the cage with the other two and all seems peaceful at the moment.
I can put them out into a neutral run tommorrow and see what happens? Hopefully by the end of the day they will settle down ?
Am I doing the right things?
 
Yes, you're doing fine and on the right track. O0

My girls often chatter in the run (I have 8 of them), but don't go as far as biting to bleed
 
If that does not work vicks on bums and noses on neutral ground they will all smell the same and works a treat ;)
 
Pumpkinpiggie said:
If that does not work vicks on bums and noses on neutral ground they will all smell the same and works a treat ;)
Click to expand...

Yes I've tried this and it is really good advice O0
 
Well, I've put them out in hte run this morning and they seem absolutely fine so far. No agression, or dominance behaviour and they are tending to stay close to each other.
How long does it normally take before things settle down?
 
Lyndt (boar) just went up to Star (new sow) and kind of pushed his nose under her chin and then rubbed his head along under her chin (if that makes sense) and was sort of vibrating while he did it. It was quite odd - very slow and deliberate. Is that good or bad? ?
 
Well I think Lyndt likes her anyway :)
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Just have to work on Kinder now . .
 
Aww bless them both :smitten:give them time together during the day and build it up from there. Having a few troubles again myself but I am working on it.
 
the slow vibrating that you describe is your male guinea getting friendly with star, my male also called star does this when he approaches the girls, it's like a chat up dance lol, a mating dance if you like it's a good thing
 
Ah OK! That's good then. It looks really odd though - he kind of walks in slow motion towards her making this low noise. ^-^
 
yep, my star does this everytime he approaches one of the girls, he is always doing it, quite cute really.
 
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