Bonding help please.

[Toffeewoffee]

Long story cut short. We had a pair of guinea pigs, father (nuetured) and daughter. Then we got Toffee is Feb this year, without being on this forum then, i have to say i naively thought it would be ok to put Toffee in the cage with the other two, which it was, there was a bit of chasing for a week or so to begin with then it all quietened down. Toffee is sometimes very vocal when minnie comes near her, she like makes a loud chunterning noise as if to say leave me alone, but i dont know what it actual means weather she is just taking to minnie as she is a vocal pig. But lately the girls have been quite niggly towards each other, no fighting or anything, just some chasing, face off's and some heated discussions. ( i have to say toffee really over exaggerates and makes it sound like she is being serioiusly harmed lol) I have watched them and there has been nothing violent and nasty.

As it has been so long, is it too late to try and do a bonding bath and what not? They are keeping me awake at night with the noise and i worry they are unhappy.

I have to say i really wish i had of been on this forum from the start i have learnt so much from being on here and if i'd of known i would have done all of this to begin with, i know its hard adding another pig to a bonded pair and i was stupid to just add her to their territory, but things had been ok until recently when this *****ing started. My poor male trys to keep the piece bless him.

 

[Wiebke]

It looks like Minnie is pushing the question of who is boss. The squealing from Toffee sounds like submission squealing? Piggies will renegotiate the terms of their relationship occasionally. Hopefully, it dies down again.

My sisters Nerys and Nia were squabbling lots while they were on their own or with my then neutered Llewelyn at the beginning of the Tribe.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Thing is, minnie does no harm she will just walk near her to get to food for example and Toffee will start this sqesling, it sounds really horrible! I'm hoping its because she is still young and will grow out of making all the noises she does.

thanks for the advice.

 

[Wiebke]

By the sound of it, they are well bonded, but just working out the dominance. Submission squealing sounds very dramatic to newbies - but there is virtually no pain involved. Your girls are at their most vocal in their first year of life, later they will calm down a lot.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Oh, thanks for that, they act like they hate each other without the fighting lol! I feel reassured now. Thank you.

 

[Glynis]

Once they sort themselves out you'll find the submissive one will tick off the dominant one everynow and then Velvet gets sick of Onyx bossing her around at times and just puts the head up or gives her a good sharp nudge (no toofies tho) -c
Give the three of them a big kiss from me and some friendly brrrrrrrrrr's from the girls XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Once they sort themselves out you'll find the submissive one will tick off the dominant one everynow and then Velvet gets sick of Onyx bossing her around at times and just puts the head up or gives her a good sharp nudge (no toofies tho) -c
Give the three of them a big kiss from me and some friendly brrrrrrrrrr's from the girls XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

OH i will, thanks glynis.

Heres the troublesom three some, Left to right, Toffee, Minnie, Lilly

And just for you GLynis

Thanks for the advice everyone x

 

[Guinea pigs <3]

Oooh what cuties! Hope they sort it all out between them! I'm currently bonding Mabel, Dottie and Finley and there has been lots of squealing from Mabel but it has seemed to calm down! You're right though, it does sound awful but there's never been any aggression with it, just keep a close eye on them all

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Do you think its just a young sow thing? Being a drama queen and sqeeling for no reason?

 

[Guinea pigs <3]

Do you think its just a young sow thing? Being a drama queen and sqeeling for no reason?

Humm, i don't think so. Mabel is nearly a year as is Dottie (who is silent and never squeals at Fin!) I think for Mabel it is more that she is a little scared of Fin so she's telling him to back off. He didn't realise this at first but he's learning what she means by her different sounds slowly but surely! He's been on his own for quite some time and I think he just needs to get used to other piggies, let alone get used to having two girlies about!