Bonding New Guinea Pig Help!

[Megan]

About 3months ago I got a guinea pig and today I went out and bought a 4-5week old guinea pig, when should I start bonding ? and why is my baby piggy not move much or squeaking and I haven't seen him eat or drink yet and he shakes when I touch him help please !

 

[ayemee]

Your new Guinea pig is most likely very scared. It could take a few weeks before they will be comfortable enough to eat, drink and wheek.

I'd say start the bonding once you know both are healthy. Create an area of neutral territory with no hideys and a big pile of hay in the middle.

This thread is really helpful

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/

Good luck!

 

[Kerrie74]

As @ayemee said your guinea if probably scared, what you need to do is make sure he's got an hidey, don't keep checking on him as they know your there, what you might find is when your not around he will eat and drink.

Also as ayemee has said, once you know both are fine then try introducing.

We've had 4 young boars, the first used to play dead and would only move around and eat when no one was around, the second wasn't too bad, still shy, Storm used to take him lettuce lol (Storm was the one I was talking about playing dead) and we've just adopted two himi boars who are skittish, we're just leaving them alone and just making sure they are ok and eating.

We also bonded two pairs of boars, there's no time limit really, just be sure they are both healthy

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Do you have boys or girls? The dynamics when introducing are different.

As your youngster is so scared being all on its own, I would seriously consider introducing them directly without a quarantine, but be aware that that means that you will have to treat both piggies if there are problems. Brace yourself that you will see some dominance behaviour after the initial acceptance has happened and that it is going to look mean to you, especially the loud and dramatic submission squealing from the baby. Unlike you, your piggies do have the manual for establishing a hierarchy wired into them, so please don't interfere and separate unless there are really fights. Most piggies will accept babies and do not hurt them anyway, even though they are quite roughly pushed to the bottom of the ranks, the same as their mum would do after they have been weaned.

You may find these threads here helpful. Please read and watch them carefully!
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/importance-of-quarantine.108034/