do groups of guinea pigs grieve?

[Pepperdog]

The girls are subdued this morning, I know if a pair lose one of them its important for the other pig to have a companion, but what about groups?

They have each other and the dynamics have not really changed thankfully as flash created a bond with all of them and had a relationship unique to each one. All the time I had him partitioned off they took it in turns to sleep near him to keep him company without being in their with him. They have never been pigs that cuddle up with each other but will sleep next to each other, after he went last night each pig was apart from each other in different areas.

I wasnt expecting them to behave like this as they do have each other, he was apart (as was behind the panels in his pen) for a week so thought they would have got used to him not really being there. They seem to be missing him

 

[karonus]

Check out my threads, and yes we have seen groups grieving.

 

[Salt n Peppers mum]

Yes they will grieve for him and adjust.

Did they get a chance to say good bye to 'Flash's' body?

I'm so sorry you lost him, its so sad

 

[Pepperdog]

Yes they will grieve for him and adjust.

Did they get a chance to say good bye to 'Flash's' body?

I'm so sorry you lost him, its so sad

Yes, I made sure they have had a chance to say good bye

I know its too early for me, but do I get a 4th member again or leave them as a trio? They have been so much better for him in their lives, he taught them all how to do ramps for instance and as I say he had a special relationship with each of them. I was thinking of adding a 5th this year but then he fell ill and I just wasnt sure about adding numbers afterwards but I dont want them to be lonely, fudge especially, crystal (boss pig) has minty, fudge is again the outsider loner of the group

 

[Wiebke]

Groups grieve indeed - every time one of my piggies dies they go very quiet and subdued for a few days. Piggies that have been close to the deceased one can grieve for longer.

If possible, I let the piggies say a short good bye, but usually they know anyway.

 

[piggyfan]

When I lost my Marble the girls were so quiet and spent more time together. They did not see her body as I could not let them because she had MRSA and could be infectious. The first day they kept biting at the bars but the second they were so quiet and seemed to know.

 

[karonus]

When we lost Sunshine we got Midnight, when Junior went we got Twinkle (all girls) and hept the herd at 4. (it made travelling easier when going away in the caravan keeping them in pairs.)

Now we have lost Moon we want to keep the group at 4 but I want to add a neutered boar.