Fighting female guinea pigs

[Rye1493]

I have had my two guinea pigs for about 2.5 years now. About 4 weeks ago we rescued 2 more female guinea pigs. The pigs have been in separate c&c cages placed next to each other for the last 4 weeks. We bought a conecting panel with a ramp to connect the cages. When we did this. One of my original guinea pigs went after one of the new ones and was very agressive. The second time we introduced them the older pig attacked the newer one and drew blood. We immediately separated the pigs again. I know they have to establish dominance but the only issue with the 4 pigs being together is this. I really hoped they would get along but I'm unsure if I should try to introduce them again or give up and keep them seperate. The cages are both big enough and there are separate locations for food and plenty of hiding cubbies . I'm just not sure what to do. Any advise is appreciated !

 

[Wiebke]

I have had my two guinea pigs for about 2.5 years now. About 4 weeks ago we rescued 2 more female guinea pigs. The pigs have been in separate c&c cages placed next to each other for the last 4 weeks. We bought a conecting panel with a ramp to connect the cages. When we did this. One of my original guinea pigs went after one of the new ones and was very agressive. The second time we introduced them the older pig attacked the newer one and drew blood. We immediately separated the pigs again. I know they have to establish dominance but the only issue with the 4 pigs being together is this. I really hoped they would get along but I'm unsure if I should try to introduce them again or give up and keep them seperate. The cages are both big enough and there are separate locations for food and plenty of hiding cubbies . I'm just not sure what to do. Any advise is appreciated !

I most strongly doubt that your girls will ever bond. Once they have made up their mind that the others are not 'us' or 'maybe us', you have had it. This has happened here.

Please note that you always need to introduce guinea pigs in a neutral area outside their regular territory (hutch/cages). Otherwise the other party is perceived as invaders and will in turn over-react much more easily when they are in the territory of another group. Hostilities and fights are pretty inevitable.

Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

Please give up your dream of having one bigger group and keep them as two separate pairs. When you want to merge or bond piggies yourself, you ALWAYS need to have a plan B in case the bonding is not going the way you want it to go and fails.
Guinea pigs are like people. You cannot stick them together in an office and expect them to necessarily become best of friends instantly or even be polite if they feel that their job and livelihood is under threat.

 

[VickiA]

Oh dear. I really would echo what @Wiebke has said. It is most unlikely that once a bonding has failed with blood drawn a sow will not accept the other.
Bondings really should always be carried out on completely neutral territory so that no-one claims ownership of the space and has to defend it. However, there is no guarantee that even in a neutral space 2 pairs of piggies will accept each other. I have had some very tricky sows in my time, who saw off all comers like prize fighters. my current small group all get on well together but this is rather a new experience for me!

 

[Eriathwen]

I recently tried to bond a herd of 7, my carefully made planned were all unravelled by one pair however who were terrified. One spent hours screaming, the other kept running out from hiding behind her friend to throw the nearest pig on their backs.. some girls just dont want the company of pigs outside their pair, it can be too overwhelming for them. It also hindered the other 5's ability to bond, since being separated again all of them have flourished in their current arrangements. When a piggy reacts like that it's probably in everyones best interests to keep them as 2 pairs.