Guinea Pig Chasing and Rumble strutting

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piggl

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At the weekend i introduces a trio of guinea pigs to my one guinea pig whose friend passed away at the start of the week.
They had time together to bond without contact and then i put them together. Everything was going well so i put them in their hutch. It’s the bluebell hideaway hutch but it has a run attached to the front.
My one guinea pig who used to be the submissive one is chasing them around a lot of the time and keeps getting into little fights with another one. They seem to get on well if they are eating hay or something but then someone starts chasing someone else and the chased guinean pig won’t be left alone.
They get on well apart from almost constant chasing but idk how to stop it from happening.
If anyone had any ideas please reply as it would help xx
 
It sounds like normal dominance behaviour to me. It will take a couple of weeks for them to sort out the new hierarchy. Did you bond them in a neutral area? I’m also afraid to say that your hutch may be on the small side for 4 x
 
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

This link may help you decipher the behaviours. You need to leave them to get on with it but be prepared to step in if a full on fight breaks out.

Was it your original piggies hutch? If so, she may see the newcomers as invading her space. It is important to ensure that it is cleaned down and rearranged so that territories are neutral (this is different to the fact that they need a neutral territory to bond in beforehand).

I absolutely agree though, the bluebell hideaway - which I also have - is not big enough for four piggies. It’s internal measurement is roughly 140cm (may be just a little over) which is only enough for two piggies.

Can you also confirm that your piggies are all female?
 
Claire W said:
It sounds like normal dominance behaviour to me. It will take a couple of weeks for them to sort out the new hierarchy. Did you bond them in a neutral area? I’m also afraid to say that your hutch may be on the small side for 4 x
Click to expand...
they got bonded in a nuetral area for a few hours and everything was going well. I’ll see if i can get a bigger run to add on the front as well as the run that’s already on
 
Are they girls or boys? And did you clean out the hutch before putting them back in?
 
Piggies&buns said:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

This link may help you decipher the behaviours. You need to leave them to get on with it but be prepared to step in if a full on fight breaks out.

Was it your original piggies hutch? If so, she may see the newcomers as invading her space. It is important to ensure that it is cleaned down and rearranged so that territories are neutral (this is different to the fact that they need a neutral territory to bond in beforehand).

I absolutely agree though, the bluebell hideaway - which I also have - is not big enough for four piggies. It’s internal measurement is roughly 140cm (may be just a little over) which is only enough for two piggies.

Can you also confirm that your piggies are all female?
Click to expand...
They are all male. They have a run on the front of the cage and they get out everyday, but as i have school that’s the best i can do, i’ll try and get a bigger run bit and i’m looking at a bigger hutch. It was his hutch but it was cleaned and sprayed and all the stuff inside is new. I’m hoping they are just sorting out the hierarchy or finding out who’s boss but i will keep a eye on them to make sure there’s no major fights. xx
 
Siikibam said:
Are they girls or boys? And did you clean out the hutch before putting them back in?
Click to expand...
They are all male and i cleaned and spayed the hutch and it was left for a week with no one in it. All their hides and toys and chews are new xx
 
I’m sorry but with that many together you’re going to need A LOOOOOT more space. That hutch isn’t enough for three sows so definitely not enough for four boys. They need space to get away from each other even if they get time in the run.

How old are they?

Also be aware there could be a permanent fallout and you end up with all four living separately. Are you able to accommodate them so? I would see which two get on and split them into pairs.

PS you may need at least 18sq feet of space (on one level). Not sure where you’ll find a hutch that size.
 
Four boys is highly unlikely to work out, there will be major fights. At most you can keep two boys together. As Siikibam has said, when a problem occurs (and it is when, not if), you could end up with all four having to live separately. It would be far better, as mentioned, to work out which ones get on best and separate them out now into two separate pairs, not ever allowing the two pairs to come together. The space (and experience) needed to even attempt four boars is absolutely huge and certainly no hutch would ever be big enough.

Please read the link below.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
 
Sorry, I assumed you had 4 females but 4 males is a totally different kettle of fish. 4 boys are very unlikely to get in together unless they have a massive enclosure in which case I mean an entire free roam huge shed or room to live in. As said above, you are best to separate them in to two pairs and have one pair live in one hutch and one pair in another
 
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