How do I join the herds?

[Snoopy&Woodstock]

Hi all,
I have 7 female guinea pigs. We started with two around 2 years ago. Then rescued a group of 3 who were bonded. Naively thinking they would all live together in harmony, two females from each group were fighting within seconds of being introduced so we have never tried again.
We then rescued two babies and they got on really well with our original two so now we have a group of 4 and a group of 3.
I'm planning on making a huge enclosure where they can potter in and out of the house/garden at their leisure with tunnels etc. but this would be so much easier if they could all live together.
We did try a neutered male - I think he was 3 years old - with of the groups and the dominant female again just didn't take to him. She looked like a ninja - literally launching herself at him. She was/is my favourite piggy but I must admit that after watching her display that afternoon, I was slightly nervous about handling her again! Thankfully he was an RSPCA piggy and they were ok (although not too pleased) about me returning him. Also, she is still a softie and she doesn't appear to have had any trauma from the incident!
Do you think it is worth continuing to try to find a male that will create harmony in the group or do you think that some females just won't get on regardless of whether there is a male present?
Also, we have few rescue centres in our area and single neutered males seem to be in short supply (although I'd be happy to adopt one and neuter him, if he then doesn't get on with the ladies, I'm stuck with yet another separate enclosure....).
Should I just give up and keep them separated and build the new enclosure with this in mind or do you think I should be more hopeful?
Thanks in advance

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Trying to merge sows herds with adult sows is going to be a very tall ask and does not stand much of a chance of success unfortunately.
The reason is that each group has their dominant sow and to be able to merge, one of those dominant sows would have to step down and lose her position to the other dominant. That is not something they are usually prepared to do.

Adding a boar unfortunately won’t change it - having a boar present doesn’t make the girls get on. A boar is not part of the sow hierarchy (he is only part of group hierarchy and even then it is only going to work if the dominant sow accepts him) so the two dominant sows in each group are still in the same position with one of them having to be prepared to step down. Equally, some sows simply won’t accept a boar anyway, even without the added extra of trying to merge groups.

Sows don’t change their minds and in fact can become even more steadfast in the grudges towards another piggy - putting those two sows together again will just result in another fight.

In light of the above and the fact you have already seen a fight occur, you should keep them as two separate groups and plan the new enclosure for two groups.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Girls can be very special about who they want to live with and if they don't like each other, there is not very much you can do about it.
Some older or very dominant sows also don't want to accept a boar.

If it's possible to build the new enclosure in a way that it can be split into two parts, I would go for this option
Unfortunately, adding a boar to the group won't magically solve any bonding problems between the girls.

 

[Snoopy&Woodstock]

Welcome to the forum

Trying to merge sows herds with adult sows is going to be a very tall ask and does not stand much of a chance of success unfortunately.
The reason is that each group has their dominant sow and to be able to merge, one of those dominant sows would have to step down and lose her position to the other dominant. That is not something they are usually prepared to do.

Adding a boar unfortunately won’t change it - having a boar present doesn’t make the girls get on. A boar is not part of the sow hierarchy (he is only part of group hierarchy and even then it is only going to work if the dominant sow accepts him) so the two dominant sows in each group are still in the same position with one of them having to be prepared to step down. Equally, some sows simply won’t accept a boar anyway, even without the added extra of trying to merge groups.

Sows don’t change their minds and in fact can become even more steadfast in the grudges towards another piggy - putting those two sows together again will just result in another fight.

In light of the above and the fact you have already seen a fight occur, you should keep them as two separate groups and plan the new enclosure for two groups.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

Thank you so much for your advice. It's what I suspected but just needed someone to tell me so I can stop dreaming about a perfect herd! I should be grateful they get on as they are. I've been reading articles on this website for a few years - I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to join!

 

[Snoopy&Woodstock]

Girls can be very special about who they want to live with and if they don't like each other, there is not very much you can do about it.
Some older or very dominant sows also don't want to accept a boar.

If it's possible to build the new enclosure in a way that it can be split into two parts, I would go for this option
Unfortunately, adding a boar to the group won't magically solve any bonding problems between the girls.

Thank you so much for your advice. I'm going to plan for two enclosures