Introducing 2 females and possibly adding more pigs?

[cicmic]

Hello everyone, I have just registered as I'd like to get advice on introduction of my piggies and whether to get more pigs.

I have a 6 year old female, who has lived alone for almost 3 years now after her mother passed away. I also got an 11 month old female, who was sick when I got her and afterwards never thought it was a perfect time to introduce them so they are still housed separately. I definitely feel it's the time to introduce them finally, but just wanted to consult on few things before doing so. As my 6 year old is old, very lazy and has been alone for quite some time, would it be ok to house her with such a young pig who is also very energetic, runs around a lot and popcorns? It was always a dream of mine to have a guinea pig herd someday so getting more pigs is definitely something I'd like, and maybe even wait until I get 1/2 more and then introduce them all at once. Would that group of all new pigs be a bad introduction, is it better to bond pairs first? At first I just wanted a trio, but after reading that 4 or 2 pairs are better than trio I would definitely go for that. I also feel that at least another younger pig would be enjoyment for my 11 month old and give more peace to the 6 year old.

If a group is a bad idea, I'll definitely stick to just these 2. But if more pigs is a good option, there is a pregnant 4 month old female currently available that I could get, and I would keep all female babies while rehoming males or possibly keeping them two in a separate cage, though rehoming is a more likely option.

Though I'd like more pigs, my main concern of course are the 2 that I already have, so I'll easily pass on my wants of more pigs if it wouldn't be likely a good thing for them too. I'd just like to get some advice from people who have experience with piggies before deciding on what to do next.

Also, would keeping pigs in cage divided by grid for like a day or few be a good introduction or just go straight forward placing them together?

 

[Lady Kelly]

Each piggy has a different personality so there is no way to tell. Are they currently able to interact through the cage bars?
I would say try them and see how they get on but bare in mind given the age and how long she has lived alone she might not be willing to accept the other piggy.
My late Jemima was a nightmare to bond she was so picky and it got worse as she got older. In the end I split into two pairs as, after numerous tests, her weight loss was put down to the stress of having a youngster introduced.
We have some great bonding guides on here so do your homework and be prepared so that you can help it to be as successful as possible

 

[cicmic]

That's the thing I'm most afraid of, that my old one won't even like company. She lost quite some weight few months ago, although she is eating normally and has a good appetite. Her weight has been steady since, but I would not like to her to loose any more weight, and after what you said I'm even more questioning whether to introduce at all. And no, they can't interact through cage bars as the cages are different, one is big store bough one and the other is huge DIY wooden cage. The younger one nibbles on anything including plastic, so I don't use anything chewable in her cage and introducing them would require safe proofing the wooden cage and replacing anything plastic so she can't nibble on something that might be bad for her. A grid divider now seems like best thing, that she could have a place where she can smell and see other pig but not have her space disturbed, I will definitely try that first.

I would not like to create younger one a solitary pig too. Do you think bonding her with another female and have a part of cage divided by grid with older one would be okay? And thanks, I will read more on bonding guides for sure before attempting introduction.

 

[Eriathwen]

It's hard to say until you try, I assumed (very incorrectly!) that my 2 skittish ladies would like herd life, with extra eyes to watch out for them, but it freaked them out and one stayed in a corner squealing while the other ran around attacking everyone and flipping the bigger pigs on their backs! I currently have a herd of 7, their personalities are all different and while there is a lot of dominance behaviours going on between the 2 just under the boss piggy, they all gel together quite nicely. That being said, the boss piggy was one I thought would be a nightmare to bond as she didnt get along with of my other ladies, who now lives happily in a pair, who I tried introducing her to before all the others arrived, but now she has 6 little friends who she enjoys being around. So it really depends on each piggy

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone, I have just registered as I'd like to get advice on introduction of my piggies and whether to get more pigs.

I have a 6 year old female, who has lived alone for almost 3 years now after her mother passed away. I also got an 11 month old female, who was sick when I got her and afterwards never thought it was a perfect time to introduce them so they are still housed separately. I definitely feel it's the time to introduce them finally, but just wanted to consult on few things before doing so. As my 6 year old is old, very lazy and has been alone for quite some time, would it be ok to house her with such a young pig who is also very energetic, runs around a lot and popcorns? It was always a dream of mine to have a guinea pig herd someday so getting more pigs is definitely something I'd like, and maybe even wait until I get 1/2 more and then introduce them all at once. Would that group of all new pigs be a bad introduction, is it better to bond pairs first? At first I just wanted a trio, but after reading that 4 or 2 pairs are better than trio I would definitely go for that. I also feel that at least another younger pig would be enjoyment for my 11 month old and give more peace to the 6 year old.

If a group is a bad idea, I'll definitely stick to just these 2. But if more pigs is a good option, there is a pregnant 4 month old female currently available that I could get, and I would keep all female babies while rehoming males or possibly keeping them two in a separate cage, though rehoming is a more likely option.

Though I'd like more pigs, my main concern of course are the 2 that I already have, so I'll easily pass on my wants of more pigs if it wouldn't be likely a good thing for them too. I'd just like to get some advice from people who have experience with piggies before deciding on what to do next.

Also, would keeping pigs in cage divided by grid for like a day or few be a good introduction or just go straight forward placing them together?

Living side by side is a good way of starting an introduction. I usually do that. However, you have to be aware that whatever you do, by far not all bondings are successful if the personalities don't gel. I find old ladies particularly difficult to rebond. At one point I had four single bereaved sows of which none would go with any of the others and they had to live as next door neighbours for companionship and stimulation.

Please take the time to read these guides here; you should find them very helpful.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

The best way to expand a group is by dating at a rescue that offers this service because it means that you come home only if acceptance has happened. A very few rescues also offer residential dating where the whole bonding process happens at the rescue - the rolls royce of all bondings (which unsurprisingly usually comes with a waiting list as it is very time consuming).
You can consider a neutered boar or sows of any age. Key to any bond is mutual liking and character compatibility. Piggies are a lot like people - they like to be with others, but they can be very picky about who they get on with. By going to one of our recommended rescue, you can also be guaranteed that all piggies are properly sexed, quarantined and guaranteed not pregnant.

Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Well Wiebke got in there with the advice better than I could have too

I wouldn't try introducing in the wooden cage without a divider as it is not a neutral ground in that your older lady already knows it and has claimed it. Are you maybe able to use the kitchen or bathroom with doors closed or even the bathtub? I would put a divider in and see how they do side by side and make a call from that. If they seem to like each other you can at least try an introduction. If it doesn't work return them to side by side.

Whether you can increase to two sows on one side of the divider depends on the space available

 

[cicmic]

Eriathwen, I'm glad it worked out well for your piggies. And wow, must be amazing to have herd of 7!

Wiebke, thanks for all the info and I have added my location. I have already read the first 2 threads you posted - which is where I got the info that 1 pair or 2 pairs are usually better than a trio. The one about rescues can't help me as I am from a different country - Serbia. Here there are no guinea pig rescues or any registered breeders even. Otherwise, rescue would be definitely a place I'd be getting a pig from, as my 2 dogs are both adopted as well and I believe it is always better to adopt than buy. It'd be really amazing to be able to make sure piggies will do fine together before bringing new one home, but sadly that's not the option I have so if I decide to get more piggies I'll just have to be prepared for plan B which is to house them next door, but divided, if they don't get along.

Lady Kelly, thanks for the tip. Bathtub is way too small and hardly accessible for me to control the situation, and kitchen joined with living room, but I could definitely get creative to add 2 more borders around a corner of the room and try introducing them there. Like you said, with a divider first and then go from there. I believe I'd have space for another guinea pig as my wooden cage has bottom floor of size 140cm x 100cm, and there's a upper level that is 100cm x 55cm.