Introducing a single female to female pair. Advice please

Hannah_xx

Hannah_xx

Forum Buddy
Joined
Sep 29, 2008
Messages
3,445
Reaction score
13,373
Points
1,765
Location
Australia, Victoria. (originally from Essex, UK)
Hi everyone!
I’ve read through all the pinned threads on here about bonding etc but I seem to be getting contradicting advice.
I would love to bond Mary to Opal and Olive. A while after mary settled in I tried floortime with all 3 of them in the hope they would get along and be put together forever. I let them have there rumbles and squeaks, from what I could tell Mary didn’t seem too bothered by them (in a good way) but after a while Opal and olive who are bonded started a fight with loud pitched squeaking and rumbling and tumbling around, neither was hurt as I jumped in pretty quick. As soon as I put them away in there own cage they were fine so I’m gathering Mary upset the pairing.
Since then I’ve had Mary and the other two still in there separate cages but side by side to get use to each other’s noise and smell. It’s been a few weeks now and today while I was cleaning out there cages I put them all in the outside run together for about 20 mins, I checked on them a few times, I could hear some chattering and little squeaks but nothing bad. But upon putting them away Opal has a small cut on the rim of her eye and they were all a bit wet on top? (But it is a hot day, do they sweat?)
I'm not sure if opal and olive had a scuff again or if Mary hurt Opal. Or perhaps Olive got worried and clambered ontop of Opal hurting her eye by accident (as Olive always looks for opal for comfort in many situations)

I’m unsure if I should bite the bullet and put them togther and watch them like hawks or just give up ☹️
I was really excited about making a ramp in between cages so all three could have access to both..
Ps. Opal is fine it’s only a small scratch on top and bottom but her is totally fine

Oh I forgot to say that a few weeks ago they all had lap time together and they all rested and half slept together.01BBAC00-A422-411F-8323-05415DFD16C8.webp6FED67D0-919D-4EBC-B003-861EE3A49EC4.webp377B36C9-DF06-4AF6-A5EA-8F3E98B4D19B.webp
 
Beautiful girls.
I can't really advise as the only time I've bonded a single and a pair it worked smoothly - the pair were babies and my older sow just mothered them.
Bonding 2 pairs was more stressful but the forum guides were a real help.
I did have a couple of little nips and some minor fur loss to Jemimah but was reassured this was nothing to worry about.
Hope your girls can bond successfully
 
Hannah_xx said:
Hi everyone!
I’ve read through all the pinned threads on here about bonding etc but I seem to be getting contradicting advice.
I would love to bond Mary to Opal and Olive. A while after mary settled in I tried floortime with all 3 of them in the hope they would get along and be put together forever. I let them have there rumbles and squeaks, from what I could tell Mary didn’t seem too bothered by them (in a good way) but after a while Opal and olive who are bonded started a fight with loud pitched squeaking and rumbling and tumbling around, neither was hurt as I jumped in pretty quick. As soon as I put them away in there own cage they were fine so I’m gathering Mary upset the pairing.
Since then I’ve had Mary and the other two still in there separate cages but side by side to get use to each other’s noise and smell. It’s been a few weeks now and today while I was cleaning out there cages I put them all in the outside run together for about 20 mins, I checked on them a few times, I could hear some chattering and little squeaks but nothing bad. But upon putting them away Opal has a small cut on the rim of her eye and they were all a bit wet on top? (But it is a hot day, do they sweat?)
I'm not sure if opal and olive had a scuff again or if Mary hurt Opal. Or perhaps Olive got worried and clambered ontop of Opal hurting her eye by accident (as Olive always looks for opal for comfort in many situations)

I’m unsure if I should bite the bullet and put them togther and watch them like hawks or just give up ☹️
I was really excited about making a ramp in between cages so all three could have access to both..
Ps. Opal is fine it’s only a small scratch on top and bottom but her is totally fine

Oh I forgot to say that a few weeks ago they all had lap time together and they all rested and half slept together.View attachment 103916View attachment 103917View attachment 103918
Click to expand...

Hi! The eye scratch is likely from a misjudged swipe with a back foot and is not a fight. You can see how they gel during the dominance period. When bonding piggies, it is all about the unique dynamics and how (or how not) the piggies involved can solve their hierarchical and interpersonal problems. That is why there is no firm recipe for success.
A new companion can upset an existing bond, can make the two bonded piggies turn against the newbie (more common reaction) or they can settle down together. It can in the longer term lead to a new pair and an outsider problem or to a three part friendship. It all depends on the personalities involved.

Guinea pigs do not sweat. Any moisture is from condensation. Please take the time to read this guide here. Heat can kill guinea pigs!
Hot weather management and heat strokes
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! The eye scratch is likely from a misjudged swipe with a back foot and is not a fight. You can see how they gel during the dominance period. When bonding piggies, it is all about the unique dynamics and how (or how not) the piggies involved can solve their hierarchical and interpersonal problems. That is why there is no firm recipe for success.
A new companion can upset an existing bond, can make the two bonded piggies turn against the newbie (more common reaction) or they can settle down together. It can in the longer term lead to a new pair and an outsider problem or to a three part friendship. It all depends on the personalities involved.

Guinea pigs do not sweat. Any moisture is from condensation. Please take the time to read this guide here. Heat can kill guinea pigs!
Hot weather management and heat strokes
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the response, makes me feel a little more confident that maybe it will work!

Ah yes thank you! I am so wary of the heat with the piggies, I have not had them out on the grass except for one cool day since I got the pigs 6 weeks ago! As it’s been mostly 30 degrees +! I keep the air con on for them all the time as our cottage gets rather stuffy! I am house sitting (on the same property) which is why I put them out for a short time today as I was moving there cages into this house and had no where to put them inside to run loose.

Thabks again 😊
 
I did wonder whether the wetness could be urine spraying which can happen during bondings
 
Hannah_xx said:
Hi everyone!
I’ve read through all the pinned threads on here about bonding etc but I seem to be getting contradicting advice.
I would love to bond Mary to Opal and Olive. A while after mary settled in I tried floortime with all 3 of them in the hope they would get along and be put together forever. I let them have there rumbles and squeaks, from what I could tell Mary didn’t seem too bothered by them (in a good way) but after a while Opal and olive who are bonded started a fight with loud pitched squeaking and rumbling and tumbling around, neither was hurt as I jumped in pretty quick. As soon as I put them away in there own cage they were fine so I’m gathering Mary upset the pairing.
Since then I’ve had Mary and the other two still in there separate cages but side by side to get use to each other’s noise and smell. It’s been a few weeks now and today while I was cleaning out there cages I put them all in the outside run together for about 20 mins, I checked on them a few times, I could hear some chattering and little squeaks but nothing bad. But upon putting them away Opal has a small cut on the rim of her eye and they were all a bit wet on top? (But it is a hot day, do they sweat?)
I'm not sure if opal and olive had a scuff again or if Mary hurt Opal. Or perhaps Olive got worried and clambered ontop of Opal hurting her eye by accident (as Olive always looks for opal for comfort in many situations)

I’m unsure if I should bite the bullet and put them togther and watch them like hawks or just give up ☹️
I was really excited about making a ramp in between cages so all three could have access to both..
Ps. Opal is fine it’s only a small scratch on top and bottom but her is totally fine

Oh I forgot to say that a few weeks ago they all had lap time together and they all rested and half slept together.View attachment 103916View attachment 103917View attachment 103918
Click to expand...
That middle picture is outstanding. :yahoo:.
I hope it works out. . . Come on piggies let's all be friends. :luv:
 
During cuddles tonight I’ve noticed Opal has a small cut on her back as well as the one around her eye.
Does this mean they’ve had a proper fight? 😢 it’s only small but it’s nit a good sign if she’s actually been hurt?!
 
If it’s no more than a nick it’s probably ok.
When I bonded mine Jemimah ended up with a couple of nicks on her and a bit of fur pulled out.
She and the culprit, Priscilla, are now best friends
 
Sorry - hit post too soon.
Just keep a careful eye on them all to make sure it’s no more than exuberant bonding
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top