Introducing An Adult To Two Babies...

[emilyjk]

I *might**maybe**possibly* be adopting an adult sow soon, and I currently have two babies.
I've only ever adopted pre-bonded pairs, so I'm not sure if this would work. I am aware already on how to introduce guinea pigs, I'm just more curious on how the heirachy would work out introducing a single adult to two already bonded babies?

 

[Wiebke]

The bonding is usually not too much of a problem unless your single sow has got bonding problems.
How old are your youngsters? They are generally not able to challenge for the top spot. If they are sub-teenage, they are generally very accepting of older guidance. It is generally easier to introduce an adult and two youngsters than adding a youngster to two adults. But as always, it depends entirely on the personalities and the dynamics.

You may experience some major dominance as the older sows establishes herself, especially if she is on the dominant or the fear-aggressive (i.e. insecure) side.

 

[emilyjk]

Thank you for such a quick response! The babies are both the same age, around four months, and the adult I would be adopting is a 1 year old.

 

[emilyjk]

Adding to above ^^

One of them seems to have a dominance over the other, but once and awhile squabbling still happens ( mostly chasing, rumblestrutting ).

The girl I am adopting has been placed with other piggies successfully before, so I'm hoping that's a good sign of some patient temperament. ( The babies are a little crazy lol ).

 

[Wiebke]

Adding to above ^^

One of them seems to have a dominance over the other, but once and awhile squabbling still happens ( mostly chasing, rumblestrutting ).

The girl I am adopting has been placed with other piggies successfully before, so I'm hoping that's a good sign of some patient temperament. ( The babies are a little crazy lol ).

If the piggies have been together before, they will know where they stand in relation to each other and should settle down with a lot less fuss.
The behaviour you are mentioning is perfectly normal.

 

[flowerfairy]

Sounds like the 1 year old was placed with other piggies before wiebke, not these ones.