Introducing an older girl to a group of 3

[wind1]

Yesterday one of a pair of my girls died leaving Angel who is nearly 6 on her own. I have another pair of girls living together and a group of 3. I don't want Angel to be on her own so have chosen the group of 3 as the best option for her to live with. The other pair I have are not good at accepting another so don't want to try that. My dilemma is Angel is the sweetest, most laid back guinea pig I have ever known and Rolo who she lived with for 5 years was the same. In the group of 3 one is very dominant and often mounts the others and struts around to show them who is boss. I have had them all indoors in a c & c set up together for the last couple of hours and it hasn't gone too badly. Splash the dominant one has mounted Angel a couple of times and chased her 3 times. There has been a bit of teeth chattering too. My dilemma is do I persevere with this set up or just choose one of the three to live with Angel? I would really like all 4 to live together but is it fair on Angel having lived such a quiet life for so long to suddenly have to put up with Splash being a nuisance. I'm inclined to think I should leave her in her own hutch with a quieter guinea to live out the rest of her life in peace and quiet. Any advice welcome please

 

[Guinea Fan]

I think your second option, split your three and choose the quieter one to live with Angel.

 

[wind1]

I know this would be the best option short term but I'm also looking ahead. By splitting up the group of 3 I am likely to be in the same situation when one dies which will probably be Angel due to her age. I will have to try and bond one back with Splash and have the same problems. It would be so much easier if all 4 could live together. I have them indoors again together and 2 of them have accepted Angel with no problems, it's just Splash that is causing problems and Angel is being very wary of her.

 

[Wiebke]

If you don't want to split up your trio, you can always have Angel living next door to them with interaction through the grids, so she has company but no stress if your top girl is too bossy for Angel's liking.

When introducing, I would try the slow approach by having them together on neutral ground for stretches of time (only short meetings won't give them space to work through acceptance/dominance), but giving them time out as well. See wether Angel is happier in company or when she goes back to her own patch; that will give you a clue. Perhaps things will work out better after Angel has been a close neighbour for a bit longer.

You will get a certain amount of dominance whenever you introduce piggies and so far, things have been only in the mild range.

 

[Abi_nurse]

If its only been a few hours i would simply leave tem be and keep an eye on them. Sounds like usual sow dominance behaviour. Unless any blood has been drawn i wouldnt seperate. It can take a while for sows to settle the ranking order and then things should start to settle down after. I'd give it a few days or a week first and then rethink if shes getting bullied etc in any way.

x

PS. i agree with wiebke too

 

[wind1]

Thankyou for replies. I have seperated the trios hutch already with a mesh panel so Angel can be next to them. She has been in there since Monday. This could be an option long term but I worry she will not have others to snuggle up to now the weather is getting colder as they live outside in a shed. Splash has not chattered her teeth for a while now but Angel is still sitting in the same corner and wheeks everytime Splash goes near her. I just feel so sorry for her but I know it will be the best thing for her in the long run if it works out.

 

[Wiebke]

Best of luck! Angel is wheeking her submission.

 

[wind1]

These 4 are now all together in a hutch and have been since midday. They have 2 of everything each end of the hutch so 2 beds, 2 food bowls, 2 water bottles. I have been checking on them every half hour and they seem to be ok. For the first couple of hours Angel and Boo (the quietest of the 3) rested at one end and Splash and Tilly the other end. Splash has approached Angel a few times but no chattering or squealing has occurred. They have just had their tea and I made sure Angel had food within easy reach and she seemed happy enough munching on it. She hasn't moved from that end of the hutch though so I don't know what Splash would do if she did, I worry she might go for her if she thinks she is encroaching on her territory. Now obviously I cannot check them every half hour throughout the night so do you think I am safe leaving them together now?