Introducing Baby Pig To Adult Pig

[Johnson]

I have a grown male guinea pig and just came home with another male younger guinea pig. I expect there to be aggression and tension, but for how long should I expect this to continue until the older one calms down and accepts the other? Is there a chance he will never get used to the new pig and I'll have to separate them? Thank you for any advice.

 

[DM030819]

There's a bonding guide on the forum which is definitely worth a read.

Bonding isn't an exact science so we couldn't give you an accurate guess. It all depends on the personalities of the pigs.

I've bonded quite a few boys. I've had it that it work almost immediately, as if they had always lived together and on the other hand it just didn't work at all.

 

[DM030819]

There's a bonding guide on the forum which is definitely worth a read.

Bonding isn't an exact science so we couldn't give you an accurate guess. It all depends on the personalities of the pigs.

I've bonded quite a few boys. I've had it that it work almost immediately, as if they had always lived together and on the other hand it just didn't work at all.

 

[Tiamolly123]

So long as there is no blood drawn leave them together. I had 2 boars I wanted to introduce, but the little one introduced himself by squeezing through the grids. It was touch & go for a couple of days. Now I've got the little one trying to hump Gizmo head. Which hopefully will quickly quiet down.
If you got him from a rescue, see if you can take him for dating, but there could be a waiting list. Or I would think they will do it anyway. The reason members are saying it depends on the piggy is if your piggy is dominant you certainly don't want to add that to the mix.
Hope it goes well for you.

 

[Wiebke]

I have a grown male guinea pig and just came home with another male younger guinea pig. I expect there to be aggression and tension, but for how long should I expect this to continue until the older one calms down and accepts the other? Is there a chance he will never get used to the new pig and I'll have to separate them? Thank you for any advice.

Hi and welcome!

Please take the time to carefully read our very detailed illustrated bonding guide. It should answer all your questionsas to what behaviours to look out for and when your boys are ready to move to their cage! With baby boar bonding, you ideall provide your baby boar with a refuge that only he can get into. Make sure that it has got two exits on opposing sides, as should all hideys in the cage during the first days until dominance has settled. With babies it is not so much fights, but over the top humping and chasing that can be an issue.

Please brace yourself that not every baby (or adult at that) is necessarily accepted. While guinea pigs are definitely social animals, they also have the same pronounced likes and dislikes as humans.

Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[Johnson]

So long as there is no blood drawn leave them together. I had 2 boars I wanted to introduce, but the little one introduced himself by squeezing through the grids. It was touch & go for a couple of days. Now I've got the little one trying to hump Gizmo head. Which hopefully will quickly quiet down.
If you got him from a rescue, see if you can take him for dating, but there could be a waiting list. Or I would think they will do it anyway. The reason members are saying it depends on the piggy is if your piggy is dominant you certainly don't want to add that to the mix.
Hope it goes well for you.

Thanks for the advice. Both of the pigs were from pet stores though the larger one might as well of been a rescue (he was from a smaller pet store chain rather than Petsmart or Petco.) Things have quieted down quite a bit with an occasional angry chirp coming form the big one. The baby has started to be more active and has actually chased and tried to hump the older one almost like what happened to you. I am keeping a close eye on them but am feeling hopeful! It is amazing though how strong and energetic the pigs have gotten (especially the bigger one) since getting them recently.