Introducing three month old female to two bonded seven month old Guineas

[Sonnyb85]

Hi everyone
So I’m officially a massive guinea pig lover and poppy and sally my two seven month olds are well and truly bonded and happy. Every now and then they shake their bums at each other but never teeth chatter or take it further . I’ve recently got a third three month old and I’m asking for bonding tips . She is. Irrwntly in a separate room and getting used to us. She was with her sisters and was the alpha and quite out going . Naturally she is very nervous and I’ve some old bedding mixed in to comfort her . She hasn’t left her old box yet to explore her home. The other two are downstairs together and they seem considerably larger . I’m just after tips on how to introduce them as I don’t want any of my babies getting hurt . Any help would be appreciated

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hello and welcome.
She needs to stay in quarantine for two weeks to ensure she is fully healthy. After that, move her cage to be next to poppy and sally. Leave them next door to each other for a few days so they can get used to the presence of another piggy.
There are some very helpful guides in the behaviour and bonding section of this site to tell you how to do the bonding. As a rough idea though, you need to prepare a neutral area that has no scent of any other piggy. Then put all three into the bonding pen and leave them to it for a few hours (keeping a close eye on them, of course!). If the bonding goes well and they get on, then you can put them into their new cage together as a herd of three. Be aware that bonding goes on for longer than those few hours though. Weeks in some cases so you may continue to see dominance behaviours for s while afterwards. The cage you put them into needs to be scent free. You cannot just put the new piggy into poppy and sally’s cage without cleaning it first as they may well see her as an intruder and take a dislike to her. Ensure that the cage is big enough for three piggies before proceeding - too small a cage can cause upset and make falls outs more likely. A 6ft x 2ft cage (a 5x2 c&c) is recommended for three piggies.
Within the guides there is a lot of information on the signs go watch out for and information on how to decide that the bonding is a success. The important thing is that once you have started the bonding, you need to see it through and leave them together unless there are clear signs that they are not getting on. Separating and reintroducing piggies is stressful for them and causes them to restart the whole process each time they meet, so be sure of the behaviours
which are normal bonding behaviours before you start.

 

[Sonnyb85]

Hello and welcome.
She needs to stay in quarantine for two weeks to ensure she is fully healthy. After that, move her cage to be next to poppy and sally. Leave them next door to each other for a few days so they can get used to the presence of another piggy.
There are some very helpful guides in the behaviour and bonding section of this site to tell you how to do the bonding. As a rough idea though, you need to prepare a neutral area that has no scent of any other piggy. Then put all three into the bonding pen and leave them to it for a few hours (keeping a close eye on them, of course!). If the bonding goes well and they get on, then you can put them into their new cage together as a herd of three. Be aware that bonding goes on for longer than those few hours though. Weeks in some cases so you may continue to see dominance behaviours for s while afterwards. The cage you put them into needs to be scent free. You cannot just put the new piggy into poppy and sally’s cage without cleaning it first as they may well see her as an intruder and take a dislike to her. Ensure that the cage is big enough for three piggies before proceeding - too small a cage can cause upset and make falls outs more likely. A 6ft x 2ft cage (a 5x2 c&c) is recommended for three piggies.
Within the guides there is a lot of information on the signs go watch out for and information on how to decide that the bonding is a success. The important thing is that once you have started the bonding, you need to see it through and leave them together unless there are clear signs that they are not getting on. Separating and reintroducing piggies is stressful for them and causes them to restart the whole process each time they meet, so be sure of the behaviours
which are normal bonding behaviours before you start.

So before I attempt bonding i should completely clean out poppy and Sally’s cage? I have a very large cage for them and a separate large cage for rosy . I also have an octagon I have walls to separate so they can see each other . Poor rosy is alone at the minute so how can I keep her comfortable as she is used to her sisters? Thank you again

 

[Piggies&buns]

yes, clean out the cage that all three of them are going to live in but only do it on the day of bonding so it is a fresh ‘new’ cage for them all.
How long ago did you get rosy? Once she has done her two weeks quarantine, then she can be put next door to the other two for a short while before bonding day. Until that quarantine time is up, she needs to stay away from the others in case she has a communicable illness. Other than just letting her settle in and giving her a little space to hide, while she is alone though she is going to feel uncomfortable but that is going to unavoidable for a short while.