Littlest piggy always away from the nest

[Mummy S-G]

Hi all

I’m new and we bought our first piggies a week ago, although I had some as a child. This is a bit long, I apologise.

We bought three females. GP1 is the biggest and oldest. She is the alpha one with the other two but shyest with us. GP2 is the beta, affectionate and quite easy going. GP3 is a lot smaller than the other two and quite detached from them most of the time. She is easily picked up by us and loves cuddles but with GPs 1&2 she is dominated and calls out a fair bit. I’ve never seen fighting, just mild aggression and annoyance from GPs 1&2. GP3 always walks away and finds somewhere else to go. She usually stays away from them, in the colder open areas rather than the cosiest spots. I try to offer lots of cosy areas in case she is being pushed out but I’m not sure if she just likes the cold/fresh air/access to food and water more than the other two. In the morning I usually find her quite cold and alone, even though there’s room in the warm tunnels or house. I scoop her up and give her a cuddle.

I’m not sure what I can do to help her bond with the bigger piggies and to keep her warm at night.

They are outdoor piggies.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you.

Mummy S-G

 

[Siikibam]

Maybe try and add a hide or two which only she can fit in. Otherwise you can’t really force them to get along. It may not seem like it but they do. If they weren’t tolerating each other you would know.

She may just like sleeping out in the open as well. My boys sometimes sleep in the open even if there is a hide (wine box) available. You could put in some fleece squares that she could burrow in.

Do they have enough space? Someone more knowledgable will help you later on.

 

[sport_billy]

Some piggies do prefer their own space as long as there are plenty of cosies on offer that are free i would not worry too much

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

I’m new and we bought our first piggies a week ago, although I had some as a child. This is a bit long, I apologise.

We bought three females. GP1 is the biggest and oldest. She is the alpha one with the other two but shyest with us. GP2 is the beta, affectionate and quite easy going. GP3 is a lot smaller than the other two and quite detached from them most of the time. She is easily picked up by us and loves cuddles but with GPs 1&2 she is dominated and calls out a fair bit. I’ve never seen fighting, just mild aggression and annoyance from GPs 1&2. GP3 always walks away and finds somewhere else to go. She usually stays away from them, in the colder open areas rather than the cosiest spots. I try to offer lots of cosy areas in case she is being pushed out but I’m not sure if she just likes the cold/fresh air/access to food and water more than the other two. In the morning I usually find her quite cold and alone, even though there’s room in the warm tunnels or house. I scoop her up and give her a cuddle.

I’m not sure what I can do to help her bond with the bigger piggies and to keep her warm at night.

They are outdoor piggies.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you.

Mummy S-G

Hi! Please make sure that you offer a second and even third warm area well away from the other. A walk-in cardboard box or two filled with plenty of soft hay (but not so tightly packed that your little girl cannot wiggle into) may give her that insulated spot away.

In the long term please consider whether splitting her off and allowing her to choose her own companion for a separate pair is the kindest solution. Trios are the most difficult of all combinations to get right because you are the most likely to end up with an outsider situation as more often than not two piggies will have a closer connection.

Please check for bullying with trial separation.
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Bonds In Trouble

It would also be good if you please planned for the winter months and brought your hutch under cover now that the summer is over, night frosts and autumn storms (including the remnants of hurricane Dorian) will be on the way again. Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs

 

[Mummy S-G]

Hi everyone

Thank you for your replies. I have read the suggested advice sections. We have a large two storey hutch with the bedroom compartment being one third of the top section. We have a little wooden house in there that the biggest piggy has chosen for herself and doesn’t normally share during the night. We also have a cosy tunnel next to it and another cosy tunnel on the other side at the top. They have mini fleeces to hide under so are quite warm in the bedroom area. We have a nest at the bottom too but none seem to interest her our little piggy. She prefers being exposed to the air, it seems. I am considering building her another house area downstairs away from the other two but I can’t make her nestle down and use it.

We are also considering buying a second hutch/cage, which we can have indoors as it gets colder, but it would be a lot smaller due to space. This would concern me as they are not all buddies yet. I could keep the two bigger piggies in the outdoor hutch and bring the little one inside at night. During the day they share spaces a bit more readily.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone

Thank you for your replies. I have read the suggested advice sections. We have a large two storey hutch with the bedroom compartment being one third of the top section. We have a little wooden house in there that the biggest piggy has chosen for herself and doesn’t normally share during the night. We also have a cosy tunnel next to it and another cosy tunnel on the other side at the top. They have mini fleeces to hide under so are quite warm in the bedroom area. We have a nest at the bottom too but none seem to interest her our little piggy. She prefers being exposed to the air, it seems. I am considering building her another house area downstairs away from the other two but I can’t make her nestle down and use it.

We are also considering buying a second hutch/cage, which we can have indoors as it gets colder, but it would be a lot smaller due to space. This would concern me as they are not all buddies yet. I could keep the two bigger piggies in the outdoor hutch and bring the little one inside at night. During the day they share spaces a bit more readily.

I would still recommend to invest in an indoors hutch to have ready and available in weather extremes or get a puppy run for indoors in addition for daily run time so you can interact with your piggies more easily.

The problem with several tiers is that guinea pigs are not climbers; they are ground roaming animals that prefer to live mostly on one level.
Any cage/hutch is therefore not counted for the overall space but for the space on the main living level. The other are added bonuses.

See how a hay box works.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum
I can’t add anything to the advice given but hope things work out for you.
We’d love to see some pictures of your herd

 

[Mummy S-G]

Welcome to the forum
I can’t add anything to the advice given but hope things work out for you.
We’d love to see some pictures of your herd

I’ll get some photos soon.