Open-cage bonding query / problem

D

Digital-Sneeze

Junior Guinea Pig
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My 4.5 year old sow Truffle recently went off for 3 weeks to be bonded to a 1 year old sow and boar. The bonding was successful, however, now they're all back with me it seems that Truffle is largely opting to live outside the cage. While she has everything she needs there, I'm concerned this is causing an issue with her being inside the cage, as every time she's there the bonding process seems to begin anew. While amicable and normal, she's never really been particularly interested in other guinea pigs.

Should I consider locking the cage so they all have to remain there (it's a 5x2 c&c cage) in order for the bonding to stabilise, or should I keep the cage open and assume it will all sort itself out at some point? I'm worried the open nature of the setup is just causing the new pigs to think that the cage is theirs alone.

Thanks
 
So just so I’m clear, you have a 5x2 cage but there is a panel left out so they can free roam the room.

How long have they been back home with you?
Moving from the rescue centre back to your home is a new territory and will cause a new round of establishing the bond for up to another two weeks so seeing it to some extent is to be expected. However what you are describing does sound like she is avoiding that area and potentially they are starting to see it as their space.

I think it would be a good idea to put new bedding in the cage (so removing all their scent) and then lock the cage up so the three of them in and see what happens with them.

Reacting to group or territorial changes: Dominance and group establishment/re-establishment
 
Piggies&buns said:
So just so I’m clear, you have a 5x2 cage but there is a panel left out so they can free roam the room.

How long have they been back home with you?
Moving from the rescue centre back to your home is a new territory and will cause a new round of establishing the bond for up to another two weeks so seeing it to some extent is to be expected. However what you are describing does sound like she is avoiding that area and potentially they are starting to see it as their space.

I think it would be a good idea to put new bedding in the cage (so removing all their scent) and then lock the cage up so the three of them in and see what happens with them.

Reacting to group or territorial changes: Dominance and group establishment/re-establishment
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Yes that's correct. It's only been 24 hours or so, so I'm probably jumping the gun a bit, but I thought I would get some advice before causing an ingrained problem that would be harder to undo.

To be honest it was my intention to restrict them to the cage initially, but my new boar decided to immediately leave the cage as I was introducing them to it for the first time, with the intent of exploring, so I ending up leaving them to it as they seemed to happy doing so, so it seems that's definitely my mistake. I think I underestimated Truffle's avoidance personality.

I'll look to restarting the bond within the cage.
 
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