Pigs won't stop fighting! Help!

[Bubbles]

I have had Molly and Matilda for a month now and they've always been the best friends. Last week Maggie joined the family, we got her from a family who couldn't look after her properly anymore so I said I'd take her. I fell in love with her instantly, she's such a beautiful pig, how could I turn her down? The problem is it seems to me that Molly and Matilda just won't stop bullying her! They always seem to be shoving her around and she seems extremley nervous whenever she's near them. I just don't understand it - Molly and Matilda both came from a pet store (not a great idea I know) so they are still babies. But Maggie just seems so sad and it's breaking my heart, I just don't know what to do. My dad said that if they keep on bullying her we'll have to house Maggie in a different hutch but as he's made it clear that I'm not allowed any more guinea pigs, I'm scared she'll be lonely by herself, but then again I don't want her to be kept getting picked on! What should I do? Should I just keep an eye on them and if they continue to bully her house her in a seperate hutch? And could I put the hutches opposite each other so Maggie won't feel quite as lonely? Help, I don't know what to do!

 

[Beks]

Did you put them straight in together or have you done it gradual? sometimes it can take a while for groups to adapt to a new addition....

You could try keep her seperate with a divider or bathing them all so they are similar smelling can help the transition. Just keep an eye on them and give them a bit of time.

Let us know how you get on

 

[amillar]

Hope they settle down. I have three girl pigs Pinkie and Perkie, two adults and the baby girl of Perkie. The two adults often nipped at but never hurt the baby i think it was just so she knew her place. Now as she is getting older they are on more equal terms.

Watch them and give the new one lots of attention and hopefully they will be ok.

 

[starshine]

Odd numbers of pigs are often hard to keep happy - one always seems to be left out as you are describing here.

Have you tried giving them all a bath together and then putting them back into a scrubbed and rearranged cage so none of them recognises it as their own teritory?

If Maggie seems depressed I think you need to consider splitting them up and getting Maggie a friend of her own. You could also try adding a neutered boar to your trio as this often settles fiesty girls!

 

[michellemuffin]

can you not build a run indoors so that you can keep an eye on them, I'm a big bleiver in getting similar characters to blend in together, my best success is 3 boys galaxy jinx and patch are in a run toghter and love each other last night i thought Jinx and galaxy were kissing then noticed a piece of hay in their mouths awwww they never fight and sleep snuggled together, my tips are

give them plenty of space try time together and time apart, gradually increasing time together until they stay together, give them enough food and water so no fights occur over them and plenty of hidey places plenty of hay to hide away if they want to, a bath is a good idea all at the same time and complete change of bedding, they might just be wanting to let her know whos boss pig,
I have a hugh shed with one massive run with 16 girls in it so it can and does work, just takes time and effort. good luck.