Quad problems

[Izzieswebb]

Hi, I currently have 4 guinea pigs of which 2 females (7 months old) were a previously bonded pair from a rescue who I successfully bonded to my lone male ( 5 years old) about 3 months ago. They both get on his nerves a bit as they are quite lively but they live together happily and have done for a while.

Last week a family member decided they didn’t want their single female ( 6 months) after its cage mate passed away so I took her in with the plan to bond her to form a quad. I did this and the bonding appeared successful ending in them all eating hay in one corner of the pen but now the original 2 females have been bullying and lunging at the newer one. Yesterday her eye was bleeding and part of her ear (nothing serious just a scratch) but I decided I needed to separate them so they are now the original bonded female pair and the old male and new girl in a 4 by 4 c&c split down the middle (temporary).But now the original 3 chew the bars and try to get to each other a lot. Once they succeeded and the girls began to popcorn so it’s obvious they miss him. I really don’t know what to do, one one hand the new girl was doing very badly alone and has gotten better with the male but she can’t be with the other girls but also the original 3 miss each other. Should I leave them and they will get used to it over time? Also could it be because of their hormones and I may have a chance of reintroducing them later as they’re only 6/7 months old? Sorry this is so long I’m just really stuck.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Adding a piggy on spec always has the potential to not work out. A bond won’t work without character compatibility and if the original piggies won’t accept her then there isn’t anything you can do. They don’t usually change their minds and decide to like a piggy later down the line.

I’m not sure whether the original three will learn to accept their new living arrangements or whether you might be better off to find a new friend for the new girl via dating at a rescue centre and leave the original three together

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

 

[Izzieswebb]

Adding a piggy on spec always has the potential to not work out. A bond won’t work without character compatibility and if the original piggies won’t accept her then there isn’t anything you can do. They don’t usually change their minds and decide to like a piggy later down the line.

I’m not sure whether the original three will learn to accept their new living arrangements or whether you might be better off to find a new friend for the new girl via dating at a rescue centre and leave the original three together

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

Thank you for your reply. I guess time will tell if they will accept living separately or not. I’ve ordered more c&c grids so I can build them 2 separate cages so that might help. The only problem I would have with adding a new pig is space. I have enough room for a 4x5 but that’s it. Would this be big enough for a three and a two spoilt up if it came to that?

 

[Merab]

Sorry the bonding failed.
I can’t add to the advice @Piggies&buns has given but wanted to offer support

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your reply. I guess time will tell if they will accept living separately or not. I’ve ordered more c&c grids so I can build them 2 separate cages so that might help. The only problem I would have with adding a new pig is space. I have enough room for a 4x5 but that’s it. Would this be big enough for a three and a two spoilt up if it came to that?

Hi!

Yes, you can split the area into two 2x5 cages and still be above minimal recommendations.
Cage Size Guide

You can also consider going up another level with putting a second (smaller) cage on a table standing within the grounds on the bottom pen.


Unfortunately you cannot make piggies that are not getting on make do so. When bonding on spec, you always have to have a plan B at the back of your mind.

 

[Izzieswebb]

Hi!

Yes, you can split the area into two 2x5 cages and still be above minimal recommendations.
Cage Size Guide

You can also consider going up another level with putting a second (smaller) cage on a table standing within the grounds on the bottom pen.
View attachment 157563

Unfortunately you cannot make piggies that are not getting on make do so. When bonding on spec, you always have to have a plan B at the back of your mind.

Thanks for the help!