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Re-introducing Guinea Pigs - Different Stages.

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JuliaKK

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Hello, we would like to get advice on the guinea pig bonding. We started bonding our neighbour's bereaved guinea pig with our bereaved guinea pig over the weekend. To start with, they were both in separate hutches next to each other for 2 days. Angles (ours) was very curious and kept climbing up the bars to have a better look. She was also sniffing a lot but there was no rumbling or teeth chattering from either of them. Yesterday morning, we used our family bathroom with lots of hay and vegetables to put them together. They were very sweet and the initial reaction was a lot of grooming, licking each other and sniffing each other. They were both quite happy to accept grooming from each other and we were quite encouraged.
They were quite active for a bit and then they had a rest next to each other on the bathroom floor. At this stage, we cleaned and re-arranged the hutch and moved them both to the hutch in the afternoon. Dynamics changed since then. Angles has been trying to mount our neighbour's guinea pig and to start with, she didn't seem to mind too much. Towards the evening, they both started teeth chattering and we had to put in a thin piece of wood for the night to divide the hutch, as they both looked very aggressive towards each other. Today, they either keep the distance from each other or both start teeth chattering if they get close, raising their heads and puffing out. We don't have any experience of bonding but it does look like that they will go for each other. We read that teeth chattering is quite common when the guinea pigs are first introduced. Is it a normal pattern for Day 2 or should be concerned? We are happy to carry on but it's intense to watch the dynamics, as we wouldn't want them to hurt each other. Thank you so much, Julia
 
JuliaKK said:
Hello, we would like to get advice on the guinea pig bonding. We started bonding our neighbour's bereaved guinea pig with our bereaved guinea pig over the weekend. To start with, they were both in separate hutches next to each other for 2 days. Angles (ours) was very curious and kept climbing up the bars to have a better look. She was also sniffing a lot but there was no rumbling or teeth chattering from either of them. Yesterday morning, we used our family bathroom with lots of hay and vegetables to put them together. They were very sweet and the initial reaction was a lot of grooming, licking each other and sniffing each other. They were both quite happy to accept grooming from each other and we were quite encouraged.
They were quite active for a bit and then they had a rest next to each other on the bathroom floor. At this stage, we cleaned and re-arranged the hutch and moved them both to the hutch in the afternoon. Dynamics changed since then. Angles has been trying to mount our neighbour's guinea pig and to start with, she didn't seem to mind too much. Towards the evening, they both started teeth chattering and we had to put in a thin piece of wood for the night to divide the hutch, as they both looked very aggressive towards each other. Today, they either keep the distance from each other or both start teeth chattering if they get close, raising their heads and puffing out. We don't have any experience of bonding but it does look like that they will go for each other. We read that teeth chattering is quite common when the guinea pigs are first introduced. Is it a normal pattern for Day 2 or should be concerned? We are happy to carry on but it's intense to watch the dynamics, as we wouldn't want them to hurt each other. Thank you so much, Julia
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Your piggies have passed the acceptance stage and are now in the domiance phase. Do not split unless there is a fight.

Please take the time to read our detailed bonding guide. One of the scenarios discussed is a bonding between two fairly evenly matched dominant sows: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
 
:agr:
They've passed the "do we want to live together" phase and now they are at the "who is top pig" phase. Sows can take a while to sort this out. But I wouldn't separate unless there is a full on fight. They will probably work this one out if you leave them to it. It takes nerves of steel to do bondings!
 
Hey I introduced my new baby pig to my five month old last weekend. The older pig is definitely the boss of the baby but the baby just accepts this and does as she's told! Older piggie still rumblestruts sometimes to show her dominance but they are fine together now! I definitely wouldn't separate them it does take a while for them to get used to each other!
 
Hi All, thanks for your re-assurance; it's very helpful. As we are totally new to this, we haven't got the confidence to know if the relationship is developing as it should. It sounds like it is and we will persevere with bonding. I may be in touch if there are more queries. With best wishes, Julia
 
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