Rescue bonding support for our ladies - want to merge groups

[Countrylass]

The three trios of ladies are settling down well since meeting each other. I'd like to merge at least two groups together but I know Lexi and Doris both want to be boss so I think me bonding them wouldn't do well for my nerves especially as mom would add extra stress when she wants them separated at the first sign of trouble. Can anyone recommend a rescue which has the bonding space for nine ladies? I don't mind adding extra piglets (neutered boar / sows), our maximum C&C cage size is 12 grids by 4 and I don't mind some travel to the right rescue.

I'm probably being selfish by wanting all the ladies together but it would give us more enrichment space for tunnels and hidies plus Emmeline could do laps of zoomies.

 

[Claire W]

Hello, have a look at our rescue locator and phone around and see if any are willing to help you Rescue Locator @Wiebke may also have some bonding advise as she has many years experience.

You may also find the following link helpful Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[VickiA]

I’m afraid I don’t know of any rescue that has the facilities or the time to offer bonding of such a large number of piggies, especially when these any piggies aren’t from their rescue. A herd bonding of that size would take a very large space and a large amount of time. Good luck.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

You would ideally need a good-size lawn pen and be aware that neither of the two leading ladies may want to give up her status; that is the big hiccup over which most group or adult pair mergers fail in my own experience. If there is no agreement at the top, the group will then often line up behind their own leader and agree to disagree.

My own groups have all been carefully built up around a dominant piggy (could be either gender) and a seed trio or quartet; any other piggies have either been much younger and unable to challenge the top or have come from a group/large herd background - preferably the lower tiers.

Many of us long term members have also made the experience that larger groups can fall apart after a piggy leadership generation or so and have got back to sticking to more stable smaller groups around 4-6 sows (with or without neutered 'husboar'); this about the size of the group that they come from in their species background. For large groups, guinea pigs tend to switch to a herd setting but with several smaller sub-groups forming that prefer to hang out together a bit more; again, these sub-groups tend to be around 3-6 sows and often rely on family ties or perceived relationships and similar ranking in the overal hierarchy of a larger group/herd. You have to be aware that any group dynamics are not a static concept and they continue to evolve, and that they can take a bad turn over a contested leadership change some time down the line.

Unfortunately, rescues will only rescue date for adoption purposes. They do not offer time intensive bonding (when they struggle with their time anyway) as a free service.

 

[Countrylass]

Thanks @Wiebke this helps to clarify things for us. We will switch to Plan G which will be to try each trio with a neutered boar to see if they can find their own Prince Charming's. This will be more like our previous group's and I do miss having a boar or three

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks @Wiebke this helps to clarify things for us. We will switch to Plan G which will be to try each trio with a neutered boar to see if they can find their own Prince Charming's. This will be more like our previous group's and I do miss having a boar or three

All the best!

I remember travelling with my three top sows (one of them being very iffy) from the ginger half of my newly split-half all the way to Kidsgrove on the train with two carriers 8 years ago for finding a new 'husboar' for them (who then promptly fell in love with a similar looking sow who didn't integrate...)

Not all older and very dominant will necessarily accept a husboar; not even a meek one; that is why going on a dating waiting list a rescue would be worth considering; especially if you are not in a hurry.

 

[Countrylass]

Ah the good old days of cross country travelling only to find that the older of your two sows has gone into full on mother mode defending her crying "child" and is trying to beat a poor boar into mush while looking terrified!

We are not in any rush and will probably wait for either Coseley or the Potteries to have a boar or two to try, gives us time to socialise the newer members too especially as Fifi is quite skittish.

 

[Wiebke]

Ah the good old days of cross country travelling only to find that the older of your two sows has gone into full on mother mode defending her crying "child" and is trying to beat a poor boar into mush while looking terrified!

We are not in any rush and will probably wait for either Coseley or the Potteries to have a boar or two to try, gives us time to socialise the newer members too especially as Fifi is quite skittish.

All the best!

I prefer to have a separate carrier for my dated piggies if at all possible and then do another formal bonding session on neutral ground at home as the stress during travel can lead to panic over-reactions.

PS: Bedo did travel with the most wlecoming of the three girls on the way home...