Unhappy Piggy? Worried Newbie Owner Advice Needed

[Moomin91]

Hi all proud newbie owner here that has been researching and reading countless forums on here already to prepare myself for the new arrivals but I really need some more advice and couldn't find any similar thread, I'm rather worried about one of our new Guinea pigs we brought 3 females home yesterday morning and I've left them alone and not handled them and plan to do so for the next couple of days to let them settle I have set up our video baby monitor so I can keep an eye on them without disturbing them. It's very clear from when when we chose them that one is very scared and jumpy compared to the others. At first they all snuggled together but it started to become obvious that our little scaredy pig wasn't staying with the others and was hiding in the corner on her own, We have a two teir hutch and Scaredy pig was surprisingly the first one to venture down to the bottom teir first and has stayed down there ever since just hiding in the corner and hasn't moved nor gone back upstairs which worrys me as food and water is upstairs I've put some fresh veg downstairs for her but she hasn't touched it. I know it's very early days I'm just worried she seem to have secluded herself from the others and is unhappy in her new home. I didn't know if I should put her back upstairs with the others in case she was too nervous to go back up the ramp on her own or just leave her be for a little while and hope she goes up for some food and water but I'm reluctant to try to pick her up and scare her even more.
Any tips or advice very welcome please! thanks in advance.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Please provide water, hay and food on all levels. You have to be aware that guinea pigs take time to settle into their new surroundings. During that time, they also need to establish/re-establish a hierarchy amongst themselves, which is on average taking two weeks, so you will see a quite a bit of dominance behaviour between the sows.

It is a common misconception that all guinea pigs are snuggly and cuddly and that sows always get on. They aren't; they are just like everyday human people. Especially trios are very prone to end up with some kind of 2+1 outsider constellation. For the time being, you have to simply sit it out and them sort themselves out in their own time. What you are seeing is not at all unusual for that early stage when everything is new and scary.

You may find the detailed guides on settling in and behaviour in our starter kit most helpful to understand what is going on. Guinea pig dominance can come as a bit of a shock to new owners, but there is no way around it as it lies at the very core of guinea pig society. In a group, the bottom pig defines the group as much as the top pig; they all have their function and role.
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[Moomin91]

Thanks that's reassured me that's it's normal! I shall pick up another water bottle and bowl for pellets today for the second level she's got lots of hay and fresh veg down there already. Is this something that will be a constant thing or will she socialise eventually? I know they are very social animals and hate the thought of her on her own all the time
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Tiamolly123]

Mine were a bit like that. I had a couple of long feeders, well they were a 3 compartment dip thingy. I put it in the middle of the cage so they could get all round it to feed, my shy one was happy with that. Although Wiebke is right about food & water on both levels though, hope they settle in soon.
Photos please so we can drool over them.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks that's reassured me that's it's normal! I shall pick up another water bottle and bowl for pellets today for the second level she's got lots of hay and fresh veg down there already. Is this something that will be a constant thing or will she socialise eventually? I know they are very social animals and hate the thought of her on her own all the time
Thanks for the advice!

it very much depends on the group dynamic whether she integrates or stays an outsider. In the long term, you will have to monitor and review the situation (but not in the next few weeks!). I have had successful trios and they were lovely, but more often trios that didn't quite work out the way I wanted and where I had to find alternative solutions, based on the individual personality, the group dynamics and specific issues that did arise.

 

[Moomin91]

Ok thanks I shall keep an eye on it and fingers crossed she joins in again.just so I know the possible outcomes if this was to continue a few months down the line, what would be my options?

 

[Wiebke]

Ok thanks I shall keep an eye on it and fingers crossed she joins in again.just so I know the possible outcomes if this was to continue a few months down the line, what would be my options?

Either try introducing a neutered boar, preferably one you can date at a rescue (so acceptance is guaranteed). From four guinea pigs onwards, piggies develop mini-group dynamics. A boar needs to get on with all sows to mate. If that doesn't work out, you can split off the outsider to form two pairs. The other option would be to plit off the outsider and to pair her with a sow that is submissive to her or very laid back - again ideally by dating at a good rescue to ensure character compatibility and mutual liking.
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator

 

[Moomin91]

Pleased to say I had a bit of a breakthrough early this afternoon I was putting in another bowl,water bottle and another hidey house as made my other half take me to the pet shop this afternoon and also did a bit of spot cleaning ( I can't believe how much they poop!) the other two Guinea pigs where hiding in their tunnelling the top teir so I picked the tunnel up and popped them on to the lower teir so I could reach the rest of the poo one of them ran straight back upstairs as soon as I was gone but the most confident one stayed downstairs for a good half hour exploring and playing chase with each other, It's the most I've seen her move! I snooped on them again an hour later on the video monitor and she had gone upstairs to join them feel a lot happier now! So might make a point tomorrow of popping them on the lower teir again.
Hopefully everything will work out! my other halfs face was priceless when I said we might have to get another pig if things didn't work out!
thanks for all your help!