When To Introduce My Girls

[LilyThePiggy]

I recently got a second guinea pig for company for my first Lily who's been alone for years. I got Meg a couple of weeks ago and keep her in her own cage next to Lily's cage while I slowly gain her trust. I was wondering if i should wait until she is completely comfortable with me or slowly start introducing her to Lily now. Meg's already quite bold and comes up to me I just can't touch her yet and they both seem to want to meet.
What should I do?

 

[Beans&Toast]

Do the introduction on neutral ground and let them get to know each other. They may nibble each others ears or try mounting each other, this is fine, it's just friendly dominance behaviour. Put some hidey house and piles of hay in with them to give them something to do

 

[Wiebke]

I recently got a second guinea pig for company for my first Lily who's been alone for years. I got Meg a couple of weeks ago and keep her in her own cage next to Lily's cage while I slowly gain her trust. I was wondering if i should wait until she is completely comfortable with me or slowly start introducing her to Lily now. Meg's already quite bold and comes up to me I just can't touch her yet and they both seem to want to meet.
What should I do?

They can meet anytime you have got several hours or ideally a couple of days time to supervise the bonding and the transfer to the cage; piggies need to be together more than you need to be friends with them! Please stage the introduction on neutral ground and brace yourself for the inevitable dominance behaviour when your girls establish a hierarchy.
We have got lots of guides on how to introduce and on domnance behaviours. Please take your time to read through them, so you can judge what is going on.
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sow Behaviour

Best of luck!

 

[LilyThePiggy]

So it's ok to introduce them even when Meg is still unsure about people? I'm just scared when I take her out to introduce them I will scare Meg and she won't trust me ever.

 

[Wiebke]

So it's ok to introduce them even when Meg is still unsure about people? I'm just scared when I take her out to introduce them I will scare Meg and she won't trust me ever.

No, Meg is much more likely to come round much quicker when she can take her cues from a bolder piggy. That is my own experience; what they crave is companionship with their own kind; you build your own bond from there, but introductions won't mar them at all!

 

[Beans&Toast]

So it's ok to introduce them even when Meg is still unsure about people? I'm just scared when I take her out to introduce them I will scare Meg and she won't trust me ever.

I was worried about one of my piggies not trusting me last week as I had to give her medication and it was a case of tough love. I felt awful for what I had to do to get the medication in and thought she'd never trust me again. But an hour after giving the horrible medication she was climbing up me again snuggling in

 

[Wiebke]

PS: Peg a blanket over the bonding pen or stage intros under the kitchen table; that will give her a feeling of security.