Introducing new guinea pigs?

Question

So I got 2 new girls , not on purpose really. But i already have 2 females. I have kept them seperated for 3 weeks now making sure the new kids are healthy.

did the bathing of all of them and introduced them on a large fleece blanket in the living room. My first 2 girls are sisters and still very young only around 4 months old. the new girls are sisters as well and around 2 months old.

problem is one of my older girls seemed to do fine. she sniffed and went right up to the new girls. but then she started attacking her sister whenever she came near the new ones.

now both sets are back in their seperate cages, but the older sisters are still fighting. no bloodshed and no squeeling but the one is biting the sister on her back and rearing up whenever she comes around and won't let her into the hide house.

Are you supposed to introduce guinea pigs this young to one another?

Is this normal behavior for the older girls?

Should i continue to introduce them?

Answer 1

Girls are much easier to introduce in my experience so continue to introduce them.

When you introduce a pair to another pair, it breaks the relationship. They all have to prove who they are in the herd, especially the dominate one.

Check out www.guinealynx.com, they have an introduction page that can tell you what to expect.

Just make sure they are all girls and then introduce them. I dont know where you got your piggies, but petstores/ shelters are known to mis-s*x them.

Answer 2

It sounds like you've done everything right. I would not separate them any more. If you keep introducing them & then separate them when they start bickering, they have to start all over again when you try to introduce them the next time.

They will just have to work out their differences. Even the established sisters will be going through an adjustment period as they figure out amongst themselves who will be the "top pig". This can be very nerve-wracking to watch, but it must be done if you want all of them to co-habitate.

Generally, the younger the piggies are when introduced, the less bickering that will occur. Being a pigloo (water bottle, food dish, etc.) hog is one way of showing dominance.

As long as there is no bloodshed, leave them be. Do the intro's again when you have plenty of time to spend sitting next to the cage to watch for all out fighting. Have a towel ready to throw over the fighting pair, should this occur. Chances are high there will be some bum sniffing, mounting, chasing, and hard nudging that goes on for a bit, but things should settle down within 24-36 hours. Sows *usually* have little problem adjusting to new cagemates.

Good luck!

Answer 3

you will of course have checked and checked again that the sexing of your pig was correct !] my preferred method is on my settee - I get one of the existing pigs out and pop them on the settee then get the new one out too and sit her gently down, stroking both of them, feeding them a slice of cucumber each then sitting back and letting them have space to say hello and get acquainted. You will see them sniff noses, under chins, in ears, you may see them 'rumble' and rub against each other - don't panic - this is all normal communication ! Make sure you have a towel to quickly drop on them should they start to fight though, never use your hand ! I have to say I've never had a squabble with these one on one introductions, though I may have been lucky - but by this time they are well used to each others smells because of step 3. Here are pics of Poppy's one on ones !

Answer 4

I had the exact problem with my boars. I had two (not brothers) that were bonded and got along great. I got two more a few months later and the two I already had started fighting. They all get along but the oldest(dominant) one still fights with the one he was bonded to before. I don't understand it.

Introducing a pair was fairly simple compared to adding 2 to 2.  I currently have them separated, 2ea in 2 cages.

Answer 5

since it was their first introduction and they are young babies i would just keep trying, as long as bloodshed or mauling of ears is not occuring.

the sisters are getting to an age where they will be working out the order themselves wether or not you add new friends to them.  so it could have just brought it on.

how did the younger ones react?  was the problem only with the older already established pair?

i think since they are young you have a good chance of having a peaceful herd with just the normal pecking order occassionally.

the cage you're building sounds huge!  that should be enough room for all of the girls to have their own space, as long as you provide as many hide boxes as you need.  the older sisters may just need seperate boxes.

but it was their first introduction.  i wouldn't worry too much.  it takes weeks sometimes months for guinea pigs to become accustomed to one another.  and you might find that one sister bonds with the newer ones more, but still won't leave the one out completely.

it will be trial and error.  just make sure you are observing them until you are sure no harm is going to come when left alone.