3 Piggies - Not Sure If Getting On?!

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Doragon

Doragon

Teenage Guinea Pig
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As some of you guys know, I picked up two baby guinea pigs to help my guinea pig Smudge cope with the loss of poor Cookie.

Anyway; the introduction went really really well and they all seemed to be getting on okay. I know it's normal to have some dominance - all I'm really hearing recently is the sounds of Smudge...it's not teeth chattering exactly; it's more like a grumble? I haven't seen her chase the babies exactly, it's mainly when they're in her way. Is this normal? I'm also concerned as I don't tend to see the babies eating and drinking often - I do split the food up between two separate bowls so that if Smudge is being possessive they can eat from a different bowl.

I've never had 3 all in together before so I just wanted to know what you guys thought? The babies seem fine; maybe they're being sneaking about when they're eating! But just wanted opinions.
 
DoragonHinansho said:
As some of you guys know, I picked up two baby guinea pigs to help my guinea pig Smudge cope with the loss of poor Cookie.

Anyway; the introduction went really really well and they all seemed to be getting on okay. I know it's normal to have some dominance - all I'm really hearing recently is the sounds of Smudge...it's not teeth chattering exactly; it's more like a grumble? I haven't seen her chase the babies exactly, it's mainly when they're in her way. Is this normal? I'm also concerned as I don't tend to see the babies eating and drinking often - I do split the food up between two separate bowls so that if Smudge is being possessive they can eat from a different bowl.

I've never had 3 all in together before so I just wanted to know what you guys thought? The babies seem fine; maybe they're being sneaking about when they're eating! But just wanted opinions.
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It sounds normal; group dominance takes about 2 weeks to settle down.

I would recommend to have one of each for each girl, bowl and hidey and to split veg and pellets into several smaller servings that can be eaten in one go. If Smudge is very dominant, I have on occasion found it useful to have one spare bowl for any piggy that has been chased of for the sake of dominance.
 
Thank you very much! I'm hoping it'll all settle down soon as we're approaching two weeks now. I do have extra bowls and things for each piggy just in case! The main concern is drinking, I have extra bottles in just in case too.
 
DoragonHinansho said:
Thank you very much! I'm hoping it'll all settle down soon as we're approaching two weeks now. I do have extra bowls and things for each piggy just in case! The main concern is drinking, I have extra bottles in just in case too.
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The little ones will learn drinking from Smudge; it is not something they can do instinctively, but as long as they have some juicy fresh veg, they won't dehydrate.
 
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