Adding another Sow

[rabbitdan]

I would like to add another Sow to my pair. I have found one near me that needs a home.

My piggies get along well and don't show any threatening behavior towards each other. They are very peaceful.

How do you introduce them safely? Is it like Rabbits where it can take months or is it more just 'love at first sight' sort of thing?

 

[Amysmom]

We added another sow to our pair and it worked out beautifully

We put a big towel in the bath and put them in together-you have more control of the situation using the bath i think.
We also put hay in there so they were munching together-they had a sniff around the new baby and it was fine.

It actually seemed to bring out the best in the two sisters we already had-Lottie used to 'peck' at Bonnie a lot but she hardly does it now. We even saw them grooming the new baby which was really sweet

 

[rabbitdan]

We added another sow to our pair and it worked out beautifully

We put a big towel in the bath and put them in together-you have more control of the situation using the bath i think.
We also put hay in there so they were munching together-they had a sniff around the new baby and it was fine.

It actually seemed to bring out the best in the two sisters we already had-Lottie used to 'peck' at Bonnie a lot but she hardly does it now. We even saw them grooming the new baby which was really sweet

Thanks for your reply

 

[Wiebke]

Here are tips for introductions: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562

Please be aware that adding a third piggy does not always work out; trios are the most difficult combination to get right without ending up with an outsider problem of some kind in the longer term. A well bonded couple does not always like a newcomer.

Let the newbie live next to your girls for a few days so she can settle in, get to know her future mates through the bars and has as many extraneous stress factors taken out of the equation when you come to the intro proper. You can stage the intro over several days, but you always need to give it several hours in one go or the piggies won't be able to work out their relationship. Interrupt as little as possible.

Generally, the acceptance phase takes about 5-20 minutes from first interaction which should be fairly quick - a plate of food or hay helps to bring them together. Then it moves straight into the dominance phase if acceptance has happened. Any instant hostilities (teeth chattering or worse - have a look at the boar behaviour thread for the list of aggressive behaviours) or a refusal to interact is a bad sign. Things can blow up during the dominance phase if the wrong signals are given, so you need to keep an eye on things if things are not going quite as smoothly. Some of my girls have enjoyed just toeing this side of the line for a whole day... mallethead

Best of luck!

 

[rabbitdan]

Here are tips for introductions: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562

Please be aware that adding a third piggy does not always work out; trios are the most difficult combination to get right without ending up with an outsider problem of some kind in the longer term. A well bonded couple does not always like a newcomer.

Let the newbie live next to your girls for a few days so she can settle in, get to know her future mates through the bars and has as many extraneous stress factors taken out of the equation when you come to the intro proper. You can stage the intro over several days, but you always need to give it several hours in one go or the piggies won't be able to work out their relationship. Interrupt as little as possible.

Generally, the acceptance phase takes about 5-20 minutes from first interaction which should be fairly quick - a plate of food or hay helps to bring them together. Then it moves straight into the dominance phase if acceptance has happened. Any instant hostilities (teeth chattering or worse - have a look at the boar behaviour thread for the list of aggressive behaviours) or a refusal to interact is a bad sign. Things can blow up during the dominance phase if the wrong signals are given, so you need to keep an eye on things if things are not going quite as smoothly. Some of my girls have enjoyed just toeing this side of the line for a whole day... mallethead

Best of luck!

Thanks, The lady who currently has the new edition (possibly) has said she will have her back if they don't get on.

 

[rabbitdan]

The Sow (Jasmine) is coming on Wednesday.

The lady is bringing her down to see if they get on well. She has suggested putting them all in the run together. Is this a good method?