Any Bonding Experiences/advice?!

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LaurenKing

LaurenKing

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I'm just hoping for some experiences ideas from anyone who has already been through what I'm about to embark on!
I currently have 4 sows, 2 are about 18 months old and I successfully bonded them with two babies about 5 months ago. So I have 4 happy piggies who live together and go about their business with no problems at all. The bonding experience itself at the time was a white knuckle ride but I'm glad I stuck at it, it was well worth it.
But things are about to change! Tonight I'm picking up 2 more females who are unwanted. These girls are around 4 months old. As u have explained I have successfully bonded before but now I'm about to start again I'm getting nervous! Bonding 4 was one thing, now I have 6 to bond! I love my piggies and I have plenty of space for them both outside and inside so if all else fails the new additions could have their own home but I would like them all together really! Has anyone been through similar themselves? What were your outcomes? Any tips for bonding so many piggies? Do ages make any difference? Any experiences would be interesting to me! Thanks :o)
 
It should be easier for you this time, as you are now bonding a couple into a small group, especially as the newbies are both the youngest again, so there shouldn't be a big face off between the two top sows, which is when things can get really iffy!

You will still see plenty of dominance behaviour, which can last anything between a few days to a few weeks. The strongest dominance behaviour is usually exhibited by the sow just above in the hierarchy to make sure that she is retaining her position. Each bonding is different, and you can never tell beforehand how the dynamics are going to play out since it the whole is totally personality driven - and I am saying that with 40 plus group bondings! I am always glad when the dominance phase is over.

Here are our tips whic you may find helpful:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/
 
Thank you for the info! I'm both excited and nervous! I hope you're right about it being easier this time… last time took me about 3.5 hours of constant fighting and breaking up with a dustpan! One of my older ones in particular didn't like it one bit! Interesting you say it's normally the second pig down in the hierarchy who makes a fuss, as she isn't the rumblestrutter-so that makes sense in my case! Thanks again for your advice and suggestions! Can't wait til later to get started!
 
Please follow our advice and most importantly, do not put them together straight away. If they are fighting, please separate.
 
good luck @LaurenKing i'm introducing momma pig to her 3 ten-week-old daughters over the weekend. keeping everything crossed for you!
 
Aw best wishes @hattie.r! Hope all goes well! I won't be putting them straight together! They will start off in their own hutch that they are coming with, then after a few days I have a c&c cage that I will separate so newbies and oldies can get to know each other through the bars, then eventually I'll do what I did last time with neutral ground, a small amount of tasty hay and a dustpan to separate any viscious lunging! Let me know how you get on @hattie.r! X
 
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