First time bonding - need reassurance :(

[Smoo]

I recently acquired two baby sows (separately) one is 15 weeks old my other baby girl 7 weeks. I tried bonding them together Sunday afternoon, neutral space. My older girl instantly decided to start chasing and nipping on the bum and lots of squeeling from baby girl. After a little while they calmed down and were huddled together in the blanket I'd put down.
I put them into their cage together, scrubbed out lots of fresh hay etc and instantly older girl started the chasing and nipping again. My poor baby was huddled in the corner too scared to move only when she was chased out again. I really wanted to scoop her out but didn't want to disrupt it so it could start all over again when I put her back.
By yesterday it had calmed down, my older girl is happily munching away and wheeking for veg, even popcorning around. I saw some rumblestrutting from her but no nipping, although I am still hearing squeeling from baby girl occasionally. I haven't seen her eat or drink since I put them in together she's nibbled on some hay and a bit of veg but I'm quite worried, I've put out two bowls/drink bottles etc and scattered some celery in the hope she'll take some.
I think I was very naive assuming that because they are both young girls they'd get along. When I introduced older girl to my separete older pair (sows) there was no aggression, just curiosity and they have been out on the grass together no problems.

Just need some reassurance I guess. Am I doing everything right, feel so sorry for my baby girl right now. Forgot to mention I've checked her over and physically she's absolutely fine. No bite marks/blood drawn.

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

I know exactly how you feel! I have just bonded my trio and pair of girls and I agree you get to the point where you aren't quite sure what to do for the best. Your girls behaviour sounds quite normal, I also found with my 5 that when I moved them into their new home they also started chasing, nipping and rumbling again but it settled down very quickly.

If you are concerned that your little one isn't eating very much could you separate her just for a few minutes so you can give her some food away from her new friend? Also with the two together try adding some small piles of grass, must piggies will tuck into that.

Good luck and stick with it, the girls will settle down in time.

 

[Smoo]

Thank you, that's really put my mind at rest. I've actually got my older girls out on the grass right now. Very tempted to put them all out together, the grass distracting them and the older girls being very laid back may just look after baby girl? Do you think this is a good idea? I don't want to stir things up again :S

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

Who knows, you never can tell! My littlest piggy turned out to be the trouble maker! I have always had a herd of girlies in the past, but over the years our numbers dwindled until I was left with just a pair. Since last Autumn we have "acquired" various waifs and strays, hence the pair and trio - I also have a little newly neutered boar who was a "surprise" from one of the rescue girls, so I will be going through the whole bonding process again in about a months time! I love watching the ins and outs of herd life, hence bonding my groups.

If you have space and a large enough cage to house 4 girlies in you could try them together on the lawn, or better still if you can pop another run next to the one your older girls are in, or split it in two, you could see how they get on through the run bars first? It really depends whether you want two pairs or a group?

 

[Wiebke]

It sounds all like normal dominance - the loud squealing from the underpiggy is submission.

In my experience, insecure piggies tend to go over the top a bit; piggies that are happy with themselves, their surroundings and friends are much more relaxed. You can try to take as many stress factors out of the equation by letting any girls live next door to each other for a few days to settle down, get the routine and their friends-to-be, but each intro is different and by far not all are just a smooth joining. It is not easy to sit it out for piggy newbies, as they work to a completely different handbook than us humans.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561