Frightened Guinea Pig

[Tiamolly123]

i have 6 piggies in 3 cages. 2 in each one. The top 2 look bored so I wondered if I could merge 2 cages so there is more to do. 1 of the piggies has moved over no problem, but when I try to move the other one, she hides & squeals.
I feel sorry for the one that wants to move on & sorry for the one that won't.
To bond I am putting them in a large run with hiding places. Any tips or should I not stress the one who doesn't want to go.
Should I improve there cage so there is more to play?

 

[Beans&Toast]

Are they all sows?
Some piggies are must most shy that others and don't like change... It may just take some patience

 

[Tiamolly123]

Are they all sows?
Some piggies are must most shy that others and don't like change... It may just take some patience

Yes all sows

 

[Beans&Toast]

That should have said "much more shy"

Is there a reason you haven't put them all together already?
Do some not get on or is it just for ease?

I think what you're doing already is he best way to go, allowing them to bond and spend time together in a run, try putting piles of veg in to keep them distracted and hopefully they'll be at ease with each other whilst they're munching

 

[Wiebke]

i have 6 piggies in 3 cages. 2 in each one. The top 2 look bored so I wondered if I could merge 2 cages so there is more to do. 1 of the piggies has moved over no problem, but when I try to move the other one, she hides & squeals.
I feel sorry for the one that wants to move on & sorry for the one that won't.
To bond I am putting them in a large run with hiding places. Any tips or should I not stress the one who doesn't want to go.
Should I improve there cage so there is more to play?

You can find several threads that give you lots of tips and explanations what is going on during bonding at the top of this section. We generally have got all the guides and information at the top of each Care section, which you might find very interesting to browse through.

Are your pairs male or female? You can try to merge females (the screaming is general submission screaming), but you can't keep 4 boars together; a boar quartet is about as unstable as they come and has a fall-out rate of 100% in the medium term.

Please remove all hideys during the bonding proper and only have hideys with 2 exits during the following dominance period, which can last up to two weeks. You always have to conduct any bonding in neutral space that is not part of any piggy's regular territory or otherwise, the reaction can be negative as any added piggies will feel and be treated as intruders.

Please take the time to read through these guides:
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sow Behaviour

 

[Tiamolly123]

You can find several threads that give you lots of tips and explanations what is going on during bonding at the top of this section. We generally have got all the guides and information at the top of each Care section, which you might find very interesting to browse through.

Are your pairs male or female? You can try to merge females (the screaming is general submission screaming), but you can't keep 4 boars together; a boar quartet is about as unstable as they come and has a fall-out rate of 100% in the medium term.

Please remove all hideys during the bonding proper and only have hideys with 2 exits during the following dominance period, which can last up to two weeks. You always have to conduct any bonding in neutral space that is not part of any piggy's regular territory or otherwise, the reaction can be negative as any added piggies will feel and be treated as intruders.

Please take the time to read through these guides:
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sow Behaviour

They are all sows Wiebke, I'll have a look at all the information threads, thanks