Had to come home empty-handed :(

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Ree

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Hi everyone,

I've got a problem with my darling heidi, the most sweet natured guinea pig in the world went beserk and bit everything in sight when I tried to introduce her to other piggies today.

She's 2 years old and lives with my neutered boar, they never even squabble let alone fight so to say I'm shocked at her behaviour this afternoon is an understatement!

The rescue I got her from had her housed with at least 5 other females (and my boar) so why won't she accept a new flatmate now? We introduced them on neutral ground, first with an older pig who she bit, then 2 younger ones who she bit even worse. Thank goodness I took her along to the rescue with me to see if they would get along as I would hate to have found this out at home, but still, it seems like such a shame that I have all this room and can't use it.

Any advice?
x
 
No she's been absolutely fine, nothing wrong at all. The only thing I can think of is that I built them a new cage the day before yesterday which could have upset her maybe? Or the car journey on the way down there? I don't know.

Looking at her cute little face right now you would never believe she has such a demonic side to her :{
xx
 
well maybe you could give her some time and try again. if it doesn't work why dont you just get the other girls in a separate cage?
 
When I introduced Charlotte to Lexi and Kizzy I was so suprised at Charlottes behaviour towards them. Usually she is so sweet but she turned into a little monster. She fought really badly with Kizzy and bit Lexi when she got in the way so we separated them and tried again after they calmed down. They had a few nips and scuffles but eventually it was Kizzy who backed down and Charlotte became boss over the bonded two. Lexi has been in heat I think recently so the rumbling and bum wiggling has started up again but nothing nasty just lots of stroppy pigs prancing about. Was you piggy nipping the others to tell them she was boss or was it a full on fur flying fight? Ooooh too many Fs :))
 
I was thinking maybe it was the car journey or the being on unfamiliar ground with piggies she didn't know put her on the defensive so she decided to get in first?

Sorry you came home empty handed.
 
Thanks for the replies :)

Piggyme yeah it was full on fur flying fighting (yup, too many f's :(|)) When I picked her up and she had a big wad of hair in her mouth...which she ate. Nice. I think she was just being defensive though, she must have been freaked out by all the smells and whatnot so hopefully if I do things differently we can still have the big happy family I dream of!

What do think about getting the new piggies home, putting them in a seperate cage for a while and then introducing them slowly into her territory? Are females territorial? I really want them to all live in the same cage eventually as I used to feel a bit depressed looking at my 2 in the shop bought one, I dont know why because they were ok in there, I think I'm just weird!

The new cage is big but it can't be divided, there's ramps and things going across the cage to the upper level which, grrr, I can't really explain without photos.

What's the best way to do this? I've only had 3 guinea pigs so don't really know that much about this kind of thing, I've never had to introduce any before as my 2 came together and just got on with it.
Thanks for the advice so far, gives me a bit of hope!
x
 
I have brought each of mine home and only once I introduced a pig to an existing pigs cage - then there was a full on scrap!

I have after a short quarantine period introduced each of my pigs in the outside run as neutral territory. Then while they were in the run either changed or thoroughy cleaned and moved about the cage so it's a new cage and no ones territory. I have to say in the run each introduction session has gone to plan. I have 6 living together happily. There's the odd rumble or gentle nip but that's it. I have always introduced babies so i don't know if that has helped, they have been between 6 and 8 weeks old being introduced.

I hope you manage to sort it out and get the piggy family you are hoping for.
 
Thanks Lisa, I've been reading about introducing them in the bath so would that count as neutral territory? I can't move the new cage so if I put them all in the old in the old cage (which is no ones at the moment), then clean out the new one and put them all back in together would that work? I'm making this complicated aren't I!

The lady at the rescue has some babies coming so she said she would give me a call and try my little menace with those when they're ready to go. Theres still hope but I'm not sure I would trust her with defenceless babies after yesterday :...
x
 
Sometimes an older sow who is grumpy with other sows really responds well to young, perhaps it brings out the mothering instinct in them? It would be at least worth trying, some of my grumpiest sows have accepted a young baby sow in their cage :)
 
Yes the bath would be fine (with a big pile of grass or veggies or something). As for the cage - yes why not, as long as they don't go back to what one sow classes as 'hers'. So wherever as long as its clean of smells or either one pig or the other.

A baby may well be the answer, it's worked for me and if I ever do get another guinea for my herd it will be a baby / young one.

Good luck!
 
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Ok so I'll try with babies (gulp) in exactly the way you've all said on here. Keep your fingers, toes and whatever else bends crossed for me!

This is the first time I've ever posted pics on a website so I hope it works, I just wanted to show you the cute little face which hides such murderous intentions.

[*]https://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/reecy_2009/piggy5.jpg[/*]https://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/reecy_2009/piggy3.jpg

And for no reason other than he's lovely, my big boy Harry

https://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/reecy_2009/piggy1.jpg

And them together

https://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/reecy_2009/piggy4.jpg

Hope it works and thanks again for advice, it's been very helpful x
 
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