how 2 get two girls introduced ?

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amber20921

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ive read the read about two male pig's being introduced and their behaviour, but i was thinking about getting another girl piggy for suzy ( the 14 week old i have now) if i was to get another girl aroun d the same age ( give or take a few weeks ) what type of behaviour would be expected ? would they fight like boys ?
 
Girls usually don't fight (though I had one that did, but she had been freshly rescued from living with a rabbit for all her life, just to prove me wrong).

What you can expect is that they seem to "squabble" and "bully" a lot, which in reality is sorting out their relationship. The dominant girl will establish her priority and then try out how far she can push the other girl (until the undergirl draws a line). Being very dominant doesn't mean that they won't become best of friends afterwards, only what shape their relationship will take.

There will be rumbling and rumblestrutting like with the boys (she who rumbles last is top girl), you might get some low level chattering, quite a bit of headbutting/nipping with the undergirl protesting with loud squeals. Humping can happen; especially when one of the girls comes into season. Quite a lot of squealing and squeaking, if you have a drama queen.

How much and for how long you have it depends on how dominant your top girl is - it can take from just a few days to weeks. Top sow will stop whenever she is satisfied!

I'm wishing you the best of luck! Please don't interfere unless there are bloody, serious fights. It looks worse for the bystander, as piggies are not exactly subtle when they work out a hierarchy.
 
The only time I had a fight was when I popped one piggie (foolishly) in the other ones space. NEVER again.

If they are going to live in the cage where one is at home now make sure you do introduce them somewhere else and supervise it (obv watching not touching) and make sure when they both go in the cage it's big enough, there are places for them to hide seperately and it's been cleaned thoroughly and moved about so the existing piggy doesn't feel she's been invaded, she thinks she's somewhere new.

Good luck!
 
Sorry, dinner was ready - ALWAYS introduce guinea pigs on neutral ground (can be the lawn, or the bathroom floor or even the bathtub with an old towel for grip) and choose a time when you have several hours time to keep an eye on developments.

Make sure that they go in a thoroughly cleaned and freshly made up cage or hutch and have two separate places to sleep, as top girl will inevitably choose her favourite place and not let undergirl near it at first; same with food bowls.

It is not necessary to give them a bath beforehand; usually they are happy enough to have company (even if it doesan't always look like it!)!
 
thank you both very much :) so if i wasnt going to use c&c what would the suitable cage size be ?
 
Minimum cage space for two piggies is 2x4 ft.

I have a cage, as my hubby objects to C&C in the living room. It's also easier to move out when we have several people round; my guinea pigs also can go in their cage to their holiday place.
 
is that roughly 60x120 cm yeah ? did you get your cage from pets at home ? and also i know its hard to say but is the older guinea pig more likely to be the top girl ? or does age not matter ?
 
When I introduced Ebony to Disney and Paris (sisters), I put them in a run in the garden with some extra veg and left them to it, I can see them from the kitchen window.

There was a lot of bum sniffing but that was it and they all get on like a house on fire now ............ although top piggie Paris still gets her own way! :(|)
 
Vickyt said:
Yes, those are the right dimensions!

I got the same cage quite a bit cheaper from http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/rodents/cages/guinea_pig_cages

It's the Maxi XXL and it is being sold at £37.99 right now. I bought it on recommendation form the RSPCA.
Click to expand...


Thanks for that link Vicky ( have ordered one of those for the 2 fosters to live it over the wonter. I ordered the rabbit 120 stand and hope that this cage fits or I can get it to fit, the dimensions are virtually identical.

THANK YOU! :)
 
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