How To Know When An Introduction Has Been Successful?

[squeakysmallpaws]

Hello,

It's been almost 3 years since I last did a guinea pig intro and I've only done two - they were fairly straight forward - neutered boar to sow combo.

Now I will be attempting to introduce a neutered boar and sow, to two sows - ages ranges from 2.5years to 4 years old (approx.)

So I'm refreshing my memory and putting in the research again. There is absolutely loads of information available on how to start the intro process and what to look out for in terms of behaviours. I've also read when you commit to it, you need to see it through. This is all fine, so I feel really prepared to know what to expect and the types of behaviours I will exhibit plus when to step in and when to leave alone, neutral territory and all that jazz.

But what I can't find is any information on how to know when the introduction has been successful and the newly bonded group can be moved to their permanent home?

What are the signs that guinea pigs are happy together, settling into the new group, have sorted out the hierarchy and are ready to come out of the neutral territory and go into their freshly cleaned out/rearranged but permanent home together?

In the neutral area should I start to put cosies/hideys and things down if things seem to be going well? My guinea pigs don't really tend to sleep together anyway - so I'm just not sure what I should be looking out for when I can say, great that's a success they can go back into the cage now!

Thanks for the help :-)

 

[Wiebke]

A usually short initial acceptance phase is followed by the dominance phase. You can move a group into their new cage anytime you feel that things are going well and there is no danger of things blowing up. If you are unsure, let them have a nap on neutral ground and see how they react afterwards. if tensions are continuously high, but the aggression is only going up to the wire but not over it, I would give the piggies another day on neutral ground but with a separated night. Thankfully, you can separate at need with cross gender bondings provided that you give the piggies plenty time to work through dominance issues under supervision.

I would strongly recommend to stay off any hideys at all in the neutral area and only add hideys with 2 exits as long the dominance phase is in full swing, especially if you are dealing with an excited boy. How long is individually very different. With an ideal match and lots of snuggling up, you can add them pretty immediately. if it is touch and go, it can take some days.

 

[squeakysmallpaws]

Thanks Wiebke :-)