Introducing a 3rd Sow

[stripypig]

I have two (second hand - as my vet affectionately calls them) sows who live quite happily together.

Gizmo is approx 3-4 years old (previous owners were a bit vague) and Pip is 14 months old.

I will be introducing a 3rd sow who is 4 months old to them and was wondering the best way of going about it, I have bonded 2 before but not 3.

Do I introduce her to both at once or the dominant or under sow first?

Gizmo is the dominant, but in a very friendly way, she has more of a mother/daughter relationship with Pip and likes to wash her ears, so I'm hoping she will take happily to another baby in the same way.

The new addition will hopefully be a playmate for Pip, who is very active, Gizmo is more of a couch potato.

 

[lily 74]

Hi,

I introduced my third sow to a bonded pair in my elc ball pit away from the cage, then after an hour or so put them in the cage together and watched, the dominant sow did tap her a bit with her nose and this went on for a couple of days, now they get on great!

 

[Wiebke]

I would keep the newbie next to the other two for a day or two, so they can get used to each other's presence and get their bearings. I usually wait until the piggies are actively interested in each other and want to get acquainted.

During my own (regular :red) introductions I found that it helps with smoother introductions of you try to take out of the equation as many additional stress factors as possible. Take your time in the run up to the intro, but you have to stay committed once you've started the intro proper. Piggies work through a strict protocol with defined phases, which may seem harsh to us humans brought up within the tenets of political correctness, but they work and are understood on an instinctive level by all piggies. Dominance is a vital part of piggy life and any intervention from us is frankly hindering more than helping, as tempted as you may be! Do not separate unless there are bloody fights with bites or extreme bullying where a piggy is kept from eating and sleeping, or is losing weight and becoming depressed and withdrawn. The acceptance phase is usually fairly short right at the beginning, and that is the tricky one where things are most liekly to go wrong. Immediately afterwards the girls will move on to the hierarchy sort out.

Otherwise, here is a collection of tips for introductions proper. It pays to have a plan B to fall back on if things don't work out exactly as you expect:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562