Introducing a baby to 2 adults

WheekHearted

WheekHearted

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello, new to the forum. I have owned a pair of sows for about 6 months. They’re both under a year old. They are happy, settled in, and I recently upgraded their cage to a 2x6. I was going to get a baby pair for their old cage (Midwest) and anyway long story short I ended up bringing home only one baby girl who is 8-9 weeks of age. She was a sole female and had no friends. So I wanted to save her and she’s quarantined right now. But all alone. I’m wondering what to do here. I mean after quarantine can I attempt to bond her to my well established well adjusted pair of siblings or get her a friend and not introduce her to my existing two at all essentially having two setups? All 3 are definitely sows.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. As the new one is so young you don’t need to quarantine her. You should bond them all straight away. There is a bonding guide at the top of the page. Click on the three lines. Have a read. It covers everything you need to do. But you need to do it in a totally neutral space that none of the piggies has been. Just put a large pile of hay in with them. No hides or toys. I hope the bonding goes well. 😃.
 
Boxraddict said:
Hello, new to the forum. I have owned a pair of sows for about 6 months. They’re both under a year old. They are happy, settled in, and I recently upgraded their cage to a 2x6. I was going to get a baby pair for their old cage (Midwest) and anyway long story short I ended up bringing home only one baby girl who is 8-9 weeks of age. She was a sole female and had no friends. So I wanted to save her and she’s quarantined right now. But all alone. I’m wondering what to do here. I mean after quarantine can I attempt to bond her to my well established well adjusted pair of siblings or get her a friend and not introduce her to my existing two at all essentially having two setups? All 3 are definitely sows.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

Please introduce your baby as soon as possible to your sow pair; babies under 4 months are not wired to be on their own and are desperate to belong and have the protection and guidance of their elders. You have to waive quarantine in their case and if necessary, treat all three.

Please follow the advice in our comprehensive step-by-step bonding guide with plenty of pictures and videos featuring baby intros, sow and baby bonding particulars etc. as well as taking you through all stages of the complex bonding process with attendant behaviours and dynamics; including the 2 weeks post-intro dominance phase.

At that age, your chances of a successful intro are pretty high; it is generally much more difficult with older sows.
However, if the bonding fails, then you can always look at finding your little one a new companion on her own.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs

New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

All the best!
 
I wish I can express how grateful I am for these answers. And warm welcome! I just introduced them to her she’s so happy and the two are fine with her so far. White one did exhibit some, I almost want to call them warning bites. Quick nip but didn’t actually bite I think. I have a vid of them all just meeting if I can post it.
She loved being with them she was frozen in fear when she first got here and now she’s starting grooming here, popcorned a couple times and ate hay with them. 68115C49-1BC5-4144-BFB3-AC5E8E241D6E.jpeg
 
I love it when a bonding works out. It’s so special when they accept each other. 😍. Especially when a baby is involved. I introduced a baby boy to my older boar and I was sooo nervous. But
Percy was such a good uncle boar and baby Pepper was sooo happy he had a buddy. You could see he was happy straight away. There was no humping or chasing. Nothing. Just love. 😍
 
It’s working out still! White one bite her but more like pushed her away with her head is all.

here is the vid.
Vid starts with a clip of each of them the day I got them, and then we cut to a clip of them meeting!

https://imgur.com/a/JvtA4gb

Thanks again! :) I still don’t think I want to have boars. Don’t got the courage to keep them yet let alone introduce them someday lol
 
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