Introducing A New Pig

[firstguineapig]

hello, I have read much information about introducing a baby to a much older pig.

I'm wanting to do this but my current pig is only around six months old. Does this change how I introduce them? There is a new big cage which my existing pig has been in for 4 days only x

Any help appreciated x

 

[Wiebke]

hello, I have read much information about introducing a baby to a much older pig.

I'm wanting to do this but my current pig is only around six months old. Does this change how I introduce them? There is a new big cage which my existing pig has been in for 4 days only x

Any help appreciated x

Please carefully read these bonding guides from the top of the section; they have all the necessary tips. What you generally do not have to worry about with bonding babies is fighting (that won't be on the agenda until the baby is hitting the teenage months at ca. 4 months old); excessive humping is usually more of an issue. You can work around that by providing a small tunnel or a cardboard box that is filled with soft hay to prevent eye injuries and two small openings on opposite sides that only the baby can get into. A piggy-sized toddler-safe soft humping toy that you rub over both boys pre-bonding can sometimes help to draw off some of the humping fire. Transfer the boys into the cleaned cage only after the worst of the dominance has settled and they have had at least one nap together in the bonding pen. Loud screaming from the baby is submission, not pain. You are liekly to hear quite a bit of it in the next weeks.

You need to keep in mind that not every boar likes every baby and that your 6 months old is currently at the most difficult age for bonding.

Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

 

[VickiA]

Have you read our links about introductions and bonding?
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics

It depends whether your piggy is a boar or a sow as to some of the behaviours.
It is vital that the introductions are on neutral ground in outside the cage the one lives in and that there is no scent of other piggies in it, also that there are no places any pig could get cornered.

Have you considered contacting one of our approved rescues to arrange a dating session as they can do the introduction and bonding for you in supervised surroundings? The personalities of the pigs are the most important thing. They have to like and accept each other.

 

[firstguineapig]

I have two cages at the moment, so intended leaving them side by side till they get accustomed to each other too. Fingers crossed, I didn't realise it would be so hard when a pig was 6 months old