Introducing new pigs

[Louquise]

Hi I recently had one of my Females die and now I'm left with one.
I have organised Buying two more girls. How do I introduce them to her?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum and I am sorry for your loss.

The bonding needs to take place on neutral territory - somewhere your piggy does not see as her own space.
You put the piggies into the neutral territory with just hay, no hides and leave them in there (while observing) for several hours. If things go well, then you clean down the cage they are to live in thoroughly (so your existing piggy does not recognise it as her own cage) and then transfer all of them to the cage to continue the process. It takes around two weeks for them to fully establish their relationship.
Do be aware that a bonding on spec does carry a risk that they won't be compatible, so do ensure you have a plan b (living in separate side by side cages) just in case things dont work out.

How old are all the piggies?

The guides below explain further how to carry out a bonding as well as the behaviours you are looking for.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Importance Of Quarantine

 

[Louquise]

My existing piggie is nearly 2 and the two new ones are 3ish. I was worried that the new two would gang up on the existing pig?

 

[Piggies&buns]

My existing piggie is nearly 2 and the two new ones are 3ish. I was worried that the new two would gang up on the existing pig?

Bonding adult sows can be a bit harder, they can be less accepting of change. The guide below explains that adding a single piggy to an already bonded pair is not always straightforward as the pair may simply not want another piggy with them. However, it all comes down to character compatibility so all you can do is try and see how things go. If the bonding fails, then living as neighbours in separate but side by side cages is the usual plan B (unless you can return the two new piggies).

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

How is your existing piggy currently coping following the loss of her friend?
If she is managing ok (this guide helps explain Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig), then the two new piggies, given the are adult, should be quarantined in a separate room for two weeks to ensure they do not pass any illness or parasites to your piggy. Get them vet checked and then try the bonding once the two weeks is up.

If your existing piggy is struggling with the bereavement (depressed, losing weight due to stopping eating etc), quarantine of the two new piggies may have to be abandoned and instead you would need to decide whether you take the risk of passing something on and bond them anyway for the sake of her wellbeing. If they then do pass something on, then you would possibly need to treat all three

Importance Of Quarantine

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I hope the bonding goes well

 

[Louquise]

Thanks everyone for the help. I just put 1 new pig with the old one in a small cage and left them for a bit, then switched the new ones and let the second one see the old pig. I was so amazed as soon as I put the first one in there, they just looked like they had known each other all their lives. No arguments nothing, and the same happened with the second. Then when I put all three together they were sweet, no fighting they started grooming each other and themselves. They couldn't have cared less about each other.

 

[weepweeps]

That’s brilliant news. Hope it continues. The bond takes about two weeks to completely settle down.

 

[Claire W]

Aw that’s brilliant news. I hope they continue to bond well x

 

[VickiA]

Well, it sounds like everything has gone smoothly and that your girls all like each other, how lovely for you and for them. Hope that this continues and that they make a happy trio.