Introducing pigs for the first time!

[pigpigpiggies]

Hello,
I have had two female guinea pigs for 4 or 5 years now but on Friday I will be taking on two very young female piggies and eventually would like to have them all living together. I have done quite a lot of research, I know to keep the new pigs quarantined for a couple of weeks etc but I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice on actually introducing the pigs? As even though I have had guinea pigs for a long time I have never done introductions before!

Any help will be greatly appreciated

 

[Wiebke]

You may find our introductions thread helpful: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-introducing-and-reintroducing-guinea-pigs.38562/

There is generally a short acceptance phase, which moves straight into the dominance phase which can last from several days to several weeks. You have sit out any mild to medium dominance behaviour.

Separate your sows (it doesn't work with boar bonding) if the general tension level is getting too high well into the bonding or is suddenly flaring up. Continue on the next day, where things should be calmer. Please do any bonding in several hours long stretches, so the girls can really work through the protocol of establishing a working hierarchy and a bonded group.

Make sure that you transfer your group into well cleaned (inclduing furnishings) and rearranged cage well before the night, so you can see how they settle in together. Make sure that there are no hidey with only one exit at first, as most fights happen whena piggy is feeling cornered. The non-dominant piggies will squeal their submission; it is not pain more a "don't be mean to me, I'm no danger to you!"