Just brought home a second guinea pig!

[siepiggies]

Hello! so I posted a little bit ago when I got my first guinea pig as an adult he’s been to the vet. He is all good to go. I’ve got him into a brand new cage so today I went and I got another guinea pig. They are both males. The original guinea pig Papua is eight months old. The new guinea pig is between 4 to 6 months old. As of now their cage is side-by-side. They were I feel like trying to get at each other through the bars so I raised up the cage that the baby is in so they can’t see each other. They can just hear and smell each other. Is that better or should I keep them side-by-side because my older one will not stop chewing at the bars now.
(in the last photo the baby’s cage is on the right hand side on a standing desk and my older piggies is on the left) I know it should be a few weeks before I introduce them face to face.

 

[fluffysal]

Please keep them side by side. The bar chewing is excitement and will settle down.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I agree with fluffysal - the cages must be side by side so they can see each other and fully interact between the bars. If they can’t see each other then they are going to be lonely, plus they aren’t getting to know each other at all (which you need them to do prior to bonding day).
Any territorial behaviour between the bars will settle down once they get used to each other.

The cage which is higher looks to be far too small to be used for guinea pigs. If it measures less than 120x60cm then the guinea pig must be removed from that cage and put into a bigger one asap.
The smallest cage a single piggy should ever be in is 120x60cm as anything less than that does not meet minimum welfare standards.

Bonding should be done on neutral territory and done as soon as they are settled enough.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I realised I forgot to add the bonding guide, so here it is now.

It looks like the large cage you currently have your oldest piggy in will be big enough for them both to live in together. But do ensure you have a back up plan for them to live side by side permanently if the bonding fails (we always hope bondings are successful but that back up plan is always a good thing to have in mind when bonding piggies but especially when bonding teenage boars) - that is that a minimum of a 120x60cm cage each or a minimum of a 3x2 c&c each.

It explains the entire process - the importance of them being side by side before bonding day, and the correct neutral territory process which needs to be followed for bonding.

I have also added our two boar guides which detail boar behaviour.

We can help you further when it comes to bonding day.

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

Jan 23, 2019

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

Thread 'A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars'

May 5, 2019

1 Common myths and misconceptions
2 The different ages (including teenage)
- Important biological facts
- The formative 'School Weeks' (3 weeks - ca. 4 months)
- The Teenage Months (ca. 4-14 months)
- The Adult Years (ca. 15 months - ca. 4-5 years)
- The Golden Age (ca. 4-5 years until end of life)
3 What do boars need? (List of boar dos and don'ts)
- Space, space and more space!
- Respecting the hierarchy
- The 'one for each...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

Thread 'Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?'

May 22, 2015

1 The hormonal teenage months
- What are the most difficult times?
- What are your boars' chances of making it together?
- What can help to boost your boys' chances?
- What does NOT work?
2 Fighting, bullying and when to separate
- What are the signs of a dysfunctional bond?
- How can I test whether a bond is no longer working?
- What to do if your boars had a bloody fight?
3 Life after...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

 

[Bill & Ted]

Good luck, I hope the bonding goes well. read through the bonding guide thoroughly and choose a day that you have no other commitments