New introduction troubles

[Alex88]

Hey there, we currently own 3 gp's. I got 2 baught for me and we got one about two weeks after that was sold on its own and i felt sorry for it, so i brought it home and put her in the cage with 2 other females, they seemed fine and np untill night time, were the largest GP started on the new one and ended up as a squeeking brawl. Am i doing something wrong, should this not be attempted?

 

[Glynis]

I've not had girls before, only boys, but i'd say maybe they needed to be put together first off in a neutral area. Perhaps too the bigger one is just saying I"M THE BOSS piggie in here..........
You could try again tomorrow and do it after they've been bathed or at least fed together? Good luck.
THere's a few other threads on here about this, you might be able to get some hints from them xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[nutmeg]

I would agree with Glynis, let them get to know each other on neutral ground, rather than just putting a new piggy in. People think it's only boars that need to be bonded carefully, but girls can squabble too. Try the bathing them, before returning them to a thoroughly cleaned out cage, with lots of veggies and hidey places to distract them a bit. Good Luck. xx

 

[Alex88]

well i haven't seen bleeding feet, but when we put them on the bed the squeek and squeal big time, the nussle under her and shove her and then they go off and play and shes left like a shivering wreck on her own.

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

Scent

Hello. Scent is very very important to guinea pigs. I have introduced 5 new female piggies to my basic group of girls over the years and each time there has been ructions as they reorganise the pecking order....but these are seriously reduced by bathing them all together. They then build up a new communal scent - their scent - and this really does help.

I have to point out though that some girls will be bullies to keep their 'top pig' status. Head swaying horizontally into a sideways 'biff', ignoring the newcomer and shoving are all pretty normal piggie behaviour - they are simply setting the newcomer in her place and this calms down fairly quickly. A few days. Watch out for nipping at the face and shoulders. Especially watch for stepping from foot to foot while swaying and giving a loud deep rumble. These are agressive and bullying moves.

You will know that the new piggie is accepted when she is allowed to snuggle into the top piggie just behind her ear on her shoulder, when she follows the others round chuckling gently to herself, when they all begin to indulge in ear nibbling.

But please do bathe and watch for bullying agression. A certain amount of shoving is quite normal. Your new girl may well need her own sleeping place for a while too. Oh yes, and give separate veg - a piece each if you see what I mean rather than one big lump. It avoids arguments!

Poor little new girl, I really feel for her! Best of luck.

Sarah