New Little Piggie!

[Tracy-Bob]

Hello...I need some advice please.

Today we have had a new arrival, a 4 month old girl. (It's a long story)
Anyway Betsy and Twinkle are well bonded and were when I adopted them. Betsy has always been the more dominant one,sometimes Twinkle being the cheeky pig she is challenges that.
Today I put the baby in a separate part of the cage but within 5 minutes between the 3 of them they managed to join together.
Usual bum sniffing chasing rumbling that I expected. What I wasn't expecting was Betsy to suddenly become quite aggressive towards Twinkle. I had to stop them twice from properly fighting.
It's calmed down now but I have put the baby upstairs put of their way as I'm worried they will hurt her overnight.
Should I have left her in there? I'm not sure what to do for the best.
Eek!

 

[Wiebke]

Hello...I need some advice please.

Today we have had a new arrival, a 4 month old girl. (It's a long story)
Anyway Betsy and Twinkle are well bonded and were when I adopted them. Betsy has always been the more dominant one,sometimes Twinkle being the cheeky pig she is challenges that.
Today I put the baby in a separate part of the cage but within 5 minutes between the 3 of them they managed to join together.
Usual bum sniffing chasing rumbling that I expected. What I wasn't expecting was Betsy to suddenly become quite aggressive towards Twinkle. I had to stop them twice from properly fighting.
It's calmed down now but I have put the baby upstairs put of their way as I'm worried they will hurt her overnight.
Should I have left her in there? I'm not sure what to do for the best.
Eek!

The arrival of a new piggy means that the hierarchy needs to be newly established. In your case, Betsy's leadership is obviously coming under question and the cracks that have already been there have come to the fore. You may find that one of your sows gets on better with the baby and you get a 2+1 constellation in the longer term.

Did you conduct the bonding in a neutral space that is not part of their normal territory? if not, you can get much stronger and often hostile reactions as piggies feel like their territory is being invaded and they feel on edge.
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs

 

[Tracy-Bob]

I did think that,but I didn't get chance as they were all so desperate to see each other. Maybe I will leave them apart over night and re try in the morning in a neutral area.
Thanks for the links

 

[Wiebke]

I did think that,but I didn't get chance as they were all so desperate to see each other. Maybe I will leave them apart over night and re try in the morning in a neutral area.
Thanks for the links

You can find more information on bonding and behaviours at the top of this section. All our Care sections have the information guides at the top. It is always worth having a look through.

 

[Tracy-Bob]

Thank you for all the advice and info.
I think they have done pretty well and seem to be getting along OK now.
Still a bit of chasing and squealing now and then. They're sleeping next to each other and eating together too.