New piggy and introductions

[Popps&Dais]

Hello,
Please can I get some advice on a new piggy? My friend had a bereavement today :-( as one of her guinea pigs went over the rainbow bridge. She would like a new home for her second piggy (not an easy decision). We have said that we're happy to take her and look to introduce her to our two gorgeous girls over time. Ours are 3.5 years old and the new piggy is 2 years old. It's unknown how the piggy died so I'm certain that we need a quarantine period. Please can I get some advice on what we need to consider, time scales and how best to introduce them when the time is right?
Best wishes,
Cristie

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,
Please can I get some advice on a new piggy? My friend had a bereavement today :-( as one of her guinea pigs went over the rainbow bridge. She would like a new home for her second piggy (not an easy decision). We have said that we're happy to take her and look to introduce her to our two gorgeous girls over time. Ours are 3.5 years old and the new piggy is 2 years old. It's unknown how the piggy died so I'm certain that we need a quarantine period. Please can I get some advice on what we need to consider, time scales and how best to introduce them when the time is right?
Best wishes,
Cristie

Hi and welcome!

Great that you are caring for your friend's bereaved piggy so much. Unfortunately it may not be quite as straight forward as you think.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

Please take the time to read our very detailed step-by-step bonding guide. It also covers the preparations, including quarantine etc.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Please make sure that you have got a plan B in case the bonding doesn't work out. Introducing a third to a stably bonded pair is one of the trickiest bonding scenarios and may well not come off; especially if the single girl is the leader of the previous pair - two adult top sows meeting are very often unwilling to submit to another one. Make sure that you can keep the newbie next to the other two for ongoing stimulation and interaction and ideally eventually find her a companion of her own choice if that is the case - rescue dating would be best but is currently in many places not possible right now.
However, as long as she has next door companionship, she should not become depressed and will hopefully keep until things are a bit better again. Some of the rescues in Northeast England will rehome as far as Edinburgh and the Border area and Ayr Guinea Pig Rescue will rehome all over Scotland, provided you can get to the rescue.
Rescue Locator
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

There is unfortunately no magic wand measure that can change personality and outlook or predict the dynamics and interaction between the characters involved. In the end, it always comes down to whether the piggies do want to live together and like each other.

 

[Popps&Dais]

Thank you so much for all your advice. Our two had a moment last year after one was ill and isolated for a week and we had to reintroduce so I know how nerve-wracking that can be. Luckily they decided they were willing to get along and are back to being a happy pair. We don't want to do anything that will upset them.

The links are really helpful for knowing what to do for the single guinea pig in the short and long term so thank you. We will do our best by her.