Right to split them or not?

[Abi_nurse]

Hello,

I'm new here, so hello all. Ive just managed to get my first guinea pigs. Although as my job entails i know pleanty about guinea pig biology but not much about behaviour apart from the basics so I'm wondering if any of you wise ones here will be able to help me.

Ive got three sows one around 10weeks now, i bought her on her own and was desperate for her to have company as i didnt think it fair for her to live alone. A week later I bought two litter mates that are around 11-12weeks old now. I thought they would get on fine. I introduced them carefully but one of the two sisters tends to be very dominant over the one un related. She chases and bites her. I tried for a day or two with them together but it was obvious the younger one was unable to sleep in the bed with the sisters and was chased at any occation to the point of being bitten enough to draw blood. I decided to split them and ive tried with them having time in the run on the grass together, they seem worse in a hutch. The dominant one does tend to chase occationally outside but not a lot. However the younger one has now got into the habit of whenever another piggie comes up behind her, dominant or not she spray's urine at them.

I was considering spilting them perminantly up and getting an older comanion for the younger one. Would this be the right thing to do?

Thanks for your help.

xx.

 

[catslovelycats]

I have no answers and am in a very similar position to you & have just separated my newbie. Hope you're able to get an answer from someone. There are lots of knowledgeable people on here.

 

[Wiebke]

Bonding an established pair with another piggy is in my opinion the most fraught introduction you can do; the fail rate is very high! (And yes, that was the bonding that failed me as well!) As your couple is saying pretty clearly, "p*ss off" to your lonely girl, pairing her up with another piggy is a better idea.

The best way to do this is finding a rescue within your reach that allows you to take your girl, so she can meet possible mates under expert supervision and the rescue people can help with finding her a friend that is right for her.

Another possiblity is introducing her to a neutered boar. Cross gender pairings are usually very stable and loving - and with youngs sows, acceptance is pretty much guaranteed!

here is a list of reputable guinea pigs rescues:
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp

 

[Carly and co]

Hiya
I have just gone through the same experience myself, i brought 2 sows 1 is 3 months and the other 8 months and they just didnt bond, i had them for 5 weeks and they have been living apart for a week,we had a few incidents first was a hole through the ear, next was blood drawn from the other ear (i should of seperated them at that point, i think once they have drawn blood you should seperate them) then the final straw was an abscess and wounds on her face ,i made the decision to let one of them go (as i already have 2 other pigs and my house could not accomodate 3 cages) to my friend who had 7 sows already and I'm hoping everything will go well there.
I think you should seperate them and if you have the room for the second cage, try and pair her up with a neutured Boar, i am thinking along the same lines myself for my lone piggy. xx

 

[Abi_nurse]

I think ive just managed to get it sorted. I found a young sow and the younger one... although a little dominant at the moment seems to get on really well. Hopefully they settle down and get on (fingers crossed) Thanks for all your help guys.

xx.

 

[Romily]

Glad to hear you found a solution to your problem and the upside is you got another piggie too!