Should I reintroduce sister piggies?

[Romeo Flahoy]

Hi,

I am in need of advice. I have had my two sister piggies since they were 8 weeks old. Originally I had them outside in a large hutch together. They never really appeared to like each other much but tolerated each other I.e never snuggled and didn't like sharing sleeping compartment. When they were 6 months old they really began falling out and began fighting and rolling around in a ball of fur in a fight. They wouldn't leave each other alone. Anyway, I had to seperate them eventually as I feared for their welfare. They lived in seperate locations in garden for about 3 months, then I brought them indoors in cages as got colder. I covered ends of cages up so couldn't see each other but could hear each other as cages were next to each other. After about a year, I took down divider so they could see each other but still in own cage. They now happily chat to each other and smell each other at the bars with no grumbling or anything. To be honest both piggies have never been as happy as they do living alone with own space but with someone yo chat to. When in run in garden they are in runs next to each other do again can see each other, which seams to reassure the other one.

My query is do I try and mix the piggies again to see if , now they have matured and are used to tolerating each other, they can get on? I thought I could put them in same run in garden to see how they get on for a few weeks, then if successful, try them in cage I doors. Both piggies are so happy and friendly and chatty to me and popcorn all the time, so I am reluctant to rock the boat, incase they fight again, injure each other and become moody piggies again.

They are now just over 2 years old. They used to be very scaredy piggies (one more so than other) but now have really mellowed and are easy to catch etc...

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wiebke]

All you can do is to see and try a full intro on neutral ground, and then take it from there.
PS: Are you sure that they are girls? Outright fights between sows are quite rare; the behaviour sounds like more of that of hormonal boys, frankly.

Here are tips for staging an introduction: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...FAQ-Introducing-and-reintroducing-guinea-pigs
Signs of mild dominance to full-out aggression in ascending order: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?28949-Boars!-Simple-Dominance-Displays-or-Fighting
Here is a good website for sexing piggies (just to make sure): http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm

 

[Romeo Flahoy]

Had them checked definitely both sows.

 

[Romeo Flahoy]

Quick update:

I just tried introducing the girls in the bathtub with towel laid flat and plate of mixed fruit and veggies in middle, as read this was a good technique to try. Well it started off ok. Both piggies were frozen still and neither dared to move for a while. Eventually one piggy moved and started to eat something off the plate and immediately the other piggy started to eat also. This continued for a while. Then one piggy moved round to be next to the other. She began smelling her sister under the belly, bottom and under chin as expected. There was a bit of frozen behaviour again, but munching soon resumed. They both stayed very close together, touching side by side and eating. After a while when they obviously both began to gain confidence, they started to move around a bit and there was a little bit of chasing/popcorning like behaviour. All was good and I was very happy. However, without warning the mood changed and it looked like one disliked the other one eating food near her head and they began nose butting and heckles going up. This quickly turned into a confrontation on hind legs with teeth showing, attacking each other, so I quickly throw a towel over one and picked her up. really disappointed as it was going so well. I've put them back in their own cages now which are side by side. They can see and smell each other and have gone back to being perfectly happy. I guess they really don't like each other in their personal space. Plus neither piggy appears to want to give up dominance (which was always the problem- they take after me and are stubborn strong minded females who want to be the boss), so I guess they will have to stay living side by side.