sow trio not getting on

[Alicia]

I have 3 sows I got 2 of them a few weeks ago and the other 1 I've had since march. Edie and marmalade lived together in a group of sows at their old home and got along fine with them and amber lived with my old sow but then lived alone for a month after that sow died. The 3 sows live together in a 2 storey hutch but amber spends almost all of her time in the downstairs bit which has no bed part it is totally open and the other 2 mostly stay upstairs. They don't argue if edie and marmalade go downstairs but I do feel like as amber is the smallest she feels a bit scared to go upstairs which isn't too bad now but when it gets 2 winter I'd like her to go upstairs where its warmer. There is food, hay and water bottles on both floors. I've had them all 3 together for a month what can I do to get amber to go upstairs? She can physically do it and I've tried encouraging her with food but its not working

 

[Romily]

Oh sounds like an excuse to get another piggy, why not try a neutered boar?

 

[Claire W]

I do not think it is a case that they do not get on but sometimes within a trio, one can feel left out. Eleanor and Eliza lived together for almost a year before I brought Erin home. Although Eleanor and Eliza accepted Erin and they all became friends, I sometimes felt that Erin was left out. I then adopted Ena and now no pig is left out. My girls get on well in a foursome as well as in 2 pairs.

As for Amber staying downstairs, may be she likes her own space? I often find Ena out in the living area by herself whilst the other 3 are in the sleeping area.

I am sure that if Amber is cold, she will go and snuggle up to Edie and Marmalade.

 

[Wiebke]

3 is all too often 2 + 1, especially if the 2 are all already bonded from before.

I would recommend either getting another young sow or a neutered boar (who has to get on with everybody) if your space allows.

 

[Alicia]

Ok thank you. At the moment my hutch isn't big enough for 4 guinea pigs although I may need to replace it soon anyway so when I do I'll get a bigger hutch with enough space

 

[bubblenginger]

I was wondering about this too. As my girls have had 4 babies between them, i wanted to keep one of them and home the others. But choosing which girl to keep from which mum is just too hard. And i thought, perhaps the mum and baby would bond so much and ignore the other one? If that's the case, i'd rather find homes for all 4 babies since i can't keep 4!