Troubles bonding 3 females

[Stefan K.]

Last month one of our 2 guineas died so we decided to get a new one for our female Stella. Last week we went to a rescue and brought back home 2 new females (Fien and Lisa) so she won´t be lonely (and for us maybe too). The lady from the rescue said it wouldn´t be a problem if we put them together right away with each other most females get along with each other quite well. So we did that but it went really bad with Stella chasing, teeth chattering and attacking the other two new. After she bit a little piece out of Fien´s ear we seperated them and now they are in two cages next to each other where they can see each other. I guess we should have put them on neutral ground first. Now several days has gone by and the 2 new ones have digested the new situation. But Fien now is running away and making sounds like a drama queen because she gets bullied by Lisa on top. Any idea what are the best steps to take from now on? Should we put first the more alpha Stella and Lisa together (on neutral ground)? Or all 3? Is it still possible that they will get along?

 

[Siikibam]

I think if she was biting hard as to injure then it may not be a good idea to try again. Once they decide they don’t like each other then they won’t change their mind.

Fien is likely squeaking in submission rather than being a drama queen. There is quite a difference between bullying and dominance behaviour. Have a read of the threads below on dominance and levels of it. Then you can decide whether it’s really bullying or just dominance. That dominance behaviour can continue up to two weeks after they move into their new home.

It was a very bad idea to just put the new girls in the cage with your other piggy. To her that’s an invasion of territory and isn’t taken well.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Bonds In Trouble

 

[Swissgreys]

I tend to agree with @Siikibam

Unfortunately putting the new additions directly into Stella's cage has made her view them as a threat in her territory.
Introductions always need to be done on neutral territory, and it is disappointing that the rescue didn't advise you on how to bond them properly.
This means that any chance of future success is possibly limited.

I would leave everything as it is for now - only contact through the cage bars and give them longer to settle.
After a few eeks you can try thenm again in a large neutral area and see what happens, but if Stella still views them as a threat, then you will have to respect that and accept that they may never be able to live as a threesome.

 

[Siikibam]

I forgot to ask, did you clean Fien’s ear?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Please make sure that you get the ear disinfected and if necessary seen by a vet. If it was an accident you may get away with it, if it was a full-on defence bite, then the grudge will remain resurface time and time again.

Take the time to read our very detailed bonding guide, which covers all stages of the complex process step-by-step with the attendant typical behaviours with lots of pictures and videos, including failure to bond at any stage. The guide includes the ca. 2 weeks post-intro dominance phase, which can look a lot like bullying. The screaming is submission screaming and the correct response to the sow ranked above asserting her own position in the new group hierarchy. Dominance trickles down from the top to the bottom through all ranks.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Unfortunately as can only judge from your own assessment, we can only give you the information you need to figure out what is going on, first and foremost, and whether the new bond is viable or not. Dominance behaviour can look and sound very dramatic to owners that experience it for the first time and who are not aware that takes a lot longer than a few hours to establish a working group.
Guinea pigs have a very complex social life; not every pig will gel with any other by a very long mile! Fear-aggression and over-reactions are also very common if you miss the crucial exchanges of signals going wrong.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
So sorry that poor advice has given you such a problem.
I can’t add anything to the advice already given but offering support

 

[Stefan K.]

Thank you all for your fast replies. I will read the bonding guides and it is already getting better with the two new ones (I think). I already thought a slow approach was better but we trusted the advice given to us by someone with far more experience with animals. Well I think we going to do it like swissgreys suggested. We will give it a few weeks and then try it again on neutral territory. Is it a good idea to put both of them together at the same time then with Stella? Or is it a better one at a time with her see how it goes and then the other!? I`ll keep you updated after we tried (fingers crossed)

 

[Siikibam]

I don’t know that I would try again given the result the first time. If you decide to go ahead, you need to do all three together and not bond separately. And you have to see it to the end, whatever the outcome. Make sure when you do it you have the time to observe. Read the links I put above.

 

[artcasper]

Aww sorry you were given the wrong advice...... I took Winny to a rescue and she was bonded with 2 girls... even once home they took ages to settle and work it all out.... fingers crossed something works for you going forward.

 

[LMPigs]

It sounds like your new two are also re-assessing their heirarchy follow moving to your home so you would want to wait for that to settle down I think, before you try again.

Once they seem settled, if possible, you could try putting the two cages next to each other for a few days so they can see/smell each other through the bars. Their behaviour in this scenario might give you an indication of whether it's going to be worth it to retry bonding them or not.

If you think it makes sense to retry, you should put all three together at the same time not try to do it in pairs. They will only be able to live as a group if they can work out a heirarchy as a group.

Keep us updated

 

[Stefan K.]

Ok thank you all for the advice! Our two new ones are working it out slowly and we give it a try with all 3 at the end of the month.

P.S: Fien´s ear is fine thanks for asking