What do I do?

Zorro1

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi,
When you buy a couple guinea pigs, do you need to start bonding them to other guinea pigs straight away or is it best to let the new guinea pigs settle in first?
Thanks.
 
It depends on a few factors

- where you are getting them from
- their age

Piggies who are over four months of age who have not come from a reputable rescue centre (such as a pet shop, private seller etc, and have therefore not been quarantined and health checked prior to rehoming), need to be quarantined by their new owner a separate room away from any current piggies for two weeks. This ensures no illnesses, parasites, fungal infections etc are passed on to any current piggies. You then go through the bonding procedure once they have done their quarantine time and been seen by a vet.

Piggies who are under four months of age cannot be quarantined due to their overwhelming need for social contact. Therefore, any new young piggies need to be correctly bonded immediately and you have to take the risk of the newcomers passing illnesses etc on to existing piggies.

Before carrying out any bonding, ensure you check the sexes of all piggies involved.
If you are getting the spayed sows you previously mentioned, do try to check their vet records to ensure they are definitely spayed before putting them with any boar. If you still have your boars, then if there are still a pair of boars living together with you, then ensure they are kept in a separate room from the sows at all times.
 
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Are these new ones in addition to your 3 boars? Who are you planning to bond with who? or is this a hypothetical question (is this just something you are thinking about.)
Sorry to dive in with questions - I am just trying to help you with what sounds to be a complicated situation
 
It was hypothetical question. Just so I'm equipped in case I do buy sows.
 
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