Will this work?

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Alicia

Alicia

Adult Guinea Pig
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I have 2 sows, Edie and Marmalade. They are both 2 and have lived together since last June. I had Edie first, who lived with another sow, Amber, and I introduced them both to Marmalade in the run. They were all adults when they were introduced and it took 3 weeks for them all to settle together. There wasn't any fighting, but Marmalade seemed to pick a favourite between Edie and Amber and was nice to them and would chase the other around and click her teeth, though they never had a real fight. After 3 weeks they seemed to be ok, but I am now hoping to add another sow to Edie and Marmalade. The one I'm hoping to get is 9 months old, do you think that it would be ok as Marmalade is quite dominant? Or is a baby better?
 
Ideally, I would recommend adding two sows - then they would have each other and you would not be as likely faced with an outsider problem. Four guinea pigs are already a group whereas three often end up in a 2+1 constellation.

As long as any new girls are somewhat younger, there is no problem age wise. An introduction where the existing hierarchy is not going to be upset is always much easier to pull off.
 
Sorry I forgot to put I will add another sow in the future, I'm just waiting until I can attach 2 of my hutches together to give them a bigger space. Hopefully they won't be a trio for long, but I've decided to settle the new guinea-pig in first :) Thank you for the help
 
Wiebke said:
Ideally, I would recommend adding two sows - then they would have each other and you would not be as likely faced with an outsider problem. Four guinea pigs are already a group whereas three often end up in a 2+1 constellation.

As long as any new girls are somewhat younger, there is no problem age wise. An introduction where the existing hierarchy is not going to be upset is always much easier to pull off.
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Completely agree with this, having had my own 2+1 situation with Bounty, Snicks and JoJo, it is not nice.

When I added Honey (about 5 months now I think) and Tulip (Honey's bubba, so about 3 months) to Whiskey and Noodles (both 5) it was so much better, the four get along well, a few nips and narks but girls will be girls rolleyes it's great having the four together though, it's just enough to start to see herd dynamics!
 
Alicia said:
Sorry I forgot to put I will add another sow in the future, I'm just waiting until I can attach 2 of my hutches together to give them a bigger space. Hopefully they won't be a trio for long, but I've decided to settle the new guinea-pig in first :) Thank you for the help
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Did you get the preloved piggie then? xx
 
Doeylicious said:
Did you get the preloved piggie then? xx
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No, someone I know wants to rehome her guinea-pig and and I thought it was better to get a guinea-pig from someone I know so that I know she'll tell me if the guinea-pigs had any health problems or anything in the past. I know it's still not as good as a rescue, but I'm hopefully going to attach the hutches together in a while and then I will have space for 4, so I will get another one then :)
 
Alicia said:
No, someone I know wants to rehome her guinea-pig and and I thought it was better to get a guinea-pig from someone I know so that I know she'll tell me if the guinea-pigs had any health problems or anything in the past. I know it's still not as good as a rescue, but I'm hopefully going to attach the hutches together in a while and then I will have space for 4, so I will get another one then :)
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Ah that does sound a good idea, and in a way it is as good as a rescue, as that piggy will go straight to a home and not take a rescue space :)
 
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