We got another Guinea Pig. We have 2 others already. Can we just put them together? They r all girls.?

Question

We have a BIG, comfy cage w/all the amenities. The first 2 are littermates so I'm just wondering if they will hurt the new, smaller one.

Answer 1

Try having them all out together and watch how they interact. I get the feeling they'll be fine.

Answer 2

Sometimes you can just put them all together and sometimes you can't. It depends upon the personalities of the sows. Some can be quite aggressive!

Try introducing them in a neutral area, meaning not the pen. This should be an area that does not already smell of your two resident sows. A bathtub is a great place.

Before placing the new sow in the pen, clean all pigloos, bowls, bottles, etc. Sanitize the bottom of the cage with a vinegar and water solution to mask any previous smell. Then put in new litter. This helps a great deal.

Another tactic is to clean the cage, but then put a see-through divider in your existing pen. Give the majority of the pen to the existing sows, of course. This will allow the resident sows to get used to looking at the new girl and smelling her presence. After about 3-5 days, remove the divider and watch for signs of aggressiveness.

Keep in mind that all groups of boars and sows will have to establish their "pecking order", so some amount of squabbling is normal until they establish among themselves who will be the dominant sow. However, fighting and bloodshed do not qualify as "normal squabbling". Keep a very close eye on them during the adjustment period.

Although there are some pigs that just will not get along with other pigs, no matter what, the great majority of them learn to tolerate a newcomer. The younger the newcomer the better, as they seem to have less problem adjusting to a baby or very young pig (six months or less).

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

I had 2 also and introduced a third. I put them on the floor for a while (I have a move-able enclosure I use outside in the summer, I set it up in the kitchen) I divided it at first so they could see each other and smell each other, but not touch. I put some hay and food next to the divider as well so they got used to eating next to each other.The transition went well. I did that for a few hours a day for a couple of days. They all sleep together and eat together now.

Answer 4

You have to introduce them slowly, keeping the new guinea pig isolated for a few days but where the others can see and smell her. (A smaller cage right next to the larger one is a good way to do this.) I tried to ignore this advice when I got my second guinea pig (they're both female) and they tried to kill each other - quite literally - because I didn't introduce them slowly. It takes two or three days. They're generally docile animals, but easily threatened. So they will get along if you introduce them correctly.

Answer 5

Normally they won't, but just keep an eye on them; even sows can be territorial. Try intruding them in area of neutral ground, like the floor, or an outside pen.

Answer 6

u may have 2 consider that coz u dnt knw how they will react together.if they r different breeds u dnt know what damage they can cause