Adopting What do you think? Cages side by side or across the room with new friends to bond?

SO NO~ONE has any suggestions on this??? Come on Cavy Slaves..what do you guys think???
any suggestions at all???

I would say go with what has worked so far and see what happens.

If the two new ones are bonded or from the same litter, I would not separate them. I'd try to place them in either cage. If that doesn't work. I'd keep them in a separate cage together. You don't want to separate a pair that gets along.

piggydaddy1 said:

I would say go with what has worked so far and see what happens.

Click to expand...

This is true! Thanks for responding

pinky said:

If the two new ones are bonded or from the same litter, I would not separate them. I'd try to place them in either cage. If that doesn't work. I'd keep them in a separate cage together. You don't want to separate a pair that gets along.

Click to expand...

@pinky - yes, absolutely-that is my plan. The (2) newbies are babies but not bonded or from the same litter. so here is my wander. I have a HUGE C&C cage I built. (It makes an "L" shape) on my side wall I have (3) my happy trio that have been together forever & on my back wall I have the (2) that I had to seperate but put a divider in the middle of that cage. Both of these boys LOVE to be near my trio (more so than each other-if this makes any sense) I know that cavies are social animals. I am planning to add an addition to the other side to complete the "L" for more space when I get the (2) newbies. I just wander.. does it alter the attitude of Guinea pigs (even thogh they are in the same cage but right next up against another cage of pigs)
trying to bond with a new one while being around the other one's. Does this even make any sense??? (lol) should I just leave it that way or put them in an area away from my trio ? will they bond either way???

I have my cages in a u-shape with everyone connected, I honestly don't think it has effected anything. I had a little bar nibbling so I put up some plexi and now they just ignore each other. The occasional talking. haha

I don't think it makes any difference. You might have more bar biting if they're attached but separated by grids. What I'd do with the babies is, if they're being taken right from their mothers to your home, I'd skip the quarantine and introduce them to the males. If your males won't fight one another, I'd bring the two males and two babies out together in a large open area to quickly see if there are any preferences as to which seem to gravitate towards one another. If so, divide the pairs that way. If there's immediate posturing, I'd separate them and wait a day or two to try individual pairs separately. At our rescue, we've always used a tiny dab of vanilla on the bridge or their nose and rumps to mask their scent. I've been doing this for about 12 years with success. Someone on here once said it was not recommended but I have never seen a guinea pig lick the vanilla and they can't lick it off themselves. They sniff and look confused. It keeps things calmer.

@pinky That is a GREAT idea!! Thanks Pinky!!! I had been thinking about how I was going to pair the matches up. one more question for you. I have (2) peruvians & they seem to get along fantastically!! (from day one-different litters) I am starting to think that it is b/c they are the same kind. I know that different breeds can be paired(as it is all the time) but do you think its b/c they are same breed or just the temperment of the two. My coronet had to be seperated twice already from a peruvian & then an abby. I'm just wandering if maybe putting him with same breed would help any??

emttami said:

@pinky That is a GREAT idea!! Thanks Pinky!!! I had been thinking about how I was going to pair the matches up. one more question for you. I have (2) peruvians & they seem to get along fantastically!! (from day one-different litters) I am starting to think that it is b/c they are the same kind. I know that different breeds can be paired(as it is all the time) but do you think its b/c they are same breed or just the temperment of the two. My coronet had to be seperated twice already from a peruvian & then an abby. I'm just wandering if maybe putting him with same breed would help any??

Click to expand...

It has nothing to do with breeds. Some of my most bonded pairs were different breeds. My most bonded male pairs were a teddy and crested paired together and a rough haired American paired with a teddy mix. I also had a Peruvian and silkie pair, teddy and American. I had a female teddy that I was unable to find a suitable companion for. She was the most dominant and aggressive guinea pig I ever had. She even attacked a neutered male.

What are the final sizes of each cage once you separate them?

lissie said:

What are the final sizes of each cage once you separate them?

Click to expand...

@lissie They are all 4x12 maybe even a bit larger
I have a picture in my photo's under "my boys" it will revert back to that when I get my newbies.
I will have (3) in one cage, (2) in one cage, & (2) in another - all same size cages looped around to make a "U"

I meant each cage after separation. So 4x4 + 4x4 + 4x4?

Edit to add:
I just looked in your gallery. Didn't see any 4 grid deep cages, but your cage is huge. Plenty of space to add more pigs.

lissie said:

I meant each cage after separation. So 4x4 + 4x4 + 4x4?

Edit to add:
I just looked in your gallery. Didn't see any 4 grid deep cages, but your cage is huge. Plenty of space to add more pigs.

Click to expand...

@lissie ~I'm not quite sure on exact size but it is huge...(lol) my boys are spoiled. I used a full piece & a half of coroplast on each cage
I have (3) cages- each of that size all connected. one other question(off topic) How did you get your avatar to show multiple pictures. I love that!!

emttami said:

How did you get your avatar to show multiple pictures. I love that!!

Click to expand...

Thanks. It's an animated gif. Only Cavy Stars, Cavy Champions and Mods can have animated avatars.