How Many? Adding to a bonded pair

[BFGuru]

I'm considering adding a 3rd girl to my bonded pair. My current ladies have been together about a year now. What is the likelyhood of adding another going well? Is there a way to insure a positive outcome for all?

 

[sallyvh]

It can be done but there is no guarantee with introducing pigs. If adding pigs you should always be prepared for the possibility that it won't work out.

I've had 3 instances of adding a new girl to an established pair/group, with one of those not ending well.

It's generally easier to add a baby pig as they are usually not seen as threats, but again it's no guarantee. It really has to do with having personalities that work well together.

I'm a big fan of doing buddy baths before introductions, i think having everyone smell similar can be very helpful. Be sure you use a large neutral area and be prepared for introductions to last for hours. My last intro was adding a 1.5 year old sow to my trio and it took about 12 hours before I felt comfortable putting them in the cage together.

 

[BFGuru]

There is a peruvian at a rescue 2.5 hours away. She is about 9 months old though. I haven't seen any babies in my hunts thus far. There's also a closer piggie at the spca, but I'm really tempted with this peruvian.

I guess if it doesn't work out we find a friend foe the third and a different cage?

 

[BFGuru]

Well as soon as I decided I was head over heels for the gray peruvian, someone beat me to the adoption. Now all I can think about are gray peruvians and shelties and I'm scouring the internet for up to 100 miles looking for a Rapunzel to join my girls to no avail.

Bummer.

 

[sallyvh]

I think it's quite rare to find long haired or "fancy" pigs in rescues. Especially females. In all my years of owning pigs I think I've seen 2 long haired ladies for adoption within a doable travel distance.

My biggest advice is hope for the best but prepare for the worst. I just think it is important to go into it with the acceptance that they may not get along and you could possibly need another cage.

Failed introductions are how I ended up having multiple cages!

That sucks with the peruvian girl, I hope you're able to find a sow that matches what you're looking for and that she blends well with your existing ladies!

 

[binkie cavies]

Well, when I first tried to add my girl Khaleesi to my bonded pair Nina and Olivia (they had been together for about 7 months) things didn't really work out... I bathed them all together and did all of the proper introductions, but the oldest girls simply wouldn't accept Khal, they wouldn't bully her or anything, but every time she tried to get close to them the pair would run away. In this meantime, Khal became really shy and sad. So, I sepparated her from the girls and brought home another piggie (lol), Abigail, and presented her to Khal. Once I had two pairs (bonded Abby and Khal, and bonded Olivia and Nina), presenting them was WAY easier. Khal became more confident in her approach, since she had Abby to back her up, and Nina and Olivia stopped seeing Khal as one "intruder" and started seeing her and Abby as a herd, and finally accepted the new girls ^^

Well, I guess it depends on your girl's personality afterall, things can always don't work out at first, and you will end up with a third lonely pig (like I did), so you'll have to accept the possibility of ending with 4 piggies instead of three. Lol. It happens.

(Oh, and don't give up on your long-haired pig search. They're awesome. XD)

 

[BFGuru]

Oh I'm prepared to build a second cage if need be. It's really just a want. I will be fine waiting. But the one rescue I contacted just guilted me. They are taking over a lab and rescuing about 20 skinnies. Now I feel bad for wanting a silkie so bad when these skinnies have been tortured.

But. You can't name a skinny Rapunzel. LOL

 

[bpatters]

Sure you can. It would be a great joke!

 

[binkie cavies]

Actually, it would be way more creative XD lol