New mom of 3 girlies

[kraizy randoms]

I got 1 guinea a few weeks ago from a relative, she pretty much just stayed in her hidey hole all the time, acting depressed, so I took my kids down to get Cuddles a friend, and wound up getting 2. They are currently in a 2x3 c&c cage with a 2x2 c&c attached. I pulled all the dumb moves like introducing before health time and separating as soon as there would be a possible argument, but I think I get the rules now. I will be introducing them really soon, but what size of un-used c&c do I do this intro in? The 2 that I bought from the store were out on my couch last night wheeking and purring and playing around on my lap, then I held Cuddles, she just nuzzled closer to my face if I stopped petting her, but no purring. It was a complete and instant change when Cuddles saw the two new piggies next to her, she started popcorning and playing around. I really want to have them all in a 2x5 all together, without getting nervous that they will hurt eachother. Our black piggie came to us with a 3rd of her ear missing already.

 

[Rywen]

Hi there! Introductions should be done in a neutral place, it doesn't have to be done in an unused cage. If you don't have a room you can secure them in or pet playpen you may want to use the bathtub (dry). Once they are getting along then then put them in a completely cleaned cage. Also, if you haven't already done so please make sure all of their genitalia match, just so there aren't any unexpected arrivals

 

[bpatters]

Do the into in a big neutral area -- the hall, or a bathroom, or some room where they can't get under the furniture and hide. Do it when you've got enough time to leave them together for several hours. Put them into a thoroughly cleaned cage that smells nothing like any of the pigs, and don't separate them unless there's all-out war. Nipping, chasing, rumbling, mounting, etc. are all perfectly normal.

 

[kraizy randoms]

I am thinking I want to do this tomorrow after work, which starts my weekend. I know 2 of them will want to be dominant, and have to let them argue it out. I have to move their home for the weekend anyway since my kids are having a slumber party and the guineas will not want 8 to 10 year old girls cooing at them for 2 days. I have read that we should bathe them individually the night before, I can make a large pen and sleep next to them as well. My black piggie, Clover, has had a bad experience with another animal before I got her, but she was in a cage with 4 other guineas and a rabbit when we got her and baby.

 

[Rywen]

There's no need to bathe them unless intros aren't going well, a buddy bath is a last resort.

 

[kraizy randoms]

That works out better for me then, I don't want to bathe anyone tonight anyway. We checked them and they all look the same down there luckily! I can't stand that Cuddles is alone in her side of the cage. She is always sniffing at them and doing laps.

 

[Rywen]

Let us know how it went

 

[kraizy randoms]

I'm through hour 1. I must say I am traumatized! They are fake lunging and rumblestrutting, then chilling out and eating timothy hay, then it starts all over.

 

[Rywen]

It sounds like its going just fine

 

[kraizy randoms]

It will go well, I am staying the night next to their neutral c&c. Cuddles chases Baby, but when she tries to chase Clover it's a face off.