Bonding Question about Bonding a new pig to two others.

[Kmyers]

Hello Everyone.

Ive been reading and reading and reading, and I cant seem to find any info about this.

My wife has 2 pigs that she got already bonded. Some how, Im still trying to figure this one out, we ended up with another one, a little younger than the other two.

After reading on best ways to introduce everyone, we gave it a go after making sure the new pig wasnt sick or anything(we waited a while). At first it did not go so well, my wife was freaking out at every little noise or move, even tho I told her to leave them be and let them work it out(I raise fish and know how that goes some times). It got really bad the new pig was so stressed we had to move her out. Slowly we tried again, with them sitting in a lap to gather or in the tub. They where fine, So we tried moving them in again, and it got to where the little pig was stressed again, really heavy breathing, crying, etc.

So I got another cage and put it in the day cage to where she could be around the other two and yet she could hide if she felt she needed to. Its going great, Shell run around the cage with the other two on the out side and stuff. I said, ok, lets open it and try yet again. She came out when the other two was sleeping, but the sec the other ones woke up, she started to freak out again, crying, almost to the point of yelling, When one came near she she even run UNDER she cage, no thru the door but right under it as fast she she could.

Im starting to wonder if the little pig had been abused by something. Shes fine with a cat to the point shell play with the cat(with us being in arms reach). Shell rub noses with the other two through the cage, and when the other two walks away she does everything she can to get them to come back. But with out the cage she acts so scared. Im really starting to get worried she might be cage locked on top of it, Let her out and shell run right back to the cage. She is also biting some times when shes out and someone is holding her.

Has anyone seen or heard of this? Is there anything we can do to help her not be so scared? I know there is going to be things going on to get whos in charge, but dont see that happening if she screams and runs when one of the other two comes anywhere near out outside the cage. They are all three females and near the same age. Any help with this would be thankful.

 

[bpatters]

See http://guinea-pigs.livejournal.com/3002707.html for how to introduce pigs. Do it at a time when you've got several hours to devote to it, and don't rush it.

But it's pointless to even try if the cage isn't large enough. Lack of space is a major reason for guinea pig aggression, and if you've got a cage from a pet store, it's not large enough for one pig, much less three. Three pigs need a minimum of about 10 square feet, and more is definitely better. My three are in a 16 square foot cage. See the Main tab at the top of the page for cage recommendations. Those are minimums, and it's definitely better to have more space.

 

[Kmyers]

Right now they are in a Custom play pen thats just under 4 feet wide and 5 feet long. The only real cage is the one the smaller one is in atm in the play pen.

 

[bpatters]

Take the cage out and give them the full 4x5 play pen. Take out all the hideys, and just drape some fabric (preferably fleece, or something that won't ravel) across the corners so they can get away from each other if they want. Put several hay piles in, and keep throwing food in. Make sure there are multiple water bottles and pellet dishes.

You don't want any place in the cage where one pig can trap another. The food will provide some distraction.

But you really should start with them in a neutral area, where nothing smells like any pig, and then put them into the thoroughly cleaned play pen -- all bars wiped down, new bedding, nothing in there that smells of any pig. Take that pet store cage and store it somewhere to use when you need to separate one because of illness or injury -- it's useless. Better yet, take it back and get a refund.

 

[Kmyers]

We gave giving them all a bath at once a try, They got along fine, in fact they where snuggled up to each other, standing on each other. Cleaned the pen all up and everything. Took the hides out, put a big pile of hay in the middle. Some chasing still going, and the little one is still acting really scared. Well keep at it tho and see what happens. Thanks