Bonding Guinea Pigs
Quarantine Period
If you have brought two guinea pigs home from the same place, then there is no need to quarantine them for a couple of weeks, unless they are going to be joining your existing guinea pigs. If you have brought a guinea pig home to be introduced to your existing guinea pig or herd, you need to quarantine the new guinea pig for at least two weeks. A few guinea pig illnesses can incubate for a while, so a quarantine period of two to three weeks will allow enough time for an illness to show itself, should there be one ready to surface. Keep the newcomer in another room, away from your other guinea pigs. Always wash your hands after handling the newcomer to hopefully avoid passing anything on to your other piggies.
Reason why guinea pigs need a cage mate
In the wild, guinea pigs live in herds, consisting of usually one dominant adult male, several females and their babies. Guinea pigs would much rather live as a pair or a herd, they feel that there is safety in numbers. With a successful pairing or group, they also enjoy the company of their own kind, communicating and interacting with each other. Both males and females have a strict dominance ranking. The domestic guinea pigs act in much the same way as wild guinea pigs.
Like the wild guinea pig, the domestic guinea pig thrives on having company of their own kind. Some guinea pigs may form very close relationships, others may not, but most are happy to have company and know that they aren't on their own. A guinea pig that has lived on their own, but is then introduced to another guinea pig that they like, often the changes in the lone guinea pig can be remarkable. They will run-around more, follow each other, they communicate with each other, some will even groom and sleep cuddled up next to each other. Once the ranking order has been sorted out and they settle in together, you'll see how happy they are. Some people say that their lone guinea pig is never lonely, but nobody can be with them 24 hours a day, plus humans can't speak a guinea pigs language. Guinea pigs really do thrive once a paring or group is established. Remember that 2 or more guinea pigs together feel less nervous than one guinea pig living on their own.
There are also advantages for you as a guinea pig owner. You will get to see so many different kinds of behavior when they interact with each other. Some behavior just wouldn't be seen with a lone guinea pig. Playing 'following the leader' tug of war with their vegetables, grooming each other, sniffing, snuggling up together, so much more that a lone guinea pig just wouldn't be able to do. One statement that crops up is "my guinea pig won't bond with me if they have a cage mate". This just isn't true. As long as your gentle and caring towards your guinea pigs, they will bond with you. You may also notice that your guinea pig will become more confident and relaxed so that is an added bonus for you and your guinea pig.
Territorial Piggies
Remember one main trigger for arguments is disputes over territory. Its always best to introduce guinea pigs on neutral territory, an area where they haven't been before. If you look at this from a guinea pigs point of view, it wouldn't be very nice if someone moved into your house who you hadn't even met before would it? So you can see why territory disputes can break out. You are more likely to have a successful pairing when your guinea pigs are introduced on neutral territory. Caution: Speaking from experience, some guinea pigs can get along just fine on neutral territory, but then things may change when you introduce the new comer into the existing guinea pigs territory. Be prepared for this to happen, however there are many ways to try and avoid this happening.
Boars Living Together
Boar guinea pigs can indeed live happily with each other, but a pair of boars can be more successful at being introduced than 3 or more boars. A key part for successfully introducing boars is providing them with a spacious cage. Personalities also play a key role for successful introductions. Some males are less dominant than others. Some want to be the alpha male, others are more submissive or simply aren't interested in taking the leadership role. A well known trigger for boars to start fighting is when they can smell sows in the area. So if you do have sows, keep them far enough away so the boars can't smell their presence. Even two boars who have been happily living together for months may fight over females.
Boar Options
Ideally two young boars either from the same litter or not can work out well. An older boar may also accept a very young boar. Sometimes the older boar may even take on a fatherly role and protect the young boar. Introducing two adult boars can be a little trickier, but again, much depends on their personalities. Please remember that if you have two boars that aren't getting along, neutering will not change their behavior. They will still continue to not get along. The only reason a boar should be neutered is if you have females or its for medical reasons.
Sows Living Together
Like boars, sows have a hierarchy, one female will want to be the dominant female, however, some guinea pigs just aren't interested in being the boss. Some will become friends almost straight away and have a fairly equal friendship. Again, much depends on their personalities. Some feisty dominant sows will even try and be dominant over a boar.
Sow Options
Several sows can successfully live together if they have a spacious cage. As with boars, an older sow will usually accept a young sow and may take on a motherly role. Two adult females can be introduced but also like boars, cage size and personalities also play a part in successfully introducing adult sows. Some adult sows will just refuse to get a long with each, usually because they both have dominant personalities.
Boars and Sows
One neutered boar can live with several sows. Only one boar, if you tried to add another boar in the cage, they would fight over the sows. Remember baby boars as early as 3 to 4 weeks are sexually mature so could make a sow pregnant. As for neutering, I would only neuter a boar if I already had sows. Neutering shouldn't be entered into lightly. Generally sows and one boar get on really well. Although when a neutered boar is first introduced to sows, he will still want to court and mount them. However this will decrease with familiarity. Some very dominant sows won't tolerate a very dominant boar, so be prepared for this to happen.
Introductions
When introducing guinea pigs to each other its always best to introduce them on neutral territory. It doesn't often work out if you just put a new guinea pig in an existing guinea pigs cage as many guinea pigs feel they have to defend their territory from the new comer. Also remember, introducing them in a cage, especially a smaller cage will make them feel very anxious as they have hardly any means of escape.
Once the quarantine period is over and all piggies are healthy, there are several things you can do before they are introduced.
1) You could bath all the piggies in a safe shampoo.
2) You could try gently rubbing hay on the new comer from the existing guinea pigs cage to help the new piggy smell like a member of the herd.
3) Another good trick is to dab a tiny amount of lavender oil or vicks vapour rub on the top of their noses, the scent may help to disguise their natural smell for a short time.
4) When introducing your guinea pigs on neutral territory, try and distract them with vegetable treats, boxes, tunnels etc.
5) If you don't have an area to introduce the piggies other than the cage, then you could try introducing them while you and a responsible family member or friend are holding the piggies.
6) Another good idea before you get to stage two and place the guinea pigs in the same cage is to thoroughly wash the cage, rearrange the cage so it will look and smell like a new cage. Change all the bedding, wash all the accessories to remove any guinea pig scent.
7) To avoid arguments, try and have two sleeping areas. For example, if you usually use a guinea pig igloo, then buy another one so they have one each. Most guinea pigs like to take a nap under cover or have quiet area to chill out and if you only have one igloo in the cage with no other hideaways, they may argue over it.
What to expect and when to intervene
Nearly all guinea pigs will go through many different types of behavior when they meet each other for the first time. More placid guinea pigs will just go through friendly rituals without much dominance behavior, others will show a few dominant rituals, while others will more or less go straight to the very dominant behavior, getting ready for battle.
Watch Carefully for bullying behavior
Although not as initially serious as a full blown, but it can still be equally damaging for the guinea pig who is being bullied.As a responsible guinea pig owner, you need to monitor your guinea pig behaviour. Some dominant guinea pigs will nip hard enough for the submissive guinea pig to cry out. The dominant guinea pig is asserting their authority, but if this happens frequently, the submissive guinea pig may become very nervous and depressed. They may be constantly on edge which just isn't good for their happiness, health and may even effect their imune system because they are so stressed out. A dominant guinea pig can also bully by not allowing the under piggy to use the food bowl or water sourse. One possible solution is provide two food bowls and 2 water sources, in separate areas of the cage. A dominant guinea pig cannot guard both areas at the same time. Of course there are always little quarrels amongst guinea pigs that do break out, even in an established pair or group but it rarely turns into anything nasty. Its just part of herd life. Some piggies just have a good moan at their cage or give a little head butt or kick. But if you are hearing loud squeals, please keep looking out for this behaviour and make sure the under piggy is having their share of the food and water. Stay with them and observe their behaviour.