Can a Six Month Old Female Guinea Pig Live With a 4 Week Old Baby
You want to adopt a baby guinea pig but yous're non certain if information technology's okay to put the infant guinea pig in the same cage as an older 1 that y'all already have. Before y'all make a decision, you have to know if they can live together.
Typically, babe guinea pigs and older ones can live together as long as they're well-matched and compatible. Many adult guinea pigs can exist quite patient with babies. On the other mitt, babe republic of guinea pigs desire communication and social interaction with experienced older guinea pigs.
In this web log post, you'll learn well-nigh the circumstances when babies shouldn't be paired with adults, how to introduce a baby republic of guinea pig with an adult one, and how to predict whether or not your republic of guinea pigs are going to get along.
Tin can You Put Baby Guinea Pigs With Older Ones?
Yes, you can definitely put babe guinea pigs with older ones. Overall, baby guinea pigs do well with older ones – every bit long every bit they're matched up based on their personalities (which is the about important factor anyhow). The guinea pigs demand to be introduced to each other properly.
Really, there's a couple of scenarios when matching a baby guinea pig with an adult tends to work quite well.
- With a bereaved, adult guinea sus scrofa: There's been many instances when a pet parent has paired a baby with a bereaved, older guinea pig – and guess what happens? The adult guinea pig suddenly has a renewed involvement in life. Something about babies (or maybe merely having companionship) helps an developed guinea pig feel happy over again.
- With adults that have ascendant personalities: Pairing an older guinea pig with a infant guinea pig will avoid personality problems. The developed cavy will usually become the boss of the younger one, so there's no fighting and no issues with bullying (typically)
So, you lot can absolutely put babe republic of guinea pigs with older ones – and it'll exist
Even so:
There's a few instances where babies and adults should exist separated or merely not be put together at all:
- Unneutered, mixed couples: It'll result in a lot of unwanted piggie babies. Cavies reach sexual maturity around three to 4 weeks of age (it'southward i of the reasons male person piggies are separated from the mamas around this time). And it'due south dangerous for girl cavies that immature to take children.
- Very aggressive adults or babies: If the adult guinea grunter is very aggressive (and I do mean VERY), the baby volition be bullied. Or vice versa. Their personalizes simply don't match upwards. When bullying happens, the cracking refuses to allow the other pig eat. And so the bullied piggies needs to exist separated. Not fun.
- A third add-on to a matched pair: Typically, trios of guinea pigs are very tricky to introduce and don't work well – fifty-fifty it's a babe piggie that'due south being introduced. I've heard stories of entire group falling out and every cavy having to be put in a separate cage.
If possible, I always recommend finding a guinea pig rescue to help you find the correct match for your piggies – whether it a babe to an developed or whatever other combination. They will test multiple guinea pigs with others to encounter if they are a good match. They evaluate how the guinea pigs act when they do introductions and information technology takes out all of the guess work – which I personally love.
Thinking about adding a piggie to your family or want to brush up on the essentials? Gotcha covered. What you need is a reliable, "all-in-one" resources to refer to when yous're struggling. A Beginner'due south Ultimate Guide To Guinea Squealer Care is a starting point with all the basics and more than to become you on your way!
How Do Yous Bond A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older I?
You can't just throw them together and expect them to get along.
Some older republic of guinea pigs will literally decline the babies if you don't brand sure that they're compatible first!
I've included some steps that y'all should follow when introducing your new baby guinea grunter to some other adult or older guinea pig (actually, this tin can be done with pigs of all ages).
However:
This is by no means an exact science. What I've written here is pretty much how to do it most safely and successfully, but there may be a few instances where things don't work out:
one. Quarantine Period?
Commonly an introduction period would begin with a quarantine where your piggies are separated from each other. Quarantine is a period of aligning for all the animals involved and permit's you observe whether or non the new piggie is sick.
But, quarantining isn't usually recommended for babies less than four months old or developed who are bereaved and accept stopped eating and drinking.
In this instance, their need for companionship is more important than the demand for health precautions.
- Young republic of guinea pigs rely heavily on visitor and guidance. They cannot be alone because they have not yet developed the skills for it.
- Bereaved piggies are so devastated and alone that some will literally waste away if they're not matched with a uniform piggie.
And so, you'll demand to introduce your baby and adult right abroad if you want to keep them both. If in that location are whatsoever issues with i of them (similar ringworm or lice), yous'll just have to treat them both.
Considering if they're kept separated, they're probable to get sick and die from loneliness (yes, that's a thing with piggies).
2. Time for the Meeting
Gear up up neutral space for them to run across.
No, it doesn't meant that you have to whisk your piggies away to a completely new bonding spot.
You only have to make sure that it's a spot that's not claimed by your current guinea pig (due east.g. doesn't olfactory property like your fur infant)
You lot can use your designated cage, a bath tub, and empty bathroom. If information technology'southward an open area, you might want to close it off with a baby gate.
Just make sure that the area is free of either of the piggie's smells.
(And delight don't fall for the myth that all female guinea pigs will accept all babies. That'southward not necessarily true).
Here are a couple of tips and things you lot need to know about this process:
- Be prepared with oven mitts or a dust pan to separate them if they get-go fighting. And by fighting, I mean a ball of flying furry. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but yous demand to ever be prepared.
- Put some fresh hay or grass in the centre of the area and and then put the piggies in the neutral surface area, also. This is for when pigs meet each other for the first fourth dimension. It gives them a identify to go comfortable with 1 another.
- When the pigs meet, there may be some running around, teeth-chattering, rumble-strutting and squealing. Nigh of squealing will probably be submissive and come from the younger piggie It'south natural for this to sometimes continue after a petty while.
- Mutual grooming (a little wash up between piggies is always a good sign)
- Eating or washing quietly next to each other
- Sniffing each other olfactory organ-to-nose
- Post-obit each other around (in a not hostile, stalker-costless way)
What you're looking for afterwards a while are some positive behaviors that say "Yeah, let's do this. Let's be friends. I won't seize with teeth the living daylights out of yous." Acceptance behaviors like:
So now you're wondering "Aquita, what if it doesn't work out? What are negative behaviors? What am I looking for?"
Those behaviors range to the subtle to the down right obvious.
- If ane or both republic of guinea pigs rejects any contact with the other one. Like running away or snapping at the other one.
- If there'southward a fight or a blood spilled, y'all tin safely say that the relationship isn't going to piece of work out.
Pigs tin honey or detest each other the showtime time they meet. You just need to be prepared to human activity no matter what happens during the introduction.
Since you're introducing an adult to a baby, information technology's likely that the hierarchy volition be established pretty quickly.
With adults, dominant guinea pigs have a tougher time matching with each other – neither want to back down. That's how they finish up as neighbors instead of cage mates.
Many babe piggies will defer to the adult (because the developed is bigger) and become the submissive piggie.
It tin can exist pretty tricky bonding teenage piggies with others. During this time, they go through a rebellious phase. And they claiming the adults past interim all rude and obnoxious (and basically pains in the butt).
3. Let's Settle In
Afterwards a few hours, if all goes well, you lot tin can get your piggies settled into their muzzle. It'southward important that your cage is large enough.
Many cavy relationships take imploded considering their pet parent didn't prepare a big enough space.
Use the table below to make sure your area is acceptable for your little friends:
| # of Guinea Pigs | Size Of Cage | Notes |
| 1 piggie | 10.five foursquare feet | If possible, bond your fur baby with a friend |
| 2 piggies | x.v square feet | Two is often the "magic number" |
| 3 piggies | xiii square feet | Bonding a trio of boards isn't recommended |
| 4 piggies | xvi square feet | iii sows or 1 neutered boar with ii sows |
If you accept a big plenty space, then at present you but prep it by:
- cleaning it out thoroughly with a vinegar and h2o mixture (become rid of your piggie's scent)
- wash all the fabrics huts and fleece blankets (if you use them)
- rearrange everything in the cage
- make certain all huts in the enclosure accept at least ii entrances (so the baby tin can escape if necessary)
- having 2 of everything (food bowls, h2o bottles, toys, etc) to prevent squabbling
There's no such thing as a "worry free" introduction.
Non all placement is guaranteed to work out for the best, no affair how hard you try or what precautions y'all take. But, it certain is nice when it does, isn't information technology?
Do Baby Guinea Pigs Need Adult Guinea Pigs?
Aye, baby guinea pigs need adult guinea pigs. That's how they learn how to, well…be guinea pigs. They learn how to communicate, the proper way to do things (like drink from a water bottle), what'southward dangerous, and what's safe.
When cavies alive in a herd, at around four to 5 weeks quondam, baby guinea pigs volition choose an adult every bit a "mentor" of sorts.
The youngsters will follow the aforementioned cavies around, mimicking what the adults do. If they encounter an older piggy eat things that are edible and non poisonous, they'll swallow those things as well.
If there aren't whatsoever "mentors" to follow effectually, information technology's up to yous as the pet parent to try to teach them these things.
(It's kind of sad that pet stores typically sell young piggies around this age range. They're taken from the families before they've had a chance to really "learn" how to be a piggie from an expert – an adult.)
Which, I guarantee, is not near as easy as letting the mentor show them. It's a lot of work, and it can be frustrating for both you and your piggies!
But, if yous put two baby republic of guinea pigs together without an older one, some things will never get learned – which would be unfortunate
So that is why it's of import to keep baby republic of guinea pigs with older ones when possible – or to fifty-fifty have a mixed age group, if it makes sense.
Tin can Guinea Pigs Of Different Ages Alive Together?
Aye, guinea pigs of unlike ages can live together. You just have to fall back ii main matter: compatibility of personalities and proper introductions. Yous need to accept both in order to increase the odds of the match going well.
Equally long as the piggies like each other and have established a hierarchy, piggies of different ages will get along quite well. It just gets a little more complex, the more hirsuite friends you have.
You simply need to make sure that you're providing an surround that will continue all of them well and happy (and peaceful). For example:
- Brand certain the enclosure is large enough for your herd
- Take plenty of food and water for everyone (and avoid giving them foods like peanut butter, chocolate, and other things that'll make them ill and cranky)
- Provide amusement for mental and physical stimulation
- Perform weekly health checks
- Aid them with grooming as necessary (that includes baths – merely equally needed, nail clippings etc.)
Dissimilar republic of guinea pigs can live together, but the match needs to exist made and all three of the post-obit conditions should exist met. Start, they need to get along with each other. Second, they need to have their own hierarchy. Third, their environment needs to be suited for them. If all 3 of these things are met so information technology's likely that they volition get along. If even one thing is missing then in that location might be trouble.
Volition Male Guinea Pigs Impale Their Babies?
This is actually quite rare. If he suspects that the babies are not his own (whether or not this is actually the case), some males kill them.
For this reason (and to allow the mama cavy get some remainder) most males are removed from the main enclosure after the babies are born.
Once the babies are older, he can exist reintroduced to the group – as long every bit everyone is appropriated neutered.
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs are social animals that need companionship. They're happiest when they alive with other cavies, only it'southward important to make sure the grouping is well-matched and compatible.
If y'all take a baby republic of guinea sus scrofa, he or she will want to interact with other older animals. The infants can get forth well with adults who are well matched and compatible.
On the other paw, the younger ones long for advice and socializing with more experienced older cavies
I hope this article has helped you brand an informed decision about whether or not a younger or older ane would exist better suited for your family!
If you programme on pairing up an adult piggie with one of these youngsters, let me know–I'one thousand eager for updates!
Source: https://squeaksscalesandtails.com/can-a-baby-guinea-pig-live-with-an-adult/
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