Bonding Guinea Pigs - A Guide to Happy Pigs
Guinea pigs can make wonderful pets, they are funny, affectionate and curious. But they must be well managed, particularly boar pairs, throughout their lives to keep them content. This is our guide on how to successfully bond guinea pigs!
You can support your pigs’ relationship by making sure the following is adhered to:
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Plenty of cage space - ideally a pen for two sharing should be minimum 9 square feet.
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Plenty of hay, always! - a single hay rack is not sufficient, multiple piles of hay should be provided daily for hiding and eating.
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Plenty of free roam/exercise time in a pen or run.
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Avoid any strong smells in the area they live in - e.g. perfumes, cleaning products, scented candles or sprays.
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Enrichment - plenty to keep them busy, lie cardboard to chew, hay and forage.
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Scatter feeding, ditch the bowl! - scatter their daily pellets and veggies in and around their enclosure to keep them busy and engaged and encourage natural foraging behaviours.
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Multiples of everything: dens, hides, toys, hay piles, water bottles/bowls (ideally there should as many items as there are pigs plus an extra one, especially water supplies, to allow choice e.g. for a pair of pigs, three of every item should be provided minimum).
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For boar pairs only: No female guineas nearby - do not house them near any resident or visiting female guineas, do not use anything for the boars that has been near females without being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
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For boar pairs only: Consider castration at around 4-5 months to reduce the impact of hormonal issues as they reach sexual maturity around 7-8 months. Late castration generally does not manage hormones as well as early castration does. Feel free to message or email the sanctuary for advice if this is something you are considering..
Bonding - The following guidance will help you bond two pigs together.
Before starting:
- Boars should start in separate cages initially and be bonded over time
- Only start when you have ample time and are in no rush, this process can take a while
- Never leave the pigs unattended through the bonding process
- Have a thick towel to hand to break up any fights that break out
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Allow your new guinea to settle for a 5 day cool off prior to attempting bonding (24 hours is sufficient in pigs under 12 weeks) ideally where they can see/smell their new companion
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Sit cuddling both together one on either side of you stroking one and then the other for 20 minutes or more, be prepared to separate if any aggression
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Once they are sat together on your lap offer tasty veg treats.
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Then place down in a neutral place e.g. kitchen. floor, bath with blanket (but NOT a cage). Again be ready with towels to grab and throw over one if any fighting.
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Rumbling (a low rumble vocalisation), chasing, mounting are all normal, don’t be alarmed by this. Teeth chattering is not so good, and you should try and distract them from this by tapping a spoon on a cup or jangling keys (which guineas seem to like so calms the mood)
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Once they are in a neutral place put veg and hay in and watch for at least 60 minutes, longer ideally. At each sign of aggression, pick up both and start the process from the beginning, repeating each step as often as needed.
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Once they have been together for a couple of hours or more with no aggression try them in the cage together (make sure the cage has been scrubbed clean and fresh bedding) put loads of hay in as it’s a good distraction and they can hide in it.
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Don’t leave alone unless you are absolutely sure they are calm and settled. Sleeping together and eating together calmly are very good signs. Feel free to contact the sanctuary for further advice.