2 sows, do they need a boyfriend?

[Louisette]

I rescued my two girls about 1 year ago, they were quite young and underweight, and hadn't had the best start in life, but they are now happily weeping about in their new little life with us

My question is should the girls get a boyfriend? As in should we rescue a neutered boy to live with them? I wonder if girls get lonely or long for male companionship? Or are they happy as two girls living together?

They are happy little pigs but don't tend to snuggle with each other, there is the odd squabble and rumble, and the dominant one does pick on the smaller one a bit to show whose boss, but nothing out of the ordinary.

I know this is all normal but I wonder if there was a man about the house they would feel better? Or are they not really bothered about male attention? Not sure how it works!

Any one with experience of this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Xx

 

[Wiebke]

I rescued my two girls about 1 year ago, they were quite young and underweight, and hadn't had the best start in life, but they are now happily weeping about in their new little life with us

My question is should the girls get a boyfriend? As in should we rescue a neutered boy to live with them? I wonder if girls get lonely or long for male companionship? Or are they happy as two girls living together?

They are happy little pigs but don't tend to snuggle with each other, there is the odd squabble and rumble, and the dominant one does pick on the smaller one a bit to show whose boss, but nothing out of the ordinary.

I know this is all normal but I wonder if there was a man about the house they would feel better? Or are they not really bothered about male attention? Not sure how it works!

Any one with experience of this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Xx

Hi!

You can keep sows without a neutered boar if you wish to.

But personally I am a great fan of 'husboars' because it goes with the way their society works where sows associate with a boar of their choice to form a core group. I currently have seven husboars, four of them living with a sow pair each; two with a single sow and one with a trio. But I have had larger groups of up to 13 sows with a patriarch before.
It allows me to keep both genders safely at the same time and to enjoy the best of both - boars mellow over time as the testosterone gradually fizzles out and are often more affectionate and less uptight than sows.
Fall-outs between sows and boars are extremely rare. It is a great way of giving one of the many fallen-out and no longer wanted pet shop boars that have been repeatedly failed by the shops and their owners a happy-ever-after by allowing them to realise the pinnacle of any boar's dreams.

However, it is as much a myth that all sows will accept a neutered boar as the one about brothers not falling out or boars being unbondable. I have several sow pairs, mostly older ones past ideal pup-bearing age, that have so far refused even the most gentle and submissive of boys.
You have to also be aware that unless your two girls are best of friends, you can end up with an outsider issue because your husboar will sooner or later side with one of the girls. A husboar can't heal a rift between sows. He will have to get on with all sows in order to mate, but he is not part of the sow hierarchy, only the overall group hierarchy, and will stay generally out of any inter-sow conflicts.

The best way to go about getting a boar that your girls accept is by rescue dating your sow pair with a neutered boar (or more than one in succession) under expert supervision at a good rescue. This means that you will come home with one only if the all important initial acceptance has happened and you do not have to face the risk of a potential failure.
By using one of our vetted good standard rescues, you can also be assured that you will only adopt a quarantined/vet cared and fully healthy boy who doesn't come with any hidden passengers, you won't have the hassle and worry of a neutering op and not have to pay for the full op cost (the adoption fee won't cover the whole operation and care cost) and you have the rescue to fall back on if there is a major problem with the bond along the way.
Here is the list of rescues we can vouch for you being in safe hands.
Bobtails should be your closest rescue: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Guinea Pig Facts - An Overview

 

[PigglePuggle]

I think your girls will be fine without a man in their lives, but if you have the space and money and time then adding a neutered husboar will certainly add an extra dimesion to all your lives!
We love our husboar Theo, he's very laid back and easy going and friends with all 5 of his ladies we see a much wider variety of relationships and behaviours. He has a much more straightforward personality than the girls, he likes food and naps and ladies and cuddles, no herd politics or funny moods!
But both your girls will need to accept the new husboar for things to work well.
The guides @Wiebke has linked for you are excellent, best of luck!

 

[Louisette]

Thank you so much this is really great advice! this is why I love this forum it's so great to hear such in depth advice from piggie experts thank you also for the links and information about trusted rescues I will let you know how we get on Xx

 

[Freela]

You don't "need" a male for them (I've had pairs of sows for years as there are fewer vets with experience neutering boars where I live) and they have done just fine. However, if you want to add a neutered boy to your group, it's a possibility and hopefully some people with mixed groups can give you some advice! Just make sure he's been neutered at least 6 weeks to rule out unplanned pregnancies!