yesterday was such a sad day :... my 2 12 week old boars whom i absolutley adored, started fighting. i asked for advice on here and was told they would need to be seperated and there was no other way really. i was reluctant to do this as, firstly, i didnt have another hutch and secondly, i know that piggies like company and didnt want them to be lonely. however, later in the day i was in the garden and they just flew at each other with a terrible noise and fur flying. it was so upsetting. i seperated them and when my husband got in told him we would need to get a second cage. he said NO ! the deal was 2 guinea pigs, 1 cage. i rang pets at home (where i got them from) and they said i could return them and exchange them for 2 sows and that i shouldnt have this problem with them. is this correct ? when i first went for them they advised i get 2 boars as they were easier and more friendly so I'm not exactly trusting on their advice ! anyhow, i went back and swapped them for 2 lovely girlies but my heart is broken. i so loved those specific 2. i worry about them now in the adoption centre section. i feel i want to go get them back and wonder now if i was too hasty in thinking they would never get on ? did i do they only thing i could ? any advice would be great - thanks all x
a sad day ...
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Rachel WD
Adult Guinea Pig
That's so sad. Depending on the level of fighting (and it sounds like it was bad) you definitely needed to seperate them. The rule that people tend to use on here is once blood has been shed there is no hope with the bond. Sows usually do get on better together than boars. It's a shame your husband was against keeping them seperately but I think mine would be exactly the same. There wasn't much you could do other than take one back and swap for another boar or wait til your boar was neutered and get a sow to be his friend. Horrible situation for you and I can imagine how much you are missing your boys.
Maybe once your hubby sees how great piggies are he might agree to getting more? Or get a rescued (neutered) boar to live with your girls.
ILoveGilbertTheGuineaPig
Senior Guinea Pig
I'm sorry you had to make that decision. It is true that sows usually get on better and since you didn't have another hutch/cage I think you made the right decision.
thankyou for your kind words rachel. my husband told me to stop being so dramatic as they were just guinea pigs ! just guinea pigs ! would he feel the same if i wanted to swap our sons 
? i absolutley adored them and just feel so sad they didnt get on x
? i absolutley adored them and just feel so sad they didnt get on x
Rachel WD
Adult Guinea Pig
Men can be like that. (Not all men - before I get shouted at)
My husband was a bit like that at first but he loves them now. I bet yours will be the same. Once he realises that they have their own personalities and behaviours.
It is sad, hopefully the boys will find new homes with other piggies that they do get on with. Make sure you give your girls lots of love. It will make you feel mildly better. x
My husband was a bit like that at first but he loves them now. I bet yours will be the same. Once he realises that they have their own personalities and behaviours.
It is sad, hopefully the boys will find new homes with other piggies that they do get on with. Make sure you give your girls lots of love. It will make you feel mildly better. x
CiaraPatricia
Adult Guinea Pig
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That's so sad. But you did the right thing really, because the fighting sounded bad. I'm sure you'll get to love the two sows, but will always remember the boys.
I don't know if boys are meant to be friendlier, or if pets at home was just trying to sell the boys because they might be harder to sell. Girls are lovely and friendly too.
I don't know if boys are meant to be friendlier, or if pets at home was just trying to sell the boys because they might be harder to sell. Girls are lovely and friendly too.
I am sorry; boars at that age can get into fight and have fallouts.
But PLEASE, if you still can, do not take your boars back to p@h! They will end up in their adoption section labelled as "not able to live with another guinea pig" for the rest of their whole life! We have had people on here getting such boars because they couldn't stand it - boars who settled perfectly fine when bonded carefully again.
You can also be sure that any sow you rehome from a reputable rescue won't be pregnant - what you sadly cannot say from p@h; we have an all too lively pregnancy section thanks to pet shops/transport to the pet shops!
I started my piggy life out as a "pet shop granny" as well, so with a hubby like yours, it will be worth going the rescue route to make sure that you do not end up with any more nasty surprises.
Here is a list of specialist guinea pig rescues; take your boars there so you know that they will be rebonded and only rehomed to a good home after a home check. http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp
PS: Your hubby sucks!
PS2: How big is your hutch anyway? Two guinea pigs need a minimal space of 2x4 ft, preferably more, especially boars.
But PLEASE, if you still can, do not take your boars back to p@h! They will end up in their adoption section labelled as "not able to live with another guinea pig" for the rest of their whole life! We have had people on here getting such boars because they couldn't stand it - boars who settled perfectly fine when bonded carefully again.
You can also be sure that any sow you rehome from a reputable rescue won't be pregnant - what you sadly cannot say from p@h; we have an all too lively pregnancy section thanks to pet shops/transport to the pet shops!
I started my piggy life out as a "pet shop granny" as well, so with a hubby like yours, it will be worth going the rescue route to make sure that you do not end up with any more nasty surprises.
Here is a list of specialist guinea pig rescues; take your boars there so you know that they will be rebonded and only rehomed to a good home after a home check. http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp
PS: Your hubby sucks!
PS2: How big is your hutch anyway? Two guinea pigs need a minimal space of 2x4 ft, preferably more, especially boars.
Hiya,
Aww, this is sad for you. I bet you were really smitten with these little boys.
Not sure if I can give any advice and I don't want to interfere with the decision that your hubby made either, but if it was myself in this situation, I would just go out and buy another cage, keep babies separated for a period of time, but would be inclined to reintroduce them to each other on the neutral ground basis, that I've had advice for in my situation when I had a new piggie a short while ago.
Other members may think that what I've said may be the wrong thing to do, and I perfectly understand if they do. If it's a case that boars cannot be bonded/paired after fighting, then fair enough, I appreciate how hard it must be.
My hubby would probably agree to go ahead and have another cage, providing we had somewhere to keep it. He would understand the upset caused for me, by letting go of the boys and would see that as more important than having to replace them for girls or anything else.
Hope your hubby does come round to the idea and that it is not too late for you to get your babies back. I really hope you do. Maybe after a little chat with your hubby, he will see the importance of all of this.
I'm just having another think and wondered if it really would be a huge problem for your hubby if you went ahead and got another cage? Most men give in in the end............
I appreciate what he's said though and wouldn't want to interfere, just thinking of you and what you are going through right now. Good luck lovely. xx :rose
Aww, this is sad for you. I bet you were really smitten with these little boys.
Not sure if I can give any advice and I don't want to interfere with the decision that your hubby made either, but if it was myself in this situation, I would just go out and buy another cage, keep babies separated for a period of time, but would be inclined to reintroduce them to each other on the neutral ground basis, that I've had advice for in my situation when I had a new piggie a short while ago.
Other members may think that what I've said may be the wrong thing to do, and I perfectly understand if they do. If it's a case that boars cannot be bonded/paired after fighting, then fair enough, I appreciate how hard it must be.
My hubby would probably agree to go ahead and have another cage, providing we had somewhere to keep it. He would understand the upset caused for me, by letting go of the boys and would see that as more important than having to replace them for girls or anything else.
Hope your hubby does come round to the idea and that it is not too late for you to get your babies back. I really hope you do. Maybe after a little chat with your hubby, he will see the importance of all of this.
I'm just having another think and wondered if it really would be a huge problem for your hubby if you went ahead and got another cage? Most men give in in the end............
I appreciate what he's said though and wouldn't want to interfere, just thinking of you and what you are going through right now. Good luck lovely. xx :rose
Tracyxx
Adult Guinea Pig
I agree, I'd explain how important this is to you to your husband. My boyfriend has always been so understanding of my love for the pigs, but it can take time for non-animal-lovers to understand how much they mean to us. By returning your pigs to Pets at Home, you have no way of guaranteeing they are going to a good knowledgeable home. I don't mean to worry you, but they will probably tell their new owners they cannot be kept together with any other pigs, and they will live their entire life alone. Perhaps you could look on the freeads websites such as Preloved, Freeads and Gumtree for a cheap second-hand cage or hutch? You would only need another four-by-two cage or hutch for your girls, and two smaller cages/hutches for the boys. Or you could get your DIY hands on and buy a large hutch and split it in two using mesh or grids. That way your boys could live one on either side, and still talk to and see each other without fighting.
BellasMummy
Senior Guinea Pig
Its not a nice thing to happen but it sounds like it was for the best.
I got 2 sows in January and 1 was bullying the other so i made the decision to swap her for another pig and now these 2 get on so well as they are birth sisters.
Hope everything goes well with your sows.
I got 2 sows in January and 1 was bullying the other so i made the decision to swap her for another pig and now these 2 get on so well as they are birth sisters.
Hope everything goes well with your sows.
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