Adding another pair

[Buzz&Woodypigs]

Hi everyone. Pretty new to this forum and also new to having guinea pigs. We've had our two boys Buzz and Woody a couple of months now and we are absolutely besotted. We seem to have found our feet with what works and what doesn't and are making a really strong bond with them. We're thinking about homing another pair in a separate cage. The cage would be in the same room, my question is would we be able to get a pair of sows or would it need to be another pair of boars?

Thanks in advance

Katie

 

[DMS260820]

I'm pretty sure another pair being sows in the same room, will cause problems with your current boars. tomorrow someone will be able to tell you for better than I can

 

[Siikibam]

An issue with regards the boys’ bond could arise if they’re within ‘smelling distance of the girls’. The usual advise is to not keep them in the same room - especially if the boys haven’t been around girls in the past. I would advise you house them at opposite sides of a room. If you can’t do that, then you have to make sure you house the girls underneath the boys - the smell can’t travel upwards.

Secondly when you’re dealing with them, you always have to remember to sort out the boys first.

As an example, I have a boy and girl pair. For the first month or so, the boys lived in their cage and the girls lived under the stairs, perpendicular to the boys. There is a bit of a gap between the cage and the stairs, and the girls were on the ground while the boys were on the ‘first floor’.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I agree with siikibam.

To also add, adding sows into a room where the boys are teenagers is going to potentially be the problem. If the boys are under 14 months of age, then they are teenagers, hormones high and this is the most difficult time for a boar pair with hormonal squabbles between the two of them going to happen. Add sows into that and it can disrupt things further.
People do do it, siikibam has a pair of each sex, but you would have to think carefully and be careful about the whole thing. The last thing you want is for it to cause fights between the boys and then them end up needing to be separated.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

 

[Buzz&Woodypigs]

I'm not set in get sows but was just thinking if the opportunity to re-home was only does what the options would be. Also as Piggies&buns stated they are still teenagers so I'm aware there's still a lot of time left for hormonal fall outs between them. We're in no rush for more but have gotten the bug and are now obsessed haha!

Would it be an option to potentially seperate the boys and pair them with a sow each? Obviously if we had them neutered first?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes neutering (and then the six week wait) and getting a sow each is an option but it would seem a shame to break their bond once they are settled together. If they fall out, then it would be a thing to look at, but more boar pairs make it to adulthood together than not.
The stability of a bond comes from mutual liking and character compatibility so you would still have to go through the process of finding the right character sow for each boar.

 

[Buzz&Woodypigs]

Yes neutering (and then the six week wait) and getting a sow each is an option but it would seem a shame to break their bond once they are settled together. If they fall out, then it would be a thing to look at, but more boar pairs make it to adulthood together than not.
The stability of a bond comes from mutual liking and character compatibility so you would still have to go through the process of finding the right character sow for each boar.

Thank you I think we'll hang it out and concentrate on the boys for now they seem to work it out quite well. Woody is clearly the more dominate and Buzz is happy to submit and knows when the get out Woody's way. They've not yet had any arguements just the odd rumble strut and then they go to there own space. Their currently in the ferplast 120 but due a 5 X 2 c&c cage delivery over the weekend as they've grown so quickly and knew this cage would only be temporary so hoping they love it! Thanks for everyone's help and advice x

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you I think we'll hang it out and concentrate on the boys for now they seem to work it out quite well. Woody is clearly the more dominate and Buzz is happy to submit and knows when the get out Woody's way. They've not yet had any arguements just the odd rumble strut and then they go to there own space. Their currently in the ferplast 120 but due a 5 X 2 c&c cage delivery over the weekend as they've grown so quickly and knew this cage would only be temporary so hoping they love it! Thanks for everyone's help and advice x

They will certainly be happier in a 2x5! Be prepared for the change in cage size to cause a little territorial unrest between them but it should settle down. Don’t do a full cage clean when you move them over, use some of their used bedding (or the dirty fleece) as that can help them feel like it is still their home and help them settle

 

[Buzz&Woodypigs]

They will certainly be happier in a 2x5! Be prepared for the change in cage size to cause a little territorial unrest between them but it should settle down. Don’t do a full cage clean when you move them over, use some of their used bedding (or the dirty fleece) as that can help them feel like it is still their home and help them settle

Thank you I didn't consider that will defo use their old fleece/hideys at first then. I've ordered some guineadad liners in the black Friday sale so will give me chance to give them a first wash if I use their existing fleece/pee pads. Going to add a 2 x 1 loft space but I’m not getting my hopes up for it been used lol x

 

[Piggies&buns]

My boys didn’t really use their loft. I saw one of them up there twice, so I took it down.

We’d love to see some pictures of your piggies and your new cage when it’s done!

 

[Buzz&Woodypigs]

My boys didn’t really use their loft. I saw one of them up there twice, so I took it down.

We’d love to see some pictures of your piggies and your new cage when it’s done!

Definitely I'll pop some up when it's all complete. This is them. Smooth haired is Woody and ginger and white is Buzz (not sure on what his fur is doing it's long at the back but no where else) they love my eldest daughter (she's the veggie and treat giver) and she sits next to there cage reading to them and they always come and let her give them tickles it's so lovely to see. Her favourite job (much to my suprise) is poop scooping haha. Bonus for me and the boys!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Gorgeous!

 

[Merab]

What gorgeous boys you have.
Welcome to the forum.
Your piggies are lucky to have such a thoughtful owner who is prepared to research first before adding to the family.
They are so addictive so wanting more is perfectly normal.

I see you live in the East Riding of Yorkshire - one of my favourite places. We plan on retiring there in a few years

 

[Buzz&Woodypigs]

What gorgeous boys you have.
Welcome to the forum.
Your piggies are lucky to have such a thoughtful owner who is prepared to research first before adding to the family.
They are so addictive so wanting more is perfectly normal.

I see you live in the East Riding of Yorkshire - one of my favourite places. We plan on retiring there in a few years

Thank you I did so much research before we got them but nothing prepared us for how much love we’d actually have for them and how much character they have. I put the kids to bed and just sit watching and interacting with them for ages! Yes it’s a beautiful place! We’re in a village just outside of Hull and it’s so close to so many beautiful places from seasides, towns and villages. We love it! Xx