Adopting 2 girls and 1 boy - stupid or good?

emellertid

emellertid

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Hi everyone (again)! If you keep two girl piggies and an un-neutered boy in one 2x6 C&C cage, separated by grids, until the boy is old enough to be neutered, do you think they'll still need some introduction time before they can all be in the same cage (after neutering, of course)? Is that something you would advice against?

Backstory: I recently posted about two little girl pigs that will be moving in on August 15th. I have a 2x4 C&C prepared for them, but was planning on expanding the cage sooner or later anyway. The girls have a brother, though, that was the only boy in the litter, and the owner told me that single boys can be difficult to re-home where I live, so I told her that if she can't find a good home for him, I'll take him in too once he's old enough to be neutered (6 months, according to their owner). But now I feel bad that he might be lonely for so long. Plus, I'm kind of falling in love with him. He's the most adorable little guy! Look at this face:
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So I'm trying to figure out if and how it would be wise to adopt him sooner. Any advice and opinions are very welcome!
 
I think you can neuter from 16 weeks if the boy is growing well, but remember you need to wait 6 weeks after neutering to let them meet without a cage divider. If they live next door thats good unless they get territorial about their usual cage sides afterwards? Ours are sitting out their 6 week wait in temporary cages (with playpen time and hutch time obviously) and saving the big C&C for when they live together afterwards...
No doubt a proper behaviour expert will come along soon with some better advice about the proper way to bond them!
 
As he's gorgeous :) It would be perfectly fine to have him living next door to his sister's until he is old enough to be neutered and.gone through the post op 6 week wait :)

You would.still need to bond.them all in neutral territory before they could all live together without the divider though but it should be much easier.
 
PigglePuggle said:
I think you can neuter from 16 weeks if the boy is growing well, but remember you need to wait 6 weeks after neutering to let them meet without a cage divider. If they live next door thats good unless they get territorial about their usual cage sides afterwards? Ours are sitting out their 6 week wait in temporary cages (with playpen time and hutch time obviously) and saving the big C&C for when they live together afterwards...
No doubt a proper behaviour expert will come along soon with some better advice about the proper way to bond them!
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Thank you for your reply!

I know many have their piggies neutered before 6 months and I’m sure that’s fine, but I have a good relationship with this owner, and she works at one of the few vet’s offices where I live (on a small Finnish island!), so I wouldn’t want to upset her by going against her advice. :)

I thought that when it’s time to put all of them together, I’d deep clean and re-arrange the cage to avoid (or minimize) possible territorial behavior. I wouldn’t want to make a well-meaning but ignorant decision, so thought I’d check with the forum first!
 
Claire W said:
As he's gorgeous :) It would be perfectly fine to have him living next door to his sister's until he is old enough to be neutered and.gone through the post op 6 week wait :)

You would.still need to bond.them all in neutral territory before they could all live together without the divider though but it should be much easier.
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Thank you so much! I was hoping that if I deep clean and re-arrange the cage, as you would when bonding any new piggie, before putting them all in it together without the divider, it would be OK. :)
 
emellertid said:
Hi everyone (again)! If you keep two girl piggies and an un-neutered boy in one 2x6 C&C cage, separated by grids, until the boy is old enough to be neutered, do you think they'll still need some introduction time before they can all be in the same cage (after neutering, of course)? Is that something you would advice against?

Backstory: I recently posted about two little girl pigs that will be moving in on August 15th. I have a 2x4 C&C prepared for them, but was planning on expanding the cage sooner or later anyway. The girls have a brother, though, that was the only boy in the litter, and the owner told me that single boys can be difficult to re-home where I live, so I told her that if she can't find a good home for him, I'll take him in too once he's old enough to be neutered (6 months, according to their owner). But now I feel bad that he might be lonely for so long. Plus, I'm kind of falling in love with him. He's the most adorable little guy! Look at this face:
View attachment 91661

So I'm trying to figure out if and how it would be wise to adopt him sooner. Any advice and opinions are very welcome!
Click to expand...

Hi!

They will still need a formal introduction on neutral ground as things are likely to be a bit on the lively side, but acceptance will be much better and the bonding should run smoother because they already know each other and, if they are siblings, will stay bonded because of the interaction through the grids. Please cable tie the boar side additionally; boars can be amazingly determined and athletic to get to a sow in season.

Here is our advice on boar neutering and neutered boars. Please be aware that you need to conduct a full 6 weeks post-op wait before he is 100% safe to go with the girls.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

They will still need a formal introduction on neutral ground as things are likely to be a bit on the lively side, but acceptance will be much better and the bonding should run smoother because they already know each other and, if they are siblings, will stay bonded because of the interaction through the grids. Please cable tie the boar side additionally; boars can be amazingly determined and athletic to get to a sow in season.

Here is our advice on boar neutering and neutered boars. Please be aware that you need to conduct a full 6 weeks post-op wait before he is 100% safe to go with the girls.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
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OK, that makes sense. Thank you so much!
 
I had a surprise litter with two boys and they lived next to my 3 females until they were neutered and ready to live with the girls. Once they were ready they had no problems mixing with the girls. I have one couple on one side and the other boy with two girls on the other side now. My vet neutered them at two months old and they both did great (I am in the US so I know every place is different).
 
HeatherRose said:
I had a surprise litter with two boys and they lived next to my 3 females until they were neutered and ready to live with the girls. Once they were ready they had no problems mixing with the girls. I have one couple on one side and the other boy with two girls on the other side now. My vet neutered them at two months old and they both did great (I am in the US so I know every place is different).
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Thank you, that’s very encouraging! :nod:

I’m waiting for the 6 month mark with the neutering that their current owner recommended mostly because she and I have a pretty good relationship, and she’s a vet’s assistant at one of the few vet’s offices on the little island where I live, so I don’t want to upset her by disregarding her opinion. But I’m aware that many boys are neutered sooner and do just fine!
 
Aah he's a beauty, hope all goes well for him and you and the girlies. I couldn't have left that gorgeous boy alone either :)
 
He’s gorgeous. And I’m sure they will make a lovely trio once he’s safely post neutering.
 
UPDATE: I did decide to adopt all three. Expansion kit and divider grids for the cage are ordered, hopefully everything gets here before August 15th (from US to Finland), so they can all move in at once, otherwise I’ll pick up the little boy as soon as possible when everything is ready. All three will get a routine check-up with a vet before moving in. I’m like 20% nervous and 80% bursting with excitement! :D
 
Update: There was a change of plan. The piggie babies’ owner contacted me and asked if I would be willing to adopt an older, already neutered boar instead of the girls’ brother. She had found someone who would be able to provide a good home (and a male companion) for the little boy, but she had also taken in this 3-year-old guy who’s owner didn’t want him anymore and was looking to re-home him. I wish I could have taken them all, but I originally set out to only have two piggies - I think I would have been overwhelmed with four. So since the little boy would have a good home anyway and the older gentleman really needed one, I decided to adopt him instead, along with the little girls. They are all moving in tomorrow, after a check-up with a vet to make sure they’re all healthy and happy. I’m so excited!

I’ve spent a couple days preparing their cage. I’m sure it’s nothing special to the veterans on this forum, but to me (a piggie newbie) it looks enormous. :eek::D

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