Advice from experienced guinea owners please!

[IsabelK]

Hello all, I would like your advice please. Last November I adopted two boars from an animal shelter, sadly one died in January and I was told the kindest thing for my remaining guinea was to neuter him so he could have a female friend. I duly did this, and although finding a female guinea pig was difficult (I couldn't find any in animal rescues in London so I had to buy one) he now has a female companion. The only female I could get was a baby but there has been no violence and she is growing fast and is very fond of my adult male. My question is, should I get another female to make a mini-herd or is it better to leave them a pair? The female is about 10 weeks old, the age of my male is unkown but the rescue staff thought a youngish adult. If I do get another sow, is it better to wait until my current female is fully grown, and would it matter whether I got a baby or adult female? Unfortunately my hutch isn't big enough for 2 more guineas, I think 3 would be maximum occupancy as of course I would not want them to be crowded. I would be grateful for advice from any more experienced owners who have housed several guineas together. Thanks.

 

[choloe]

welcome to the forums from me and the girls from oz :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: i only have 2 girls but have been told that 3 is not a good number for piggies as 1 will always get left out. so i am guessing leave it at 2 or get a larger cage to accomodate 4. and so sorry for your lost of your baby in janaury RIP sweet one run free and popcorn in paradise 0 0 0 hoping this has helped you. some people have mentioned C&C cages where you can add to them bit by bit, may this would be an opition for you. sending hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-* good luck. :smitten:

 

[Niki]

I have a neutered boar with 2 females, he's an older boy at 4, the girls are 1 and the reason i have 2 girls with him is because should anything happen to any of them the ones remaining will still have a friend.

I also have a neutered boar & single sow pairing but this pair did start as a group of 3. I cannot add a female to this pair because this sow doesn't like any other piggies but if i could they would be a 3 again.

Only you know your piggies & wether they would accept another girl should you wish. If you do decide i would let the pair choose their friend as there is no guarantee the baby will like another baby or that an older sow will like either. Not all sows appreciate having a man about the place.

Good Luck with your decision

 

[starla]

I have a neutered boar and a single girl together, the boar would have a proper gang of girls to keep under control if it were up to me! But sadly it's up to the female guinea, who hates other sows!
If both the boar and sow took to each other well, you could add another laid back guinea to your herd. Like choloe said though, sometimes one will get left out if you have 3. Why not adopt another 2 females?

 

[IsabelK]

Thanks to all of you for comments, I really appreciate it. I think I will let the sow grow up a bit more and then take them to meet another sow and see how they get on before bringing her home.