Advice on male baby pig separation needed - what is the best approach?

[MsBaru]

Hello everyone.
My guinea pig female (she came already pregnant from an owner who did not have guinea pigs sexed and housed them all together before he gave them up for adoption) recently gave birth to two healthy babies - one boar and one sow. The thing is, I know the young boy has to be separated from the group at the age of 3 weeks to prevent unwanted breeding, but I have no other males to house him with, I only own females. My plan is to raise him until he gets older, neuter him at the age my vet recommends and after 3 weeks house him with my girls.
But won't it be a bad thing for his mental development to separate him completely at this young age? It seem weird, he is still such a small clueless baby, he has no idea how to behave yet. What can I do to do the best thing possible for all the guinea pigs? Can he be housed alone for that time? He will probably need to be 4 months old to be able to undergo the surgery. Is it better to put him to a completely different room, or should I keep him close so he can still have contact with them? My cage is super long and I can put a wire panel in it to separate a section completely, but the pigs can literally touch noses.
Thank U

 

[dhill_cb7]

I’ll wait for the experts but I believe if they can touch each other through the grate then they could get a sow pregnant.

I believe he can live along side the girls but cannot come into contact with them physcially.

If you can get him neutered as early as possible that would be ideal. I believe you will have to fully introduce on neutral territory to bond them and then fully de-odorize their cage if putting them back into the girls cage.

Good luck!

 

[Piggies&buns]

You will need to separate him from the sows when he is 21 days old or 250g in weight.

He must be put into a separate but very secure cage and the cage must be next to the girls. It is essential that he can still see and hear and interact with the girls but only through the bars. Babies are desperate for interaction. He must not be put into a separate room as he will get lonely.
You must ensure the cage is very secure and ideally lidded - Being able to touch noses is fine but he must not be able to get through (or climb) the bars either by physically climbing them (rare but can happen) or by climbing on the roof of any hidey houses.

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sexing-separating-baby-boars-and-rehoming-babies.109391/

He can be neutered once the testicles descend but I’m afraid you do have some incorrect information on your original post. You must wait six full weeks after he is neutered before he can be rebonded back in with the girls, not three weeks. Boars remain fertile for six weeks after neuter.

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

After he is neutered and six weeks post op, you can carry out a neutral territory bonding

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

The green links I’ve added in explain each area in further detail

 

[MsBaru]

thank you for all the information you have provided, you have answered all my questions luckily, my cage has a roof because I also own cats, which means there is not way he could get to the other side

 

[Claire W]

Aw he’s beautiful

 

[Scooter Pie]

Nothing to add except it's wonderful you are taking such good care of the little guy! I just adopted a 12 week old girl from a family in a similar situation, pet store mis gendering resulting in babies!