Advice Please

[BB3]

Hiya, so I know I asked this question a while ago but things have changed a little since then, I have 4 Guinea pigs, 2 boys and 2 girls. Tilly was rescued from a farm where she was in a tiny cage, scared to death and so tiny she must have only been a month old. She is progressing really well getting more confident each day. She is paired with an older sow sugar after I lost my dearest Rocco. The boys are Jojo and smudge. They are housed in the dining room and the girls are in the lounge. I am having a real problem with the boys. They are chewing the bars even though they have free roaming time in their room. They will come and say hi to us and they are quite nosey, but they are so wound up. They won't let us pick them up and when I put them in the garden they are immediately biting the bars of the run to get back in. Jojo poked his head out of his snuggle sack and bit me! I feel really sorry for them.I looked into getting them neutered and putting all 4 together but that looks like a bad idea after reading up on it! Help please don't know what to do X

 

[madguinealady]

You could get them neutered and put a girl each in with them so you had two pairs.It depends how close the bond is between your girls.I have a boy with six sows and a single boy who was neutered today to go in with a single girl I have.They will all be in the same room hopefully.

 

[BB3]

That's a good idea, mind you Jojo and smudge have been together 9 months, will that make a difference?

 

[Swissgreys]

How much space and stimulation do the boys have?
Is their cage large enough, and filled with a range of stuff to entertain them?
I have one guinea pig who is a real bar 'nibbler' but I find if I add various chew items around the perimeter of the cage, she doesn't chew the bars as much.
She likes anything wooden or willow (as long as the bark is still on), sea grass is also interesting, and we recently discovered grain free chew sticks (JR Farm). I also add large pieces of fresh cut wood with the leaves included (apple is the current favorite).
She has no interest in cardboard, but will pay with sheets of brown packing paper.

I get most of my ideas from searching things like 'natural guinea pig chew toys' or 'rabbit toys'.

Sometimes it is just trial and error, but maybe you could try adding various things and see if any of these work as a distraction.

 

[BB3]

Thanks, they are in a double indoor hutch so have loads of room, I try to make them toys out of toilet rolls and fresh grass, they only last 10 minutes though, I have got them toys before and they were not real interested but I will give it another go to see if I can find something they like

 

[Wiebke]

That's a good idea, mind you Jojo and smudge have been together 9 months, will that make a difference?

Personally, I would not split two girls that are well bonded if there is no necessity. If you would like to proceed with neutering, you can try to bond one of the boys with your sows and date the other boy with a sow or two at the RSPCA Walsall; they offer dating at their fosterers' home, so you come home with new piggies only of acceptance has happened.
I have a number of cage gnawers; that won't stop if you neuter.

Please be aware that you need to wait 6 weeks post-op until a boar is 100% safe to go with a sow. My Tegan is testament to that; her dad is a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine I hasten to add). Living with sows will hopefully help to bring your boys out. Please also make sure hat you choose a vet with lots of practice in guinea pig neutering or experience in small furries' operations; it will go a long way towards a good recovery and a much smaller risk of post-op complications.

 

[BB3]

The trouble is I am really allergic to them, I'm trying to manage the allergies with fleece pads rather than other bedding so the urine soaks through rather than them kicking the bedding up and releasing spores. I have bought some antihistamine nasal spray today so I'll see how that goes, they get a full clean out every other day to minimise it and I have just ordered some orchard hay to see of that helps. I would love to bring home more cage mates but I'm struggling as it is with the constant sneezing

 

[Wiebke]

The trouble is I am really allergic to them, I'm trying to manage the allergies with fleece pads rather than other bedding so the urine soaks through rather than them kicking the bedding up and releasing spores. I have bought some antihistamine nasal spray today so I'll see how that goes, they get a full clean out every other day to minimise it and I have just ordered some orchard hay to see of that helps. I would love to bring home more cage mates but I'm struggling as it is with the constant sneezing

You can try to split your girls; if you do, pair up your dominant girl first, preferably with the more submissive boy.

Have you tried to see whether your boys actually still want to be together?
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[BB3]

Oh I never thought of that, they do rumble alot and try to mate each other, this then end up with a very smelly boar glue mess! I'll have a read. But they do shout for each other when apart. Thank you

 

[BB3]

We have made the difficult decision to RE home Jojo. I feel so guilty but the current set up is not working and I feel sorry for him. He has a wonderful personality. I hope he will understand that it is for his happiness

 

[BB3]

Forgot to say I have posted in the rehome section with all the details. I really hope that someone will take him who will spoil and love him like we do. Here he is with his cage mate smudge. One of the rare occasions that they were not rumble strutting and having a go at each other. I cornered off an area in the kitchen for them to play