Bonding Advice

[WWDrew]

Hello Everyone,

I have 3 sows who live together and two single males. One of my bores got neutered and he's doing fine. I still need to wait three weeks until his sperm die off, and he can live with the girls. I'm not sure what to do with my single male, who isn't neutered. I don't think I can put him beside the three sows and the neutered boy, because that will likely mess up the groups bond?

If I surrender my single male, and adopt a female. I cannot neuter my other single male because he's almost 6 years old, and have two cages. What are my changes of having a successful bond with intro introducing a new sow and a neutered bore at the same time to my three sows that already live together. Are you supposed to introduce to new piggies at the same time like this? Their cage would end up being a 2 x 7 however I can make in larger since I can take apart the old c&c cages. I planning on scrubbing out their cages really well before introducing them, and washing their fleeces a few times.

Thank you so much,

Andrew

 

[Piggies&buns]

The single male who is not neutered absolutely can and should live beside the neutered boar/sow herd if he is to remain single. It will not mess up the herd’s bond at all, and the single boy will require the constant side by side interaction with the herd.
You would need to make sure his cage is very secure so he cannot escape and try to get in with them (would result in a fight and obviously pregnancies)

Adding any piggies to the sow herd requires character compatibility. It doesn’t matter how many you add in one go, it still is the same.

Any bonding needs to be done outside of the cage in a neutral territory space.

 

[WWDrew]

Any bonding needs to be done outside of the cage in a neutral territory space.

How long would your recommend bonding in a neutral space? My best guess would be 3 hours if they seem to be getting along. The bonding still goes one for weeks inside their cage after right?

 

[Piggies&buns]

How long would your recommend bonding in a neutral space? My best guess would be 3 hours if they seem to be getting along. The bonding still goes one for weeks inside their cage after right?

The time in the neutral space depends on how things are going - it can be a few hours or it can be overnight. There is no set time.

Yes, the full bonding process takes around two weeks of living together permanently.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Wiebke]

Hello Everyone,

I have 3 sows who live together and two single males. One of my bores got neutered and he's doing fine. I still need to wait three weeks until his sperm die off, and he can live with the girls. I'm not sure what to do with my single male, who isn't neutered. I don't think I can put him beside the three sows and the neutered boy, because that will likely mess up the groups bond?

If I surrender my single male, and adopt a female. I cannot neuter my other single male because he's almost 6 years old, and have two cages. What are my changes of having a successful bond with intro introducing a new sow and a neutered bore at the same time to my three sows that already live together. Are you supposed to introduce to new piggies at the same time like this? Their cage would end up being a 2 x 7 however I can make in larger since I can take apart the old c&c cages. I planning on scrubbing out their cages really well before introducing them, and washing their fleeces a few times.

Thank you so much,

Andrew

Hi and welcome

Your single old boar can live out his life next to your other piggies without any issues. Singles do not have any other boy to fight and fall out with when the sow pheromones strike and sows react more strongly to the presence of boar pheromones in turn, which is the reason at the bottom of why bonded boars only pairings should not live right next to sows although occasionally they actually can do successfully. You just can never count on your boys being among that minority - especially with youngsters or boars not used to the presence of sows.

I have lots of neutered 'husboars' living each with their wife/wives in adjoining pens with just a divider in between. Your old boy will be simply a neighbour without sows but he will get all the necessary interaction and stimulation that he needs through the bars as long as he can communicate fully by voice, scent and body language.

You may find the practical information in these guide links here very helpful:
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars