Bonding bereaved boys

J

jennyc12

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 24, 2025
Messages
49
Reaction score
56
Points
170
Location
Leicester
Hello, I’ve been informed by a friend that one of their Guinea pigs has passed away (they’re outside piggies) and they’ve now got a two year old boy who is now alone.
With my Harry being recently bereaved too I wondered would it be suitable to try bond them or is it too soon?
I went to my vet today for his check up and he said a baby boy might be a better idea, is that correct?
Thank you all again for supporting me through my recent bereavement x
 
Sorry to hear you have lost a piggy 😔 There's no harm in trying a bonding with the two year old. I think you can try doing the bonding about a week after the bereavement. A baby would be accepted more easily, but their bond could fail later on when piggy junior reaches his teens. If you like your friend's piggy, why not give bonding a try?
 
jennyc12 said:
Hello, I’ve been informed by a friend that one of their Guinea pigs has passed away (they’re outside piggies) and they’ve now got a two year old boy who is now alone.
With my Harry being recently bereaved too I wondered would it be suitable to try bond them or is it too soon?
I went to my vet today for his check up and he said a baby boy might be a better idea, is that correct?
Thank you all again for supporting me through my recent bereavement x
Click to expand...
from what I understand baby boys may not be a good idea sometimes because once they get to teenage they may develop traits that is not compatible to your guinea pig. I may be wrong but that's what I understand
 
Thank you for your kindness.
My piggy isn’t neutered so wasn’t sure if that would be an issue, he was the more nervous one but apparently this one’s the same.
I advised her it needs to be quarantined especially as she doesn’t know how her other one passed, she didn’t take them to the vets like we do.
I worry he’s lonely, I know it starts the cycle again and we’re still bereaved, but I saw him on his camera sat with his teddy in the night and it broke my heart a little bit x
 
jennyc12 said:
Thank you for your kindness.
My piggy isn’t neutered so wasn’t sure if that would be an issue, he was the more nervous one but apparently this one’s the same.
I advised her it needs to be quarantined especially as she doesn’t know how her other one passed, she didn’t take them to the vets like we do.
I worry he’s lonely, I know it starts the cycle again and we’re still bereaved, but I saw him on his camera sat with his teddy in the night and it broke my heart a little bit x
Click to expand...
from what i believe (again lol. i am quite new to having guinea pigs so i did not want to sound a know-it-all lol) neutering does not really change piggy's demeanour (nor smell from what I read) so it should not be an issue :) someone please correct me if i am wrong :D
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

You absolutely can try a bonding between the two adult piggies.
Whether it works comes down to character compatibility and mutual liking - if they have it they will be fine, if they don’t then the bonding will fail (that applies to babies and adults alike).

How old is your piggy?
I ask this as it your piggy is older than your friend’s then that could make a bonding easier. The older boars get the more companionship becomes the priority over dominance again.
I bonded my dominant but bereaved 6 year old with my dominant 2 year old (who had fought with his cage mate and I had to separate them). The 6 year old was so happy to have a friend again he relinquished all dominance and handed it all over to my 2 year old. They were happily bonded until my 6 year old passed away about six months later.

However, it would be a good idea if you get him that you quarantine him for two weeks in a separate room to your piggy before trying a neutral territory introduction.

Being neutered or not doesn’t make any difference. All neutering does is stop the ability to make babies, it doesn’t change their character or calm them down.

Yes, going with a baby boy can be more successful at acceptance and this is because a baby wants companionship and can’t challenge the hierarchy.
However, compatibility comes first and if they aren’t compatible then the bonding will fail even with a baby.

A baby might try to challenge once he becomes a teenager but that does not mean a challenge would be successful or harm their bond. A dominant who is able to hold his own will shut it down.
Equally it’s not a given that a baby would definitely try to challenge when he becomes a teen - many never do. Remember that more boar pairs make it together than not.

So ultimately there is no right or wrong way to go about this - go with the adult or get a baby, it still all comes down to compatibility and a baby will succeed or fail just the same as an adult will
 
Thank you, that’s really helpful information. They think my boy might be about 4+, the friends said theirs is 2.
I’ll go and see it first, I’m still on the fence as I’m grieving but Harry’s happiness is the priority.
Do I need to quarantine with me or do they quarantine it? I’m conscious they don’t know how the other passed, she said she thought the breathing may have been off but didn’t take it to a vet, they also jumped out the cage the other week so wasn’t sure if that was a contributing reason too.
 
In that case, with yours potentially being 4 or older than I would definitely try it with the 2 year old. From around 4 yrs old, testosterone starts to lower which can help.

I feel it would be best if you quarantined. That way you know he is in a cage which is clean so nothing lurking in woodwork (literally in the case of a wooden hutch). But also he will be inside with you and thus you are more likely to notice anything which needs to be noticed and addressed.

Quarantine for two weeks in a separate room from your piggy.
Then put the two piggies side by side for a week or so (no need to rush this bit and do a bonding sooner than necessary - they can be side by side for several weeks if needs be). That allows them to settle down and get to know each other between the bars. It won’t give any indication as to whether the bonding will work but they will at least be aware of each other and calm before bonding day. (Scared, just met piggies are more likely to overreact and be fearful which then sets the bonding off on a bad foot right from the beginning).
Then neutral territory bonding day will come - guide below which explains the process. We can help you further at that point if you need us to.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
 
Thank you very much for your help and guidance, it’s really clear and details as always.
I’m going to go round tomorrow and meet the their pig and see where it’s staying and find out more about him
 
jennyc12 said:
Thank you very much for your help and guidance, it’s really clear and details as always.
I’m going to go round tomorrow and meet the their pig and see where it’s staying and find out more about him
Click to expand...
It sounds a lovely idea to visit their piggy and possibly give him a lovely home ❤️
 
Hello all, just to update I didn’t take our friends piggie as I didn’t feel it was right emotionally, was too soon after mine passed, and we both agreed it was best for her to keep him as it’s her girls pet and she’d be so heartbroken to give him away.
We noticed Harry wasn’t moving about much the last few days and hiding underneath, I’d already spoken to a rescue and yesterday we went to just visit and came back with Keith 😂 he is 1 and a half and had been in there since May. He’s been neutered a few weeks ago and his vet check up, I split Harry’s cage in half so they’re in cages next to each other and have already interacted a bit through them. We were thrilled to see Harry out lots as he’d been hiding as he’s two weeks bereaved.

Hoping they get used to each other through the cages/used to their smells and bonding happens (fingers crossed) - any guidance obviously welcome! Thanks all again!

Here’s a picture of Harry and Keith out and about :)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2142.webp
    IMG_2142.webp
    64.4 KB · Views: 1
jennyc12 said:
Hello all, just to update I didn’t take our friends piggie as I didn’t feel it was right emotionally, was too soon after mine passed, and we both agreed it was best for her to keep him as it’s her girls pet and she’d be so heartbroken to give him away.
We noticed Harry wasn’t moving about much the last few days and hiding underneath, I’d already spoken to a rescue and yesterday we went to just visit and came back with Keith 😂 he is 1 and a half and had been in there since May. He’s been neutered a few weeks ago and his vet check up, I split Harry’s cage in half so they’re in cages next to each other and have already interacted a bit through them. We were thrilled to see Harry out lots as he’d been hiding as he’s two weeks bereaved.

Hoping they get used to each other through the cages/used to their smells and bonding happens (fingers crossed) - any guidance obviously welcome! Thanks all again!

Here’s a picture of Harry and Keith out and about :)
Click to expand...
How lovely - I’ve seen my bereaved piggy Geoff suddenly become ‘alive’ again meeting a new friend
He and Freddy have become great friends
Good luck for the future bonding on neutral ground - I’m sure it’ll go well 🥰
Hopefully you can encourage your friend to get a friend for her piggy when she sees your experience …..
 
So glad Geoff has met Freddy and he’s thriving, it gives me hope! 🥰
Thank you for your kind words, going to keep them separate for a bit as advised and then will set up a caged area downstairs where it is neutral and they’ve not been before, really hoping the bonding happens. They’ve done some nose sniffing already, some sneaky cage nibbles when the others not standing next to them, and just seem to be plodding about their spaces and eating normally.
 
We tried bonding today after a week and a half next to each other being able to see and smell. It’s gone ok, in the neutral place our pig wasn’t fussed really. After several hours we’ve moved them to the main big floor cage, it’s been all cleaned and new fleece there was some rumbles and the younger tries to mount our one but they just had a nap in the ‘sleeping’ area where my pig usually goes. The mounting is the main thing atm because then it stops for hay/drink breaks so hopefully it’s going ok atm
 
They seem ok together, having a snack atm and have had some more naps. We’ve got a camera on them and left them alone for a bit without us watching
Thanks for the guidance
 
Our new pigs quite nervous when eating, he’s always run off with it but our pig seems to follow even though he’s got food. Does anyone have any advise? Worried he’s not getting a chance to eat his veg and my other one is eating too much!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top