• DONATIONS NOW OPEN! TGPF relies on donations to run. If you'd like to donate towards running costs you can find out more HERE
  • Fresh grass and lawn tips to avoid springtime deaths Click here for details

can 2 intire males live together?

  • Thread starter Thread starter star101
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

star101

i want 2 male pigs in the future, will they be able to live together? they will be left entire.

does anyone have any experiance with 2 entire males living together?
 
Yes two male guinea pigs can get on really well! They generally need more space than sows and two of everything (hideys waterbottles etc.). Many people on this forum have happy boar pairs!
 
Oh, and by "entire" do you mean that they won't be neutered? Neutering does not do anything for the temperament of the boar (like with dogs). It only takes away the ability to procreate, not the desire :) So if you are gonna have two boars together it's just an unecessary risk to neuter them.
 
I agree with the above post but you should also be aware that sometimes they won't, I'm sure someone who has boars and can give you the complete skinny on muliple boars.
 
I would recommend that you get a bonded couple from a rescue - that way you can be assured that they are compatible, and you will get support and advice throughout the adoption phase and while they are settling with you.
Here is a link to the rehoming website this forum is attached to. You can also find a list of specialst rescues on there: http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk

Space seems to be very important to a successful boar bond. The MINIMUM recommendation is 2x4 ft, the more the better! It also helps having at least two hides, bowls etc., so no boar can get possessive.

We have a guite a few "boar" people on here - some who are up to 13 boars in pairs and trios and still going! :))
 
You most certainly can have them together;),i have four pairs and a trio of boys, trios are more complicated for beginners and i would advise starting with two first as you are planning.
I find the right combinations are

A big cage 2 x 4 C&C cage being the best and minimum i would go for 2 boys.
Two of everything including hideys/bowls
Suitable pairing,Baby and older boar always works best,rescues are fantastic at pairing up and finding the right boys for you so i would advise to go down that road.
If you are new to piggies sows could be an option as they often have less issues than boars x
 
Yes! I have 2 entire males of different ages together. Gizmo lost his friend and was lonely when he was 1 so we got a baby. They are 2 and 1 now and get on great :) never heard a squabble from them.
 
I have kept 2 boars with no problem at all. I had no experience of guinea pigs and though I briefly looked into rescue I couldn't find any near to me (still can't!) all the pet shops had in were boars, breeders keep the girls, poor things!
The pet shop made me sign a disclaimer saying they had warned me not to take 2 males, but I never had a single bit of bother with Max and Chip, they were best buddies.
We lost Chip last week, so I am just about to get a baby boar to bond max with, so watch this space- see how the next phase goes..!
 
Just to add different ages do work and i have found my rescue/bonded pairs are much better friends

one pair are both 12 months-bit of dominance and Smokey trying to mount Bandit but no fights
second pair one is 12 months and the other is 6 and they have the occasional rumble
third pair are 1 year and 1 1/2 and are friends but like to have there own space
fourth pair are 10 months and 8 months and are the best of friends
Trio are Uncle and two nephews who are all ranging from 1-2 years,get along famously as they were bonded when the nephews where babies.

Blade & Rajah were one of my pairs who did fall out,they are at the point of bar chewing,throwing themselves at the divider,bum waggling,chattering teeth and when i tried to rebond them Blade flew at Rajah and was put of control so they will never work again and I'm now getting them friends.

The thing with boys more so than sows is that you would need to be prepared that of they fell out which is possible no matter what you would have to have a spare cage ready and be prepared to have to get two more to bond with them so you could potentially end up with more than the two if things go wrong,
Many boar relationships go fine but some just dont work.

I did get a few of mine from petshops before i knew about rescue but i can honestly say anyone i know that has gotten boys from a rescue has way less issues than petshop pigs as petshop pigs arent paired carefully like they are at rescue.
 
I have 12 boars and they live in 6 pairs and even spend time with different pairings during play time. Sometimes in their pairs, they can annoy each other but majority of the time they get on so well. Just have to make sure that they get on with their cage mate because if they do not like each other, it is very obvious. Very loud teeth chattering, circling, chin raising and if they are not separated quick enough they can fly at each from either side of the cage. It's not nice at all, so making sure they are with the right partner is a must.
 
ive got boars,a father and son pairing who get on well and 2 baby boars who i assume are brothers and I'm hoping they will stay friends but i am realistic about the possibility of them falling out
 
I have one pair of boars, who are supposedly brothers but spent most of their first 18 months in different rescues so that's not confirmed. I also have 2 trios - one trio are brothers and the other are boys that I have bonded over time. Only a few weeks difference in the older two but the youngest is approx 12-18 months younger. I also agree that space is a big requisite for boys.
 
I also have 2 boars together one is about a year older than the other one which works well for us as bradders the older one shows him the ropes lol
But like evryone else has said try to have 2 of everything, But do be prepared for if they do not get along you will need to seperate them :)
 
I also have two boars who were bonded in 2008 and they were about the same age when they were introduced. They are nearly 2 now and they live happily together. They done the usually behaviour when they first met but now they are really close friends and even though they dont sleep cuddled up they like to be nearer one another and Joey the dominant one grooms Gizmo sometimes. Ive not had any major fights and i do have two of everything in their cage but most of the time they like share anyway.

When i bonded them i had the rescue lady on the phone so i knew what to expect and she talked me through everything, as unfortunately she was unable to bond them for me.
I would contact a rescue centre and see if you can adopt an already paired couple as i do admit that as it was my first time bonding it can be scary with all the noises they make, but luckily in my case it was all normal and its the best thing i have every done as Joey is such a different pig now, with Gizmo around! :)
 
I have two guys, I got them as a pair so they were pals already. get on ok. I have an indoor cage with only one of everything and they share very well.
 
I've never had much luck with boars living together - I do have one pair of boars living together and did have another, until we lost Pooh, but after living together for a while I found my boars had major fights and had to be split.
 
thanks everyone, i had my 3 girls as babys, they were sisters from a local breeder. would they be better if i got male brothers?
 
You could put 1 male in with the 3 sows if they get on. Don't put any more than 1 boar in with a sow/s as they will fight to the death for her.

If you got two boars to live on their own though, brothers tend to get on better.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
002-2.jpg


My two are 14 months old. They went through sorting out dominance and have settled down nicely now. They do like their space though.
 
georgie-porgie said:
You could put 1 male in with the 3 sows if they get on. Don't put any more than 1 boar in with a sow/s as they will fight to the death for her.

If you got two boars to live on their own though, brothers tend to get on better.
Click to expand...

If you put a boar with sows, he obviously needs to be neutered (with a six week wait after his operation), or you will be ear deep in pregnancies!

As to getting brothers - you have as much chance of them making it through puberty as with a unrelated boars; it's the constellation of characters that counts more than anything else - whether there is an age difference, so they won't hit puberty at the same time, or whether they have grown up together from birth! We have had several fall-outs from siblings in the time I have been on this forum, so that is no guarantee.

I still would strongly recommend to get an already bonded pair from a rescue - that way you can be sure that they ARE getting on! Rescue people usually take great care with the bonding, as they have every interest in rehoming a stable pair.
 
hi star101 i have 2 young un nutured male piggies. There is only about 3 months between them and they get along most of the time. They even share the one water bottle and food bowl but have plenty of hiding places in the play area. When i first introduced them there was a lot of sizing up going on with loud teeth chattering and chasing and mounting. After cleaning the piggy area out and bathing them together they setteled down and are now inseperable! well most of time. as can be expected they bicker and play fight sometimes but when it comes to bed time they both scuttle into their house and cuddle up!

so yes it is possible. you have to have a lot of patience and time on your hands because for the first few days things might get a bit heated. If they both strat attacking each other from the start they may have to seperated but dont try to stop them with bare hands! if they both biting and you step in they could bite you so wear a glove or have a towel handy you can throw over one of them.
If they seem unsure about each other and you get the teeth chattering and the other things like i got. leave them be but keep a good eye on them as they will be determining who is the dominat one. this is normal. once they have decided who is boss so to speak they should calm don.
the longer you have them around each other the more used to each other they will become.
I was lucky. I was told by a small pet specialist that it couldnt be done but within a week they were following each other round and chattering and playing together!

Godd luck to you. keep us all posted
 
Wiebke said:
If you put a boar with sows, he obviously needs to be neutered (with a six week wait after his operation), or you will be ear deep in pregnancies!

As to getting brothers - you have as much chance of them making it through puberty as with a unrelated boars; it's the constellation of characters that counts more than anything else - whether there is an age difference, so they won't hit puberty at the same time, or whether they have grown up together from birth! We have had several fall-outs from siblings in the time I have been on this forum, so that is no guarantee.

I still would strongly recommend to get an already bonded pair from a rescue - that way you can be sure that they ARE getting on! Rescue people usually take great care with the bonding, as they have every interest in rehoming a stable pair.
Click to expand...


Fantastic advise Wiebke!
Males can never be put with females unless they are neutered, I also agree that being family doesnt make any difference,its all about age and personality!
Rescue is always best as your new pair would be more stable than trying to bond your own pair or just chucking them in together,
I stronly recommend you do not buy from a breeder or petstore there are many homeless piggies out there waiting for homes.
 
thanks everyone, sorry i havent been on for ages, work lol!

stars still here! and bright, bad eyes but on eye drops that are helping her.

I'm not sure ill be having 2 males now, depends really as I'm looking for myown place so might not have another piggy until i leave :( might do tho, dont think i could cope without one in my life!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top