Can A Piggy Be Happy On Their Own?

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Beautifulbugsy

Beautifulbugsy

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I have lost 2 pigs this year, one only Wednesday I now have an 18mth old boar left and to be honest I didn't really want to get another. They all lived separately as the boys didn't get on and they hadn't been castrated so couldn't pair with my sow so he isn't affected directly but they would all go in the run (separated) and were able to communicate etc. Can I fulfil joes needs with attention and toys?
 
Not really :( guinea pigs, like humans, need company from their own species to be completely healthy and happy :)

If Joe was 6 or 8 years old and it was going to be his time soon, it would be less of a priority maybe... but when you're looking at the rest of his life (and that could be up to another 7 years!) living on his own it's not really fair on him. If he could choose, he would definitely choose to have a little mate by his side!

Lots of rescues do 'boar dating' where they look after your boy for a few days and find him a friend he gets on really well with. Other rescues are happy to have you long-term foster an older guinea pig, either until the end of their life or until the other pig passes away.

This rescue is in Hemel Hempstead, fairly near to where you live:
Hazelcroft Rescue

Hopefully some of the pigs on their website catch your eye! If not, it's worth contacting them anyway to see if they can help you find Joe a friend :)

I wish you the best of luck x
 
:agr: Too, he's a young piggy with a long lifespan ahead of him. That's a long time to be lonely and lacking other piggy stimulation. I feel for you, though as this is a difficult time for you x
 
Thank you guys, I will take a look. Joey was castrated 6wks ago as we were planning for him and cilla to hopefully pair up so I will look for a girl as he is quite dominant
 
if your piggie is indoors than i think it could be fine with toys and you going up to him and playing with him and stuff like that xx But if outdoors like me then you will need 2 xx But yeah should have 2 but if you will spend loads of time with him and he is indoors then he might be finexx
xhugs to you and your piggiex :hug:
sorry if i selp stuff wrong I'm having one of those off days xx
 
but piggies and like us need some one there x If he is old then i would just leave him but you being with him x but if he is small then it would be better for a other piggie being with him xx
 
I agree with first few replies. Piggies are social creatures and need company of their own. As he is fairly young it wouldn't be fair to deny him that.

I volunteer with and can vouch that Hazelcroft Rescue is a fab rescue and they will rehome to Milton Keynes (most of my piggies are from there). Just have a look at their website and pop them an email.
 
Agreed with the first reply. They need interaction just like humans as they are social beings.

The way I put it to a friend in the same situation recently was, how would you feel if you lived alone in your house, never saw anyone of the same species again to communicate or have company with and the only person who did visit didn't speak the same language? Very depressing thought!
 
gogoguineas said:
Agreed with the first reply. They need interaction just like humans as they are social beings.

The way I put it to a friend in the same situation recently was, how would you feel if you lived alone in your house, never saw anyone of the same species again to communicate or have company with and the only person who did visit didn't speak the same language? Very depressing thought!
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yeah i know but if the piggie is very old and it might not have last to live then theres no point of buying a new piggie because when the old one die you will have to buy a new pig for that pig ... x
 
I recommend Hazelcroft too, it is in St Albans and Sarah will bond over a few days if needed. She did this with my girls when we adopted Truffle and Toffee.
 
Good Luck! I recommend hazelcroft too :)

It depends, if my Tyler had an illness and I didn't think he was going to have many months left I may have left him be. But he's 5 with no signs of slowing down so we're looking for a pig of a similar age (he dislikes babies). It depends on if you want to enter that cycle too. Personally it doesn't bother me as I can't see myself not having any pigs for many years to come.
 
I have been wondering this myself. I got two boys, Alan and Ted, six months ago. They didn't bond and they lived in separate cages side by side. Since Ted died, Alan is very quiet unless we are in the room. We used to hear him playing and running around when we were in the other room but now he doesn't move unless we are in there with him, then he will play and popcorn.

I have found a boy at Avalon Rescue who is six months old and had to be rescued as he was being bullied by his housemates. I've been questioning whether Alan can be happy on his own but I guess the answer is no. If bonding fails, at least I already have a spare cage etc so not the end of the world, but would prefer to have two boys living together.

What are the chances of Alan accepting a new friend?
 
@JoannaMarie the chances are 50/50 as its all down to personality, just like humans! However if the rescue offers dating they won't send the newbie home with you unless they're sure they're a match. And if it doesn't work try another rescue. It certainly sounds like he needs a friend and as some one who has been keeping boar pairs for nearly 30 years I can assure you there's a friend out for him somewhere! Best of luck and I hope it all works out xx
 
I'm so confused at the minute, not sure what to do. Joey was castrated 6 wks ago because i was planning on pairing him and my sow together but unfortunately cilla has died. For me to get another they need to live in my 2 storey cage( I had levels separate before) but so far joey don't use the 2nd ramp to get to the top level but I only have space for upto 120 cm one level cage, is this big enough for 2? He already looks fed up having no one to chat too
 
120cm one level is fine, lots of us have that measurement. However you could look into building a c&c cage of the same dimensions but it would give you the flexibility to add a loft area.
 
gogoguineas said:
@JoannaMarie the chances are 50/50 as its all down to personality, just like humans! However if the rescue offers dating they won't send the newbie home with you unless they're sure they're a match. And if it doesn't work try another rescue. It certainly sounds like he needs a friend and as some one who has been keeping boar pairs for nearly 30 years I can assure you there's a friend out for him somewhere! Best of luck and I hope it all works out xx
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Thanks for the info. If it didn't work out I do have a second cage so they could live side by side. Alan seemed happy with this arrangement with Ted. They couldn't be together but they liked having each other in the same room to talk to!
 
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