Considering additional piggie

Rob Collins

Rob Collins

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello - I am considering an additinon to my 2 bonded 2-year old sows. My sows are not super-friendly but they get along ok, eat together, but don't curl up together. The cage is 12ft C&C. They get lots of floor time and lap time. I am considering an addition and I want to take the EASIEST route possible, having had problems with bonding in the past. I have read that the easiest bond would be an infant sow as that is less threatening. I know its not guarranteed, but wanted to get advice. I would 1) introduce them in neutral space and b) incerease the cage by another 6 sq ft (so total space would be 18 sq ft). I could also segregate the newbie for few weeks within the cage if that is deemed necessary. Other suggestions are an older neutered male. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks Rob
 
Yes either a baby or better still a neutered boar (it does not need to be an older boar though).
Boars don’t form part of the sow hierarchy so they tend to be easier to be accepted. Your sows are still young enough that they would accept a boar (older sows past natural pup bearing age can be less willing to want a boar living with them).
A baby sow would be too young to challenge for dominance so they can be easily accepted.
The thing to consider with having a sow trio though is the risk of an outsider situation forming - it doesn’t always happen and there are definitely successful sow trios but it is something to keep in mind.
A boar is a natural outsider to sows anyway so that outsider situation is less of a risk and why a boar can make a better choice.

However this is all general advice and the reality is it comes down to character compatibility so bonding with the help of a rescue centre is recommended where possible.

- Yes any introduction must be done in neutral space.
- they would ideally live in separate side by side cages for a couple of weeks before you carry out the neutral territory bonding anyway. This allows them to get to know each other between the bars before physically meeting

18 square feet is more than enough for three

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
 
Ok great, so a neutered boar. If get a boar and have it neutered, how long after the operation must it remain separate? Can it be in a side by side cage that time? Thank you!
 
You have to wait 6 weeks for him to be sterile.

You can keep him side by side if the cages are very secure with lids.
 
As Ramia says, it’s six weeks post surgery wait before you can try to bond.
Make sure his cage either has a lid or is double height grids so he can’t climb bars (it does happen when a boar becomes determined enough).

If you get a boar from a rescue then he is likely to already be neutered. They will help with the compatibility and allow return if the bond failed. Your sows have to be prepared to accept a boar and it doesn’t always happen.

Do note a boar can’t be neutered until he is over 4 months old. That could mean a potential wait of many months being side by side before being able to be neutered plus the six week wait afterwards if you get a baby from a pet shop for example.
It would also mean that if the bonding failed then you would have to keep them side by side permanently.

You say they aren’t super friendly but get on ok. It is actually myth that piggies will cuddle up together - most pairs will never cuddle together. This is no indication and has no bearing whatsoever on the closeness of their bond.
Keep in mind that adding another piggy will not fix any problem between sows. In fact adding can make things worse - a boar will likely side with one over the other at some point if the does bond has issues.
 
I think in Guinea pig terms my sows are pretty friendly. They share veg, eat from the same pile of hay, beg for food together, often go nose to nose without any noises. The only thing is that one of them rumble struts quite a lot, this doesn't seem to bother the other one at all. It is almost impossible fo rme to work out who is the dominant piggie - any tips on that? Thanks
 
Rumblestrutting is a mild dominance behaviour (it won’t bother the other) but even a low ranking sow will rumble when in season. You may be able to conclude the dominant rumbles more often though. But they will know who is dominant even if you don’t!
Sometimes we can’t tell who is dominant if the dominant doesn’t feel the need to overly assert themselves.
In sows over expression of dominance behaviours (to the point it can become a problem for a bond) can be an indication of ovarian cysts.
 
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