Jamston
Adult Guinea Pig
I am building a new piggy palace for my two girls and would like to add a third either a neutered boar or another sow. The new den will be plenty big enough and I plan to adopt. What is the best approach.
Extra Piggy
- Thread starter Jamston
- Start date
That’s great news.
I’d suggest that you contact your local approved rescues (on the rescue locator Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues) and check you can meet their accommodation and rehoming criteria. Let them know you are interested in either a sow or a neutered boar and ask them to bear you in mind when one becomes available. They may do a home check in person or by video/photos. Then when you’ve been approved and you’ve spotted a suitable piggy or they have one come in, arrange to take your ladies on a date to the rescue to meet the intended new partner. It’s well worth doing it this way to make sure that the bond you have between the 3 piggies mwill work.
I’d suggest that you contact your local approved rescues (on the rescue locator Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues) and check you can meet their accommodation and rehoming criteria. Let them know you are interested in either a sow or a neutered boar and ask them to bear you in mind when one becomes available. They may do a home check in person or by video/photos. Then when you’ve been approved and you’ve spotted a suitable piggy or they have one come in, arrange to take your ladies on a date to the rescue to meet the intended new partner. It’s well worth doing it this way to make sure that the bond you have between the 3 piggies mwill work.
I fully agree with @VickiA . Trios are the most difficult constellation to get right.
Generally I have found that dating either a neutered boar (who needs to be accepted by both sows) or a bonded pair of younger sows that cannot upset the existing hierarchy works best to avoid any outsider problems in the longer term to which trios are so prone to!
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
If you bring any piggies home and do the bonding at home, please always have a plan B at the ready in case things do not work out the way you want them to. Piggies are very much like humans in that respect - you won't be instant best friends with everybody that you are stuck with in the same office, especially not when they want your job!
Please always double-check the gender of any piggy that is not dated at a rescue with mandatory quarantine and pregnancy watch. If you get piggies from a place without quarantine, you will have to consider conducting one yourself unless it is a single baby in desperate need of companionship. In that case, you need to bond asap and be prepared to tread all piggies in contact for any infectious issues that could turn up.
Sexing Guide
Importance Of Quarantine
Generally I have found that dating either a neutered boar (who needs to be accepted by both sows) or a bonded pair of younger sows that cannot upset the existing hierarchy works best to avoid any outsider problems in the longer term to which trios are so prone to!
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
If you bring any piggies home and do the bonding at home, please always have a plan B at the ready in case things do not work out the way you want them to. Piggies are very much like humans in that respect - you won't be instant best friends with everybody that you are stuck with in the same office, especially not when they want your job!
Please always double-check the gender of any piggy that is not dated at a rescue with mandatory quarantine and pregnancy watch. If you get piggies from a place without quarantine, you will have to consider conducting one yourself unless it is a single baby in desperate need of companionship. In that case, you need to bond asap and be prepared to tread all piggies in contact for any infectious issues that could turn up.
Sexing Guide
Importance Of Quarantine
Jamston
Adult Guinea Pig
I intend to go somewhere they do dating so everybody gets the best chance of being happy. What I not sure about is if it is better to get a single boar, a single sow or a bonded pair either one of each or 2 sows. I am building the new home so space is not a problem just interested to know what is the best combination. I intend for all for piggies to live together. Thanks for your advice.
It’s great to keep an open mind. To be honest it’s all about the personalities of all the individual piggies concerned.
A neutered boar is often a bit of a peace keeper when sows can be a bit tetchy at times. My current herd of 5 started life as a pair of very easy going and non dominant sows who accepted a solo sow following the loss of her cagemate. The trio got on very well together until we had a solo sow handed in who was in need of company. My trio accepted her and they worked out well as a foursome. However, at the back of my mind I felt that a neutered boar might help keep them well gelled together. I hadn’t previously had much success with any group larger than a pair of sows. So I have since added Ralph my young neutered boar and it’s true to say that he does seem to be a stabilising factor.
I’d be tempted to opt for a solo neutered boar or a bonded neutered boar/sow pair for dating rather than a second pair of sows. My gut feeling is that those may be less troublesome than a quad of sows. But as I say it all depends on the individual temperaments of the piggies.
A neutered boar is often a bit of a peace keeper when sows can be a bit tetchy at times. My current herd of 5 started life as a pair of very easy going and non dominant sows who accepted a solo sow following the loss of her cagemate. The trio got on very well together until we had a solo sow handed in who was in need of company. My trio accepted her and they worked out well as a foursome. However, at the back of my mind I felt that a neutered boar might help keep them well gelled together. I hadn’t previously had much success with any group larger than a pair of sows. So I have since added Ralph my young neutered boar and it’s true to say that he does seem to be a stabilising factor.
I’d be tempted to opt for a solo neutered boar or a bonded neutered boar/sow pair for dating rather than a second pair of sows. My gut feeling is that those may be less troublesome than a quad of sows. But as I say it all depends on the individual temperaments of the piggies.
PigglePuggle
Senior Guinea Pig
Theo says husboars are awesome and all lady piggy pairs should have one. But he's a bit biased being a little future husboar 
I have found my girls are less stroppy with each other even when they are in season now they have a boy to flirt with though... Theo is so laid back and so funny (and he wants me to add he is also a badger faced love machine )
I have found my girls are less stroppy with each other even when they are in season now they have a boy to flirt with though... Theo is so laid back and so funny (and he wants me to add he is also a badger faced love machine
)