Good news about too-small cage!

Amberspets

Amberspets

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Okay so lots of people on this forum have said that my cage is too small. But good news!
**BAD NEWS**
1. This is my current cage for my cavy. Way too small.
2. He gets free roam time! But still too small.
**GOOD NEWS**
3. Tomorrow a very generous friend of mine who was a former guinea pig owner is donating us *two* Cages that are *double* the size of my current cage *each*! One is even double storey.
4. I’m gonna connect all 3 cages together with DIY bridges (High sides to stop him from falling off)
5. All of this cage space, *ALONG* with free roam time!
6. Both new cages are free!
 

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That is great news about the cages. You obviously care so much about your pets and think a lot about their needs.
I feel particularly sad seeing a piggy alone who is so young. They need company especially at that age.
Think how much you'll enjoy the Forum showing us your two piggies 😁💕
 
That’s good news about the cage. I don’t want to rain on your parade but you must get him a friend. It’s not a matter of maybe but when. They’re not meant to be alone. Just like you wouldn’t enjoy living alone with just a bear that you can’t communicate with. Please do consider seriously whether you can fully provide for your piggy’s needs.
 
Amberspets said:
Maybe...
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Please do get him a friend. For social animals such as Guinea Pigs, having a friend is one of the animal rights (one of the five freedoms), just as much as food, water, vet care is. He is too young to be by himself - piggies under four months old should never be alone as they are in a time when they are most desperate for companionship and during the time when they are learning and they do that from learning from another piggy. Single piggies do get lonely and can suffer from depression and its an upsetting thought when you consider a social animal spending up to 8 years totally alone.

Companionship
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
 
Fantastic! The experts on the site can tag you the bonding guide.
I look forward to seeing plenty more of your photos 😊
 
What sex is the new piggy?
Do ensure you are certain of the sexes of both piggies before you carry out the bonding.

The first guide below explains the correct way to carry out a neutral territory bonding. Please do read it before you start.
The other guides explain other behaviours you will see, along with what to expect when keeping two boars together, along with information on how to proceed with living arrangements if the bonding fails.
Once you move them to the thoroughly cleaned down cage after the neutral territory bonding, ensure you have multiple of every item and that all hides are two exit. Don’t use anything enclosed where one piggy can corner the other.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
Piggies&buns said:
That’s really good news! Well done for putting his space needs first

Are you now able to look into getting him a same sex friend?
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Tomorrow we pick up a 7 months old sow. we will keep them together under supervision (since he is a boar) but she will be In a cage right next to him and they will be able to see each other. Until we get him neutered
 
Amberspets said:
Tomorrow we pick up a 7 months old sow. we will keep them together under supervision (since he is a boar) but she will be In a cage right next to him and they will be able to see each other. Until we get him neutered
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They must remain entirely separate until he is old enough to be neutered (4-6 months of age) - no free roaming together at all - and then for a further six weeks after surgery for him to become infertile.

The actual bonding now cannot occur for many months as your boy looks to be very young. They can only interact through the bars and you must take extra care to ensure cages are big enough for each of them (120x60cm for each piggy) given one of them will have to be locked in at some point, and that the cage is secure so he cannot escape and get in with her.
 
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Piggies&buns said:
They must remain entirely separate until he is old enough to be neutered (4-6 months of age) - no free roaming together at all - and then for a further six weeks after surgery for him to become infertile.

The actual bonding now cannot occur for many months as your boy looks to be very young. They can only interact through the bars and you must take extra care to ensure cages are big enough for each of them (120x60cm for each piggy) given one of them will have to be locked in at some point, and that the cage is secure so he cannot escape and get in with her.
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Or I COULD get a boy I guess
 
The choice is yours -

Having another male would mean he could have a live in friend straight away provided they are compatible and do bond. Any bonding on spec has the risk of failure if the two piggies do not have character compatibility. This is why dating at a rescue centre (if available) is the best option as the piggies can choose each other.

Getting the sow and having your boy neutered is an option, but you must be very careful about ensuring they do not have any physical contact until he is neutered and post op safe. Character compatibility and acceptance is still the most important part of a neutered boar/sow bond (the sow has to accept the boar).
 
Piggies&buns said:
They must remain entirely separate until he is old enough to be neutered (4-6 months of age) - no free roaming together at all - and then for a further six weeks after surgery for him to become infertile.

The actual bonding now cannot occur for many months as your boy looks to be very young. They can only interact through the bars and you must take extra care to ensure cages are big enough for each of them (120x60cm for each piggy) given one of them will have to be locked in at some point, and that the cage is secure so he cannot escape and get in with her.
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I’ll get a boar thrn
 
Piggies&buns said:
The choice is yours -

Having another male would mean he could have a live in friend straight away provided they are compatible and do bond. Any bonding on spec has the risk of failure if the two piggies do not have character compatibility. This is why dating at a rescue centre (if available) is the best option as the piggies can choose each other.

Getting the sow and having your boy neutered is an option, but you must be very careful about ensuring they do not have any physical contact until he is neutered and post op safe. Character compatibility and acceptance is still the most important part of a neutered boar/sow bond (the sow has to accept the boar).
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the person who is giving away the 2 cages to me for free is also giving away their 2 boars and 3 sows. He offered us one as a friend for ours for free since he can no longer look after them.
 
How old are the other boars?
As you can only keep two boars together, then if you have the option to try him with them one at a time and see which one he gets on best with.
 
You can try bonding them. But be aware that the other boar is in their teens so could make things a little more tricky. And your boy has yet to start their teens. Do you have space to house side by side (120x60cm each) if things go wrong?
 
I hate to think of cages and piggies being given away like they are of no consequence.

You’ve been given great advice. A sow cannot live with a boar until he has been neutered and has passed his 6 week wait. Otherwise that is intentional breeding. And you will have a population explosion as surely as night follows day.

If you want to try bonding your boar with a 7 month old boar please read all the guides and have a plan b in case it fails.

we don’t want to rain on your parade. We just need you to be fully aware of what you are likely getting yourself into. What do your parents think of all this?
 
Siikibam said:
You can try bonding them. But be aware that the other boar is in their teens so could make things a little more tricky. And your boy has yet to start their teens. Do you have space to house side by side (120x60cm each) if things go wrong?
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I have a whole pet room! The cat tower and indoor aviary don’t take up much space. So I have about 2 square meters. So yes, lots of space and enclosures are large too and they get free roam time.
 
Do you keep your boy in the sand room as all your other pets?
 
The first two is what it looks like currently and the last one is my plans for the cage.
 

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VickiA said:
I hate to think of cages and piggies being given away like they are of no consequence.

You’ve been given great advice. A sow cannot live with a boar until he has been neutered and has passed his 6 week wait. Otherwise that is intentional breeding. And you will have a population explosion as surely as night follows day.

If you want to try bonding your boar with a 7 month old boar please read all the guides and have a plan b in case it fails.

we don’t want to rain on your parade. We just need you to be fully aware of what you are likely getting yourself into. What do your parents think of all this?
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They got them for their 10yr old who then lost interest and didn’t want them after a couple months of having them. Makes me so mad.
 
Swissgreys said:
It is great you are trying to do, but as you clearly plan to have guinea pigs and cats in the same room, how do you plan to keep the guinea pigs safe?
You mention they can free roam, but how does that work with cats?
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Okay so we have a rotating roster. Certain hours the piggies free roam and the cat is locked out, certain hours the guinea pigs are in there cage and the cat is allowed in.
 
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