Guinea pig company

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miss_piggy

miss_piggy

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Hi everyone,

I was just wondering what everyone's opinion was. I have a single boar who I am reluctant to get neutered but am so worried that he is losing out on other piggy company. I have read about trying to mix with another boar but was wondering whether bonding failed can they still be happy enough just having company through an attached c&c cage?
 
miss_piggy said:
Hi everyone,

I was just wondering what everyone's opinion was. I have a single boar who I am reluctant to get neutered but am so worried that he is losing out on other piggy company. I have read about trying to mix with another boar but was wondering whether bonding failed can they still be happy enough just having company through an attached c&c cage?
Click to expand...

I have 2 boys who lived together from babies & had to be separated last year, they now live happily side by side separated by mesh. Susies Barmy4Boars site has great tips on bonding boars http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/optionsmenu.htm
 
I have 2 boars that live side by side with mesh divider between them and they have their bowls in the same places near to each other, they chat away while munching on their morning vegs.

They are very happy next to each other and nosey if one gets his greens first the other runs to the door to see when his is coming.
 
I have a neutered boar who lives happily with 2 sows,Had to get him neutered as we were told he was a girl. TYPICAL, I had no problems having him neutered at all, I would just suggest you check your vet has had lots of experience with guinea pigs and neutering them, ask them how many ops they have performed, and what is their success rate. If not you could still try and pair him up with another male, rather than him be lonely.
 
Traci said:
They are very happy next to each other and nosey if one gets his greens first the other runs to the door to see when his is coming.
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;D ;D Mine do it too ;D ;D
 
Thanks for all your replies. We have a great vet who really loves our animals but when I asked about guinea neutering they said it wasn't something they did regularly (4 in the past year). I've would definately try to bond him with another boar but if it didn't work out just wanted to make sure it wouldn't do more harm them good having another boar around (if that makes sense as I know other animals can get jealous!)

I would say Spike is about 4 months old now does that mean I should get a younger one or an older one? I'm not sure whether Spike would be domineering or not (very protective over food though!)
 
Just want to say I had my boar done at just over 4 months old. Most vets will not do them untill they are 6months old mine was done younger because he is a huge piggie when born and grew at an alarming rate.
 
Hi,
I found the following information for you on a website:

<the only way to know how males will get along is to put them together and monitor them. If they fight, they will usually begin fighting quickly after an introduction. I have no idea why they fight or why some fight with certain ones and not others. All I know is that once they fight they will never get along. Adult males will more readily accept a baby male than another adult male. >

hope that helps
I also know that young males who get along ok as youngsters can start fighting in their adolesence, you would just really have to watch them closely.I think they are more likely to fight if a female is around.
Always introduce them in neutral territory.
Make sure they have lots of space in their living quarters, so they can get away from each other if they want, and give them places to hide too.

I would also suggest you get intouch with your local rescue centre, they may have baby guineapigs, they will be able to sex your guinea pig properly unlike pet shops (pets at home miss sexed my male for a female) and this causes unnecessary pregnancies. They also breed animals purposely to sell, which is also unnecessary as there are already too many guinea pigs out there needing homes in rescue centres.
They also cost less, I learnt my lesson with my first piggies which were from PAH, my last addition I rehomed from a rescue centre for just £5.
 
Thanks for the advice. I have just emailed the only rescue centre I know near to me (It's for bunnies but I know she helps guinea pigs too) so I'll see what she says.
 
sometimes males will bond with pups much more easily..maybe ring around a few shelters and see if they have any pups in that are male?
 
hope you find a little friend for your boar soon, i am sure it will all work out well,
good luck, and let us know when you get the new addition.
 
Niki said:
Traci said:
They are very happy next to each other and nosey if one gets his greens first the other runs to the door to see when his is coming.
Click to expand...

;D ;D Mine do it too ;D ;D
Click to expand...

Ditto, Sully and Duke did that all the time, Duke would still be brrrrrring at Sully and Sully would have his head in his food gobbling away, boars eh ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
I spoke to a lady at a rescue who is very pro neutering so now I am really confused! I suppose one good thing about it is that she can strongly recommend a guinea friendly who is close to me (well about 30 miles) who has neutered 15 boars for her this year so I'm back to square one and in two minds!

I did ask her his success rate and she said out of 15 this year she had lost one but despite this she still felt it was still the best option for finding the perfect partner.
 
I think (although not an expert)the success rate really depends on how the individual animal responds to the anasthetic, and the coming round after,,I had my mind put at rest because my vet specialises in small animal ops, and there was no problem, If I were you I would use the vets reccomended to you as they have a good success rate. They know what they're doing.It only cost around thirty pounds too.
But only you can make the decision. Good luck anyway, keep us posted.
 
I rang and they said it was about £30 which is really reasonable nowadays. The lady said her one loss this year was probably due to the little thing being stressed out from it's previous home and she had no qualms about recommending him. Feeling a little bit more confident about neutering now.

She did make the point that in the future when pigs inevitably go to the bridge if a boy is neutered the issue of boy or girl won't matter.
 
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