Help! Guinea Pig Conundrum Regarding Pairing.

Kirsty

Kirsty

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone,
So I am a regular in the page so many of you may no that I have two guinea pig boars, biscuit and buttons. Who live separately due to fighting, they are separated with a cage section inveteeen them. I have had them neutered and had so many conplications, thankfully they are all better now and ready for their wives! The problem I have is I have searched every single rescue within a 40 mile radius of my home for 2 single sows, to pair wih each of my boars. But no rescues have any that are single :( so I don't no whether to get a pair of sows that are together and separate them to each boar (they would still live next to each other through the mesh) OR get two new baby sows from a breeder / pets at home.

I'd like to add that I REALLY want to rescue two sows, as I am against vreeeing etc but like I said its a difficult situation I am in, and not sure whether there is much other choice .

Anyone got any ideas? Thank you. Also the possibilty of having 1 boar to 2 sows so having 6 Guinea pigs all in all is too much as I do not have a big enough accommodation for them.

Thanks
 
It can be very difficult as fallen out and fighting boars make the majority of piggies ending up in rescue. have you spoken to the rescues or just checked their websites?
 
I've spoken to them all, threw email Facebook, over the phone etc! Honestly rang everywhere it's crazy! Not sure what to do, only problem of getting Young sows is that my boars are 3years old in September, so abit of an age gap.
 
Kirsty said:
I've spoken to them all, threw email Facebook, over the phone etc! Honestly rang everywhere it's crazy! Not sure what to do, only problem of getting Young sows is that my boars are 3years old in September, so abit of an age gap.
Click to expand...

An age gap is not a problem; mutual liking is the crucial point. My Carwyn was three years old when I paired him up with 6 months old Briallen and baby Heini. It was love at first sight between the two. Heini tought Carwyn, who is a rescued ex-breeder boar and had spent most of his life in a one foot square breeder box, how to popcorn, run and play. It was most endearing! Two years on, they are still together and going strong.
The age gap between my 6 year old Tesni (and her recently bonded back in sister Ffwlbri) and her "toyboy" Gethin is even larger - Tesni was 5 years and Gethin 5 months when they bonded. Again, they are still very much loved up.

Would you consider looking further afield? Some rescues will rehome country-wide. One of them is Honeybunnies near Leicester just off the M1. They also offer dating at the rescue, so you can be assured that acceptance has happened before you bring any piggies home and that any sows have undergone a full quarantine and pregnancy watch (unless born at the rescue). They may also be OK with you splitting a pair that can be re-united at a later stage at need.
HONEYBUNNIES - RABBIT & GUINEA PIG RESCUE

If you really cannot get any rescue sows, then - as much as it pains me - shop sows are likely the safer bet than for sale backyard breeders. We get however a fairly steady influx of cases of unplanned teenage pregnancies from either source in our pregnancy section.
 
I have messaged them. Thank you,

If I brought two young sows, is there any possibility that they will not get along with my boys? Is it likely? I would hate to be in a situation where they don't get along and then I'm stuck with endless single guinea pigs haha!
 
http://www.humanesociety.org/animal...g_pet.html?referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/

Hi there , if you live in USA,

Elswere just Google free veterary services for your area
 
Kirsty said:
Hi! I'm off to pick up 3 sow rescue piggies on Saturday! Yayyyy my boars are going to be so happy .. I hope ! Xx
Click to expand...

So, I went to visit the three girls with my boys. I tried the 2 girls 1 boy, and 1 boy 1 girl mixes. And it was apparent that one of the girls was extremely dominant and was changing the dinamics completely! When she was removed the 1:1 ratio with each boar worked.
The rescue lady said it's advisable that I left the dominant girl behind and took the two girls ! Which means I left her behind, which has absolutely broke heart to do so. I didn't see any other choice? The lady did say that she would pair her up fairly quickly with a somepiggy else. I feel like such a bad person though..

Moving on, buttons and newly named poppy, seem ok! Keeping well away from each other but eating etc.
However biscuit (always been a dominant male) and his newly named wife blossom, aren't exactly friends yet. Suprisingly, biscuit is PETRIFIED of her, and will run away from her the moment she comes near him. She will occasional peck him but not actually biting, more like a little head butt.

They have been together since 4.30 today and not any improvements but there is no blood drawn.
I'm off to bed now and really worried that something could happen in the night, anxiety is super high because of it! Need a little reassurance as I've never bonded sow and boar together before :(
 
It might take some time for everybody to get used to everybody!

I think Boars can be a little suprised by meeting Sows sometimes!
It's such a different bond then Sow/Sow or Boar/Boar for them!

I've found my Boar wanted to be the top piggie and acted like he was but his wife was very bossy! He didn't know what to do!

Hopefully everybody will be happy and live together now!
Well done on getting some company for you Boars!
 
Awww well that's always a good sign that there's no blood. I've never had a male and female together so can't really comment on that but my billy and Freddie were abit like that and to be honest at one point I thought there was no hope for them but touch wood they've been together 4 months and are okay. They even eat from the same bowl at the same time, and share things like toilet roll tubes and hay cookies. It may just take a little while for them to get used to each other and I'm sure if the rescue didn't feel confident, they wouldn't have let you adopt them :)
 
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