I Need Advice!

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LeahsPiggies

LeahsPiggies

Teenage Guinea Pig
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I need advice! So I have 3 female guinea pigs - Pebbles and Pringles who are siblings and have been living together since birth, and Porche who is no relation to them and lives alone. I have tried numerous times to bond Porche with the other girls but all has failed. Pebbles and Porche always fight and their personalities clash - Pebbles and Pringles often bicker with each other too so I am not optimistic that it would work in the future.

Overall we have owned 6 female guinea pigs. Previously we have also had Poppy, Pixie and Bella. Porche didn't get on with any of those either. She came from a very bad past and also has small pieces of ear missing which indicates that she may of been bullied in her past home, meaning she resents company.

She is approximately 4 years old now, and we have had her for around 3 years.. in that time she has lived alone without problems. Understandably she isn't as active as my other 2 and always seems bored as she has no other pigs to interact with. I will be starting college in September which means I will have less time to spend with her individually. I am wondering if I tried to bond her with a neutered male, would it have a chance of working?

Maybe she is too set in her ways or too old to be wanting company now, but I would hate for her to have to be alone when I am at college, and then I will be home studying. But I also don't want to bring another piggie home if I am going to have less time for the 3 I already have. Don't get me wrong, they will still be looked after just the same as they are now, just have less interaction from me. But if they are in pairs surely that wouldn't matter?

Hmm. I just need suggestions!
 
Try dating Porche at a good piggy savvy rescue that has neutered boars, so you can see whether they get on without the risk of coming home with a piggy that is not working out. In that case, travelling that bit further is well worth the money! Enquire for very laid back/submissive "husboars".

There are a few piggies that just don't get on well with others, but it is great that you are trying.
 
Wiebke said:
Try dating Porche at a good piggy savvy rescue that has neutered boars, so you can see whether they get on without the risk of coming home with a piggy that is not working out. In that case, travelling that bit further is well worth the money! Enquire for very laid back/submissive "husboars".

There are a few piggies that just don't get on well with others, but it is great that you are trying.
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Thanks Wiebke, we have a couple of RSPCA's within a reasonable distance which frequently have neutered boars so I was planning to look into that. I have their set ups so Porche can see and hear the other girls and she also has a cuddly toy which she takes no notice of.

I have been told that she will be ok as she is used to it, but if the boar was submissive maybe it would work. I'm still going to think about it though :)
 
As long as she has got the stimulation of other piggies where she can interact with, she is fine. You may find that she isn't keen on boars, either, but you can only do so by trying.
 
Yeah, they all set each other off wheeking too haha. It's just a shame they won't get along! :(
 
I think it's definitely worth trying her with a neutered boar. I find they're very submissive and calm. (Well my neutered boar is - not sure about others)

Good luck!
 
Littlepig&co said:
I think it's definitely worth trying her with a neutered boar. I find they're very submissive and calm. (Well my neutered boar is - not sure about others)

Good luck!
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Thank you! I'm just wary of getting another incase it's the wrong thing to do. I would make her hutch a double obviously, but I'm worried about not having the time for another, although surely 2 doesn't differ from 1 if they're in the same cage. I am still thinking about it but it is still something I would like to consider.
 
LeahsPiggies said:
Thank you! I'm just wary of getting another incase it's the wrong thing to do. I would make her hutch a double obviously, but I'm worried about not having the time for another, although surely 2 doesn't differ from 1 if they're in the same cage. I am still thinking about it but it is still something I would like to consider.
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If you find a rescue that does speed dating then you should be able to tell from the initial introduction whether Porche will accept a neutered boar. If all looks promising then you can take the boar home on trial and if things don't go well once you have him then you can either return him or bond with Pebbles and Pringles. Most rescues will let you trial a piggy.

2 shouldn't make much difference to having one single pig - Will just mean you will have a very happy piggy!
 
Littlepig&co said:
If you find a rescue that does speed dating then you should be able to tell from the initial introduction whether Porche will accept a neutered boar. If all looks promising then you can take the boar home on trial and if things don't go well once you have him then you can either return him or bond with Pebbles and Pringles. Most rescues will let you trial a piggy.

2 shouldn't make much difference to having one single pig - Will just mean you will have a very happy piggy!
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That's true! I am concerned about the rescue not allowing me to bring a neutered male home, though. Porche's hutch is just under 4ft long, although it is 2ft wide. The minimum housing requirements in the Manchester and Salford branch is a 5x2 hutch. I cannot make it longer as Pebbles and Pringles' hutch connects onto it.

I would love to see Porche with a friend, and if it doesn't work out then it's handy to know I could return the boar, as upsetting as it would be!
 
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