So some new guinea pals have to give up their piggies due to personal reasons. they have a pair of bonded boys I have adopted. I would like to see what they are like when introduced. Does anyone know how to do it without disaster? Or is that possible? Id like for them to have a few play dates. I have a HUGE cage, 2x6 and I don't want to put them on the floor to introduce them and there be blood shed. What do you think? Should I try it or no?
Introducing two bonded boars to another pair of bonded boars?
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Hi!
Please don't even try - it is a surefire recipe for disaster!
Boars should be best kept in pairs. You can end up with four singles that won't go back together at the worst when the stress of the meeting is causing the leaders to turn on their partners. We have been contacted by new members over that issue several times before; and certainly rather regularly over fighting issues in quartets.
Boar quartets have a near total fail rate unless you have very different disabled/carer companion dynamics, LOTS of space (like half a fair sized room so the boys can live well away from each other to not be forced to fight over encroachment) or you have pensioners whose testosterone has all fizzled out (five years plus) and who value company over status.
I can still count the number of successful boar quartets I have verifiable knowledge of on one hand even after a decade on this and other guinea pig forums!
More information in these links here:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Please don't risk the stability of the pairs just for your own gratification. Boars work either in pairs or in large herds with oodles of space, but trios and quartets are by far the most instable combinations with an extremely high or near total fail rate.
Hi!
Please don't even try - it is a surefire recipe for disaster!
Boars should be best kept in pairs. You can end up with four singles that won't go back together at the worst when the stress of the meeting is causing the leaders to turn on their partners. We have been contacted by new members over that issue several times before; and certainly rather regularly over fighting issues in quartets.
Boar quartets have a near total fail rate unless you have very different disabled/carer companion dynamics, LOTS of space (like half a fair sized room so the boys can live well away from each other to not be forced to fight over encroachment) or you have pensioners whose testosterone has all fizzled out (five years plus) and who value company over status.
I can still count the number of successful boar quartets I have verifiable knowledge of on one hand even after a decade on this and other guinea pig forums!
More information in these links here:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Please don't risk the stability of the pairs just for your own gratification. Boars work either in pairs or in large herds with oodles of space, but trios and quartets are by far the most instable combinations with an extremely high or near total fail rate.
Yes, I figured. That's why I am hesitant. Good thing I have two C&C cages and half a room!
Yes, I figured. That's why I am hesitant. Good thing I have two C&C cages and half a room!
Better keep them side by side or one pair above the other if you haven't got lots of space.
We get asked this question regularly; most often by happy new owners who would like to extend the number of their boys.
Or by owners who have created a quartet before finding us and now want our help to sort out the ensuing mess.
We very much prefer the first kind...
Thank goodness you asked. It’s an absolute NO-NO. Definitely keep them in 2 separate cages.
Yes, I am indeed the first lol. I have the ability to do both. Side by side or a totally different cage. Or a two story! I love guinea pigs so much and I honestly don't have depression anymore. It's also helped me move around. I have spent hours and hours on research and such but some stuff I can't find my specific questions, so before I do anything I ask the community! I ask ScottysAnimals and Saskia from LAGPR....I get as much information as possible on the issue, or what I ponder about. In fact, I love piggies so much, I have opened my personal piggie room and getting involved by applying as a foster volunteer! As I said, I have cages and room, and resources accordingly and I love to see guinea pigs go to a good home. It's really just changed my life. I'm absolutely just over the moon!Better keep them side by side or one pair above the other if you haven't got lots of space.
We get asked this question regularly; most often by happy new owners who would like to extend the number of their boys.
Or by owners who have created a quartet before finding us and now want our help to sort out the ensuing mess.
We very much prefer the first kind...
Yup! Thats why I'm on the forum. I like to play it safe before ANYTHING!
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
So good you do your research, enjoy your piggies, would love to see some photos x