Lonely Charlie

[jess_2745]

My female Maisy had two babies 2 weeks ago, a boy and a girl. In one week Maisy and Suzy (baby girl) will be joining my other two females. Charlie (baby boy) will be living on his own for a while. I would like to get him neutered, but need to speak to some vets and it won't be for quite a few months. If anyone has any experience on this it's greatly appreciated.

However, the main issue is i'm not sure what to do with him in the meantime. It's getting cold now so i would rather not have him alone and cold in a hutch. The girls will be able to snuggle up altogether. Also if he is near the girls will he get stressed knowing their there? I was thinking about bringing him inside until he's been neutered and can join the girls. It won't be until next spring so the weather won't be too cold and i'll do it gradually. Will he be lonely inside on his own?

Any advice would be really really helpful.

 

[charlie23]

My boys live next to the girls with no stress just alot of flirting but they are happy wheeking at each other. Your girls should be coming in for the winter soon anyway as piggies dont do well in the freezing cold wet weather. With lots of hay as bedding y and a hutch cover he may stay warm enough and if you have the time supervised play time with the girls would be nice for him i let my pigs have half and hour all together in the late evening but i am sat by the run at all times making sure there is no funny business

 

[jess_2745]

Unfortunately the girls have to stay outside in the winter as i haven't got anywhere to put them all due to an unruly terrier! I've always kept my guineas outside and haven't had a problem yet but i would love to bring them in. I always make sure they're warm and don't put them in the run when it's wet or cold. I've kept guinea's outside for 13 yers and haven't had any probs yet. I guess it's up to everyone's preference and circumstances.

I would love to let him have some time with the girls but as he is the result of inbreeding and will be playing with sister, mum and aunty i don't want any funny business at all lol. His mum was pregnant when i rescued her, probably by brother or dad.

 

[Kerry123]

My female Maisy had two babies 2 weeks ago, a boy and a girl. In one week Maisy and Suzy (baby girl) will be joining my other two females. Charlie (baby boy) will be living on his own for a while. I would like to get him neutered, but need to speak to some vets and it won't be for quite a few months. If anyone has any experience on this it's greatly appreciated.

However, the main issue is i'm not sure what to do with him in the meantime. It's getting cold now so i would rather not have him alone and cold in a hutch. The girls will be able to snuggle up altogether. Also if he is near the girls will he get stressed knowing their there? I was thinking about bringing him inside until he's been neutered and can join the girls. It won't be until next spring so the weather won't be too cold and i'll do it gradually. Will he be lonely inside on his own?

Any advice would be really really helpful.

I too am getting my Toby neutered as I'm getting him a female companion. And was also wondering if it would stress him out?

 

[charlie23]

I think they can be neutered at 6 months all operations trips etc are stressful for the pigs i would recommend you read up about the procedure and its risk and phone your local rescue for the vet they use for there neuters. My pig had a baby boar who now lives with his father and we got a second female for cmpany for the mum. Maybe you could get another boar to keeps yours company. Good luck guys

 

[Kerry123]

I think they can be neutered at 6 months all operations trips etc are stressful for the pigs i would recommend you read up about the procedure and its risk and phone your local rescue for the vet they use for there neuters. My pig had a baby boar who now lives with his father and we got a second female for cmpany for the mum. Maybe you could get another boar to keeps yours company. Good luck guys

I was thinking about another boar but I'm being told so many different things. Some people say they will fight, others say they should be okay. I guess theres always a chance of fighting but I want a girl to be safe.

 

[charlie23]

My 2 boars get on fine all the information i have read said that two boars can live together to.

 

[Niki]

A pair of boars can live together as happily as a pair of sows, there are no guarantees with either sex or with a sow & neutered boarpairing. Older boars are best introduced to young boars. There are many people on here who have pairs of boys living happily together

 

[Poison]

As Niki has said, boars can get on together, seeing as Toby is an older boar (I think) he could be introduced to a baby boar quite easily. I have just introduced my 3 year old boar to a 6 week old and they get on like an old married couple . As long as they are introduced properly they should be fine.

Jess I think you should bring him so you can keep him company until he's old enough to be neutered Although I would keep a close eye on him for a few days after you move him inside, because some piggies get very stressed and nervous without having others nearby, my Chewie refused to eat until we put Spike with him, so if he's that sort of boar then perhaps you could put him in a cage next to his mom and sister until he is able to be neutered.

 

[marshie82]

When I bought George(my first boar), he was on his own. I didn't want him to be lonely, but didn't want to put him through getting neutered either. So I bought Alfie( my 2nd boar) about a week later. George was about 11 weeks old and Alfie was 5 weeks. Of course there were a few little tiffs the first few days, but now they get on like a house on fire! Theres always going to be a chance that you won't have a compatable pair, but its the same for sows as it is for boars. Mine are very happy in the "Bachelour pad", good luck with what ever you decide

 

[piggiesforever]

Of course the choice is entirely yours as to who or what you pair Toby with but I have always kept and preferred boars up until recently and have never (touchwood) had any fights to contend wit. My two sows however quite often squabble and with them I have had ear nipping and kicking out at each other with their back legs,one of them is actually more ***** than sow i'm afraid

 

[piggiesforever]

Sorry Jess_2745 Just realised I answered Kerry123 in your post also wanted to appologise for the *** that appeared in my last reply it was only the term for a female dog which unfortunately best describes the personality of my youngest sow

 

[stargrrlclaire]

If you decide to keep him on his own, shower him with love and attention as he will get lonely! I wouldn't neature him,its too risky. Maybe you could take baby boy with you to some rescues and let him choose a male cagemate?

 

[jess_2745]

I'm seeing the vet tomorrow so i will have a chat about neutering then. I think i've settled on getting him a male cage mate. Do you think i should get an older male or one around the same age to go in with him? And is it ok to keep them so they can see the females? I don't want them to get stressed.

 

[bubbles85]

hi jess i have a boy fudge he was on his on for quite a while after his brother died. He is a bit of a bully and isnt to keen on other guinea pigs but when i got toffee he really seemed to like her and they get on well. They both live indoors next to each other and doesnt seem to bother either of them that actually talk to each other quite a bit. hope this helps

 

[starla]

If you are set on putting him with the girls he can be neutered at 6 months or after. After that you must wait 4-5 weeks before he can go in with girls, he is still fertile before that.
If this is the route you are going down then bring him inside, as you're right, he doesn't have another pig to snuggle up to

If you decide to get him a male friend, neither of them need to be neutered. There is a higher risk of fighting, but they can live happily together, providing they have ample space and cannot smell or see any females.