male living near neutered male and female

[Fozzy44]

So I had to separate my boys, Frodo is very very happy on his own. He’s like a different pig, super happy and putting weight back on. He’s popcorning all over the place every day. Not being constantly henpecked by Loki has done him wonders.

Loki on the other hand doesn’t seem to be too happy on his own. He seems to prefer company, but Fro only manages about 20 mins with him before getting really annoyed and biting him

I was thinking about getting Loki a little girlfriend (after getting him neutered of course). But would Fro be able be able to live in a hutch/cage on a level above/below Loki and his girl? Or would Frodo not be happy because he’d know there was a girl nearby?

(As I’ve said before I don’t live near any shelters/rehoming centres so I can’t adopt them a friend!)

 

[Mother Hubbard]

That's a tough one. I suspect Frodo will get a little annoyed that he can smell a female and can't have his wicked way with her. I think if it's a cage then they will most likely get a little agitated, however I have outdoor hutches with females living above boars without any problems.

 

[Wiebke]

So I had to separate my boys, Frodo is very very happy on his own. He’s like a different pig, super happy and putting weight back on. He’s popcorning all over the place every day. Not being constantly henpecked by Loki has done him wonders.

Loki on the other hand doesn’t seem to be too happy on his own. He seems to prefer company, but Fro only manages about 20 mins with him before getting really annoyed and biting him

I was thinking about getting Loki a little girlfriend (after getting him neutered of course). But would Fro be able be able to live in a hutch/cage on a level above/below Loki and his girl? Or would Frodo not be happy because he’d know there was a girl nearby?

(As I’ve said before I don’t live near any shelters/rehoming centres so I can’t adopt them a friend!)

A single boar can live next to a sows or a mixed pair without problems since he hasn't got anybody fall out with.
The same goes with mixed gender pairs - they can live next to each other without problems (I have a whole room of them!)

However, PLEASE consider having both pairs neutered and then bond them with a young sub-teenage sow each if you haven't got a rescue nearby. That is pretty fail-safe. Cross gender pairings are the most stable of them all with a very low fall-out rate (mostly through medical separation or ovarian cysts).
Several of my husboars are/have been fallen-out boars and bullies who have had a very happy and fulfilled second life in the company of sows.
Frodo may go overboard on the humping side when meeting girls for the first time, but as long as you have either a small tunnels only the girl can get in or a cardboard box with two opposite exits that Frodo can't get into, you can work past that phase. A baby is so fast and agile that Frodo can only hump her if she allows him to. I have had several big life long love affairs from tough guys who just melted for a tiny adoring girlie...

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (contains several videos with baby-adult bondings)

 

[Fozzy44]

A baby is so fast and agile that Frodo can only hump her if she allows him to.

Sorry but this made me laugh so much!

Thanks for all the advice. To be honest I was thinking if I got one done, I’d likely get them both done and try to get them both a little friend. I don’t want them to be lonely. I’ve had a chat to my vet about neutering them and he’s happy to do it should I decided that’s the way forward. Is it best to get them both neutered at the same time? Or wait for one to recover then take the other one in?

Would the current hutch be big enough? It’s 6ft across by about 2.5ft deep with 2 floors. I’ve blocked off the hole from the ramp so the boys would have a floor each. Is that space big enough for a mixed pair? Or do I need another hutch? The indoor cages are ferplast 120s each.

Sorry for all the questions! Just getting a little bit anxious about it all x

 

[Julie M]

A 120 is the minimum recommended size for 2 guinea pigs. And a 6ft hutch should be fine too. However if you've got the chance bigger is always better.

 

[Wiebke]

Sorry but this made me laugh so much!

Thanks for all the advice. To be honest I was thinking if I got one done, I’d likely get them both done and try to get them both a little friend. I don’t want them to be lonely. I’ve had a chat to my vet about neutering them and he’s happy to do it should I decided that’s the way forward. Is it best to get them both neutered at the same time? Or wait for one to recover then take the other one in?

Would the current hutch be big enough? It’s 6ft across by about 2.5ft deep with 2 floors. I’ve blocked off the hole from the ramp so the boys would have a floor each. Is that space big enough for a mixed pair? Or do I need another hutch? The indoor cages are ferplast 120s each.

Sorry for all the questions! Just getting a little bit anxious about it all x

Please have them done at the same time. Take the time to read the neutering guide; it has really all the information in there, including a list of the most common post-op complications.

Your hutch is big enough to accommodate two mixed pairs; they count the same as sows. The minimal welfare requirement is 2x4 ft for a pair of piggies.
When you get girls at 6 weeks post-op, I would recommend to allow Frodo to meet them both together first. Then leave him in the bonding pen with the girl he gets on better and bond the other one with Loki as he is the easier boy. By then it is hopefully warm enough to bond on the lawn as neutral ground as it is going to be a VERY smelly affair!

 

[Fozzy44]

A 120 is the minimum recommended size for 2 guinea pigs. And a 6ft hutch should be fine too. However if you've got the chance bigger is always better.

I’d love to get them a bigger hutch (or 2 separate hutchs) but it’s not something I could afford off the bat. I’d have to save for it for a bit. If the ones I’ve got already will work for now then that’s great

 

[Julie M]

I’d love to get them a bigger hutch (or 2 separate hutchs) but it’s not something I could afford off the bat. I’d have to save for it for a bit. If the ones I’ve got already will work for now then that’s great

Yes the ones you have are suitable.

 

[Fozzy44]

Please have them done at the same time. Take the time to read the neutering guide; it has really all the information in there, including a list of the most common post-op complications.

Your hutch is big enough to accommodate two mixed pairs; they count the same as sows. The minimal welfare requirement is 2x4 ft for a pair of piggies.
When you get girls at 6 weeks post-op, I would recommend to allow Frodo to meet them both together first. Then leave him in the bonding pen with the girl he gets on better and bond the other one with Loki as he is the easier boy. By then it is hopefully warm enough to bond on the lawn as neutral ground as it is going to be a VERY smelly affair!

Thank you for all the advice. I’m going to have a look at the guide now. Really appreciate all the help!