Mixed pair or not?

Piggiewiggles123

Piggiewiggles123

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Hi, so I posted a thread before about how my guinea pigs are living (two bonded males and one separate male due to failed trio) and I have since looked into rescues in my area. I am 100% going to try play dates to ensure a higher chance of a stable relationship. I have tried to look into this but thought I would just post a thread for my situation. I am going to do everything I can for my single male piggy Pom to have a friend of his own as he still has a long way to go! After Christmas I am going to order more c&c grids to make a bigger cage, I'm just worried that Pom won’t get on with other boys as my initial reaction is that he has fallen out with two pigs already. I know that sometimes boys can just be more stubborn with who they like but I was wondering whether it may just be best to get a sow or give a boar a try at a play date. The rescue I looked at going to have two spayed females, and I know this is very rare. If we get Pom a friend we would stack two 4x3 cages three in height (one grid in between the top of the bottom one and the bottom of the top one) whether it was male or female. if we put them on the floor the room would be cramped and also I know because of sow pheromones. But if we ended up getting spayed sows will that mean they won’t come into season and be as strong a scent, or is it best to just try a male (I am also aware the females might get adopted if we take too long bonding a boar that’s all) I’m not sure what to do and what’s best- by that time Pom will be 13-14 months old (over a year) and so will gizmo, pumpkin will be 16 months. Pumpkin and gizmos relationship is very stable. They snuggle up together under our guineadad pouches and can share houses, they also almost climb on top of each other for food without fighting! They have survived the main hormone spikes without any fighting just a bit of humping. So their bond is not in trouble. What should I do? Help appreciated.
 
Rather than setting your mind on a boar or spayed sows, I would see if the rescue can take him and try him with boars or the pair of sows. Sometimes it takes a few times for a boar to find the 'right fit'. This is especially so if they're in their teenage months. Have a chat with the rescue and see what they say. I'd also consider widening the net so you can (hopefully) have more choice.

I don't think sow pheromones are eliminated when they're spayed. Your pair may be well bonded but you don't want to risk it. So stacked cages (if you ended up bonding your single with a sow or two) would be best with the boar pair up top.
 
Spayed sows don't come into season anymore but they still behave like other sows and still emit female pheromones so you will have to keep her out of sight and reach of pheromones of your boys.
You can find the rules on sows and boars in the same room in the chapter about boar dos and don'ts: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Please keep an open mind - anything goes, as long they click with your boy. How old is Pom and how old was he when he fell out with other boars?
 
Pom was at the big hormone spikes when he fell out with my boys (6-7 months old) but he used to escape when I opened the cage for cleaning, after they fell out(we have found a way to stop that now) and never ever took to them, they really don’t seem to like him either, and we tried re-bonding but it didn’t work out. Pom is 11 months old currently.
 
Piggiewiggles123 said:
Pom was at the big hormone spikes when he fell out with my boys (6-7 months old) but he used to escape when I opened the cage for cleaning, after they fell out(we have found a way to stop that now) and never ever took to them, they really don’t seem to like him either, and we tried re-bonding but it didn’t work out. Pom is 11 months old currently.
Click to expand...

So he is still a teenager, then but had his hostile encounters at the very worst time for boar bonding. that puts it more into a perspective for you. Once piggies decide that they don't suit, they generally won't change their mind, ever. I have (long-lived) piggies that held grudges for 3-5 years after a failed bonding.
 
I definitely agree. That’s why I am getting him a new friend instead of waiting past the teenage months as I know it won’t work. So should I see who Pom clicks with best at the rescue play date? Or look for just boars at the play date?
 
See who he gels with the best. Perhaps ask if they can try him with a boar first and see how that goes. It may be more difficult because he's in his teen months, but hopefully he will find a friend soon.
 
Thanks to everyone who has replied, it helps a lot I have researched a lot and know quite a lot about the care of guinea pigs but obviously am no where near an expert so sometimes it helps to get advice for my personal situation, I have been looking into rescues and found one that does bonding for boars. We have bought and made a bigger c&c cage but unfortunately because of the circumstances right now it’s difficult so i will try to get Pom bonded as soon as I can by following rules of course.
 
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