Mixing Pigs

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RuckusMom

RuckusMom

Junior Guinea Pig
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So when I brought home my Ruckus boy, I had been told he was a female. I had been waiting for a long haired female, so I could put bows in her hair and just completely pamper her (I also spent over $100 on very girly fleece). I know that you should always keep two piggys together, but what I am wondering is if I can have a female as my second pig? I am hoping to extend my CnC cage to twice the length and allow them to have one adjoining wall to share. Of course if this is not ideal I will seek a second male, but may need some advise on choosing the right male! I have been reading and understand if I bring home another baby, we may have some problems for more than a year?
 
You could always neuter your male. Look for experienced vet to do the surgery.

I think living side by side is not the same as living together. Unless you have fighting pigs that will never get along. The first choice should always plan for the pigs to live together.

Getting another male should be fine too. If you can find a rescue to bring your male in for boar dating, that would be easier for you.
 
Alright. That gives me a couple options. I will start with researching neutering. The nearest rescue is quite some distance from my home. I had looked into it before I found Ruckus, but just wasn't willing to make the drive out there. Perhaps in the end, I may just have to have two boars that don't mind wearing pink!
 
There's a few members on here, including me, that have boys with some pink fleecy items! I don't think the piggies actually care. If you do decide to get a 2nd boy, definitely try rescue boar dating, even if it is far away. For one thing a rescue shouldn't give you a mis-sexed pig! Also if your boy doesn't get a chance to pick his own companion there is a higher falling out rate when the horrible hormones hit.
 
This is a local boar that has been looking for a home for about 4 weeks. He has been kept outside alone in a hutch, and is "an adult". It was her son's 4H cavy, but he has "lost interest". She would like a $20 rehoming fee...
Does anyone have any advice as to whether I should attempt to bring this baby into my home? I have seen this picture a dozen times now and figured I would ask for some opinions.
The nearest Cavy Rescue is 4+ hours from my home. I am a bit hesitant to make the trip, but if that's honestly what I should do, I will.
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He is a gorgeous boy!

You can try to bond them, but if you do it on your own, you will need to take the following issues into consideration:
- You will have to quarantine any guinea pig that has not undergone a quarantine where it comes from (like a rescue).
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/importance-of-quarantine.108034/

- Boars may not take to each other or fall out, so you need to be able to make arrangements that they can live alongside for mutual stimulation in case things don't work out. We can provide you with bonding tips if you want to go down that way.

- if you want to go down the neutering route, you will need to consider that it is vital that you have a good vet who is practiced with small operations (ideally guinea pig neutering), as otherwise the risk of especially post op complications can be very high and expensive. You are also looking at a full 6 weeks post op wait until Ruckus is 100% to go with a sow; I have the surprise baby from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op rescue boar. That said, cross gender bondings are the most stable of them all, but you really need to do your research before.

Boys don't mind how girlie their surrounding are, but please do not tie anything into their hair or put them into suits. It is likely to pull on the hair/skin and cause major discomfort. ;)
 
Quick update: I will surely not be neutering Ruckus. I have been researching. and I personally am unwilling to take the risk.
I contacted the owner of the boar posted above, but she has not yet contacted me back. We will see.
I still haven't decided to commit to traveling to the rescue, even though it seems like this might be the best option for Ruckus and I. I still have about 2 months of fair weather, so if we go that route it will be sooner than later.
Now I also wanted to share that Ruckus learned a new trick! :clap: We call it "touch", and he jumps up and touches with his front 2 paws. He picked it up extremely quickly, and has remember it without flaw. I accidently used the command "up" for him to do it and he started moving away. I quickly realized what I had done, and watched as Ruckus looked for his platform to jump "up". :D I'm so in love with him!
We are having a bit of trouble with "circle", but with time I am sure we will get it.
 
I talked to the rescue yesterday. They have a 5 week old male that they would like me to place a deposit on. I asked about boar dating, but she didn't say anything about it. Any opinions?
 
Same concern here; are you sure they are a rescue and not a breeder parading as a rescue?

Because of the distances involved (some good rescues cover several states), boar dating is often not an option for US rescues. General rescues also have often not the experience to date / meet&greet (as the more usual US expression is for speed dating at a rescue).

Please ask the rescue what will happen if you have to bond the two boys and they do not get on. Any good rescue in the US has a clear adoption form/policy posted on their website.
 
I found this rescue on Petfinder. They are the only cavy rescue in this state and the next. I will look at the guinea pig zone, and guinealynx and see what I can find. Huge decision, and I am a nervous-nilly about bringing home a second pig. This particular piggy from the rescue is Super Cute though. :D I'll attach a photo. 10256423_372087589606850_7455559540560078863_n.webp
 
Foggy Creek Cavy Rescue has been awesome with me! I don't think I will be traveling up there to pick up the baby (although I find him super beautiful, and think him and Ruckus would just be gorgeous together), but they have graciously shared a ton of time and information with me.
The lady with the other piggy has contacted me this past weekend, and we have set up a date for me to go meet him. We'll see how it goes, and if it seems like he'll be a good fit, I will set up a quarantine cage for him to come home next weekend. My sweetheart just found me 2 boxes of cubes and connectors so I can create a nice C&C cage for him in the back bedroom.
And an update with Ruckus. He had a little mat today. :no: Very Sad. It was right down by his bottom. He was so upset with me for having to comb it out (Don't worry I was SUPER gentle). After we got the mat out we shared some green bell pepper, which is Ruckus' favorite. While I feed him the green bell he was sitting up in my lap with Mikey rubbing his belly (should have taken a picture). He is so funny. He always lets us rub his belly. Also, I ordered him some new hidey houses! They should be in next week. :tu: Here are the ones I picked
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it doesnt really matter what colour fleece is, they wont mind. Glad you seem to have found a male companion for your boy. i hope it goes well. my boys have some hello kitty fleeces that are really pink lol. i advise not tieing bows in their hair though, they wont like it and if the bow falls out and they decide to eat it, could cause some seeious issues, chocking hazard etc. good luck!
 
A friend of mine just had a baby, and felt a little overwhelmed taking care of all of her pets with the new baby. So, I told her I would take home her piggy for her. This is just a temporary placement, as she plans on getting him back. I just thought I would share him with you. I put him in my quarantine cage. Should I introduce him to my piggy? And if so, do I have to wait the full two weeks for quarantine?
P.S I know the cage is not a full 2x3, but this is just a short term placement. I have enough grids to make a nice 2x4 cage, and when I can move him into my bedroom I will make him a larger cage.

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If you are not going to keep the guinea pig then it would not be fair to introduce him to your own piggy. Guinea pigs cannot be put together and taken away as it upsets things.
 
How old your friend's baby and how long is he supposed to stay with you?

Going through a full introduction and then separation is messing around piggies, who rely on stable bonds, so depending on the age, you have to weigh up the baby's desperate need for company against the emotional upset for Ruckus and his little friend when they are arbitrarily ripped apart again, especially when they are both single again afterwards.

Whether you want to go through a full quarantine or risk it (having the money ready for any necessary vet treatment in that !) is up to you.
It depends also on the age of the boar. If that is him in the picture, then he looks past the baby stage (1-3/4 months) and seems to be rather into the hormonal teenage months (ca. 4-14 months), which is making intros generally more difficult.
 
Oh my goodness! The new Piggy is SO messy! He poops and teetees everywhere. Even in his bed! Yucky. I think I am going to see if I can't litter box train him while he is here.
Ruckus knows there is another piggy in the house. He wheeks more loudly and more often then before. I am trying to give him extra one on one time to settle him, which seems to be helping.
Des got the other boar about 4 months ago, and if I remember correctly he was about 3 years old when she got him. I have no idea how long he will be staying here, and honestly don't think Des knows either. She was planning on rehoming him, and I told her I would take him. When it came time for him to come to my house she was concerned, and said she'd rather if I just foster him.
Anyway, a few weeks back I talked to someone who was expecting baby piggys. I am planning on waiting until her babies are old enough and bringing home one of them. That way we can hand raise it like we have Ruckus, and the two pigs will be about the same age.
Thank you everyone for all the advice. I have never owned guinea pigs before and honestly didn't know to much where to start. If I knew then what I know now, I would have started off with two from day one. :-)
 
My guinea pigs poop all over their cage. It is actually normal guinea pig behaviour so I would not worry about that.
 
Update: The second Boar is named Reeses, and I was WAY off on his age. He is 11 months (still a baby). Des and I have decided that he will be staying here permanently. He has a good home here, and he wont have to go through the upset of move after move. This is already his 6th placement that we know about. :no: But I am super excited that we finally made the decision. We all love him very much here, and knew it would be hard to let him go. As soon as I am able, I plan to pair him with Ruckus (Any advice 100% welcome!). I have decided on a 4x4 grid cage, which I am hoping that will be enough space since we've got two babies in their hormonal stage.
Picture of me trying to keep Ruckus calm from knowing Reeses is in the house.
Only a bit more longer Ruckus! :luv:
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I decided to go ahead and "introduce" Ruckus and Reeses. They ate fresh veggies together. Once the veggies were gone they rumbled and mounted each other a couple times, and then went on with their floor time like normal. They both got their grooming's, and cuddles.
While they hung out I reassembled and cleaned their cages. I put new hideys and fleece in, and added a second litter pan (Reeses picked up using the litter pan quite fast, he is even using it during floor time). I had planned on a 4x4 cage, but didn't feel I could reach the middle as well as I would like.
As of right now they have been together about 4 hours and are still occasionally rumbling, but mostly they are just "chut, chut, chut". They never fought, or chattered their teeth, so I am extremely pleased with their introduction.
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Aww I'm so happy the bonding went well. Beautiful boys and wonderful cage.
 
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