Newbie with question - outside guinea pig

[NellieNooNoo]

Hi, I haven't posted here before so hello to everyone.

I've one guinea pig (we lost his mate a couple of weeks ago) and I want to make sure he's nice and snug for winter as he lives outside.

Peppa is currently in a Sage House hutch, with protective cover, in a shed (opposite my two rabbits). Will he be warm enough like this? I can put a thick wool blanket between his hutch and cover just for extra warmth.

Coming inside isn't an option as we're in temporary accommodation.

Oh, here's a picture of Peppa (the Abby) and his dearly departed friend, George (on left).

 

[Furry_Friend]

Hi,

welcome to the forum!

He should be fine like this...a blanket is a good idea. Make sure he has lots of Hay each day.

Have you thought about getting him a friend?

 

[NellieNooNoo]

Thanks, thought the blanket and shed would be enough. He has lots of hay as well.

It took me weeks to safely bond him to George, as I was given so much conflicting advice on bonding boars that I wouldn't want to try again.

I want to bond him but he needs to be neutered first, and I currently cannot afford it as temporarily out of work. But I would like him to have sow friend by Christmas - but she must be about two years old and a big Abby as he was much bigger than George.

 

[MemberX]

Hello and welcome!

Its a shame you can't bring him in but as that isn't an option do you have any old carpt you can wrap around the hutch? It works a treat. Extra hay to snuggle into and igloos stuffed with hay will help. Heat pads are good too.

I have six boars all in pairs you hear so many horror stories and it really isn't like that at all. As the old saying goes you only hear of the bad and not the good.

Some rescues will allow you to take your pig to a rescue to pick a friend and usually older boars will take on a young male. It's worth a try. I would do this before putting him through an op of neutering him. It may just work.

Good luck!

Louise

 

[Furry_Friend]

Yes I agree, try another boar with him before putti g him through an op.

There are lots of lonely boars out there who are looking for a friend

 

[nittynora]

i couldn't agree more, i had a very lonely boar and was told they only way forward was to have him snipped :...:...and i put it to all the guys here and they suggested trying to bond him with a younger piggy, i wanted to rescue but my local centre wouldn't let me have a boar in case they fought so i went on pre-loved and found a baby alpaca and the bonding went so well they snuggled up next to each other within 30 minutes.x)x) If yours has been on his own for a while i wonder if he will be glad of the company and maybe less likely to fight I was also told that alpacas and rex's can sometimes be a very laid back breed and good to pair up with a more dominant male. I don't know if that is right but my little baby is certainly very "whatever" and lets mungo get to the food first!

 

[Goldie]

Sorry to hear about your loss of George. I know it can be difficult to think of a piggy being lonely, but as the guys have said above you do have a couple of options for him.

I am sure that Peppa will be ok in your shed. Make sure that you line the hutch with plenty of newspaper to retain heat. Covering the hutch with a blanket or carpet is a good idea. And give him plenty of hay in his bedroom.

I agree with Nittynora that some breeds are more laid back and perhaps more acceptable to be bonded. I have read that Teddys or Rex, Alpaca or Merino are more placid than perhaps an Abby. But it all comes down to personalities at the end of the day, just like us humans.

Let us know how things go.

 

[sunnyme]

Hi guys,
Just reading these posts, and finding them really interesting. I have two rescued boars; they used to live together, but they fought so badly, one of them had his ear ripped off before the owners noticed, and then decided to get rid of them. Nice! (I have now named the one with only one ear Van Gogh!) Anyway, they are both living seperately now, but in hutches with plenty of space for a friend! Do you think it would be worth me going down the route of a younger male friend for them, or considering their history, should I go down the route of an op and a female piggy?

Thanks for reading!
Rachel

 

[NellieNooNoo]

Hi, I will try with another boar. Peppa is 18 months old, what age would I need to go for? George was also 18 months old.

Also are Abby's bigger than other guinea pigs or is my Peppa just big. If it's the breed, are other breeds bigger than others?

Thank you everyone and am really looking forward to finding him a new friend soon |)

Will keep everyone updated

 

[MemberX]

Hiya,

My Abyruvian (Part Aby part Peruvian) Twinkle accepted a 6 week old coronet boar and was fine. The younger the better I would say below 5 months anyway as over 6 months is when the hormonal problems start and it may be harder to bond then.

I have an Aby he is pretty pig at 2 and a half lb.