Pros and cons to adding a neutered male to a pair of females.

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AmyPogs

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Hi all, I'd like some advice. As the title states I'd like information about adding a neutered male to a pair of female. Not so much how to do it, more should I?
I currently have two lovely 1.5 year old girls. I have also been accepted by a rescue centre to re-home one of the neutered males they have. However we're having doubts about the effect it may have on our current girls, as obviously they come first.
So the question really is the pros and cons of doing it for the girls. Are there any benefits for them or is it more likely to have a negative effect on them?
Thanks in advance for any advice given.
 
This guide will help you further.

Usually adding a neutered boar is a lovely thing to do for them and your girls are at an age where they should accept a boar. It’s the natural way for them to live and is not likely to have a negative effect. It does come down to compatibility though so if they don’t like him (and it is a case that the girls have to accept him) then they will reject him.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
 
I have done this twice and both times all involved have loved it.

There's not really been a negative apart from the extra mess. At the very least you're giving another pig the good home it deserves.
 
I’ve added a neutered boar to sows and currently have a neutered boar / sow pair.
I love the combination.
It can be a lot of fun and is a mix I would always favour.
 
I had two young sows and added a young boar who I had neutered. He lived next door to them for six weeks following his op and once introduced (on neutral territory) they all acted as if they had been together always. A really smooth bond.

They always got on brilliantly. Jingle (sow) did have to aim a jet of wee at him on a couple of occasions when he got a bit err enthusiastic but other than that all smooth. That was a few years ago.

I now have two sows and no room to add more. I appreciate having less cleaning up to do!

Best of luck with whatever you decide.
 
I love having a neutered boy with my girls. They are brilliant at stopping the girls squabbling and I find it massively improves herd dynamics. It’s a must for me now, so I wouldn’t hesitate!
 
I always had a neutered boy in with my girls from idk about Spring 2011 till Jan/Feb 2023 when my last guinea went over RB and her mate back to the local rescue.

It's considered best practice in Germany anyway. It seems easier and cheaper to get boars neutered here and rescues say that having a husboar in with the girls reduces their chance of getting ovarian cysts. (Vets tend not to agree, but rescues see a lot more guineas so might well be correct.) What's not to like?

As @flowerfairy mentions sometimes sows spray an overly enthusiastic husboar with urine, but that's all good. It's not a fight, she's just telling him where to 'get off'. In fact, I had a husboar who positively enjoyed getting sprayed (seemed like). He paused and cleaned himself up and went back for more. With 2 sows and a husboar, there's always something going on.

So as long as your neutered male is compatible with both girls character-wise, I'd go for it.
 
I'm also very much in favour of keeping a neutered boy with girls and agree with everything written above (except maybe that you need more cleaning time apart from the fact that three piggies poop and whee more than two).
I've nearly always had either a pair of one female with a neutered boy or a group of females with a neutered boy. Best way to keep guinea pigs in my eyes. :love:
As long as the girls accept him.
In most cases the bonding goes rather smoothly but if the boar is very enthusiastic the bonding and the first weeks together can be a bit loud with pee spraying and a lot of complaining. After these first weeks you usually get a great group.
 
I put some cheap boards from the DIY shop behind the cage to stop the pee spraying from marking the walls.
As @Viennese Furbabies said, some boars just keep going back for more.

My current boar is a very enthusiastic rumbler and has quite a range of rumbles to express what a great boar he is and how much he loves Miriam.
I love listening to him
 
I have had a number of trios of two sows and a boar. They have always worked really well. Boys seem much more laid back than the girls. They are usually the peace makers if the girls get a bit feisty.
 
This has answered my question I was going to ask. Woody up to now has been ok on his own however due to a job change on my part is now on his own more except for the cat who leaves him alone unless we are paying Woody attention (just like children). I have noticed subtle changes to his behaviour so have decided to get him neutered and get him some female friends - to be bonded at a rescue or if I can find one that would be better but know often girls come as pairs.

I am worried about the operation and his recovery but am going to use a vet that neuters a rescue centres boars as think they have more experience.

His happiness is what matters most and I know having a friend will cheer him up. He is still eating drinking, popping, weeing it seems to be boredom/lonely signs such as napping more and biting on the bars more. He is still young so definitely would benefit from having a friend.

How long is the recovery period after a boar is neutered please?
 
SB24 said:
This has answered my question I was going to ask. Woody up to now has been ok on his own however due to a job change on my part is now on his own more except for the cat who leaves him alone unless we are paying Woody attention (just like children). I have noticed subtle changes to his behaviour so have decided to get him neutered and get him some female friends - to be bonded at a rescue or if I can find one that would be better but know often girls come as pairs.

I am worried about the operation and his recovery but am going to use a vet that neuters a rescue centres boars as think they have more experience.

His happiness is what matters most and I know having a friend will cheer him up. He is still eating drinking, popping, weeing it seems to be boredom/lonely signs such as napping more and biting on the bars more. He is still young so definitely would benefit from having a friend.

How long is the recovery period after a boar is neutered please?
Click to expand...

This guide will help you
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

He should come home eating and drinking as normal but we advise that you switch to weighing him daily so that you can monitor that he is indeed eating enough hay. Be prepared with syringes in case you need to syringe feed (you really shouldn’t need to but best to be prepared!).
He will not be safe to be with any sows until six weeks after surgery.
 
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