Senior and baby?

Spaniel

Spaniel

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Would you bond a senior boar (healthy and active but almost 7 years old) with a baby girl of 12 weeks old?

If not, what would you choose as the best option?
 
As long as he’s neutered I’d definitely give it a go. Good luck with the bonding.
 
Hi

Is your boar neutered? Neither gender is unfortunately ever too old to make babies.
In this case, a baby girl is not a problem.

My neutered Pioden 'Magpie' had baby wifelets twice. The first when he lost his four wives within a year - even the one who was younger than him. I was looking for a baby girl (Dryw, 'Wren' in Welsh) who couldn't challenge his last 8 years old and very arthritic wife Hedydd 'Skylark' in 2019. This picture is the last one I have of Hedydd just a few days before her death.
1748773519209.webp

And then again in 2021 when Pioden himself was 8 years old and very frail to avoid any problems with highly fear-aggressive now grown up Dryw. It took me a while to find baby girls in rescue but Dryw is still together with my two runty cousins Llinos 'Linnet' and Lleian 'Smew' although Dryw is now coming up to 6 years of age herself. But as you can see, he was happy to meet the little girls.1748773802911.webp

I hope that this example helps you? You may however want to think further and consider what you are going to do with the baby when its old daddy boar passes away sooner rather than later.
 
What other options should we consider?

It does feel like it would be kinder to get two girls for him so they have each other but selfishly we ideally don’t want more than two pigs total and not sure yet if we will continue after he passes away.

It’s really difficult.
 
In my experience, a baby with a really old senior can be a little problematic because the baby can be too rambunctious and disturb senior, tho the senior will discipline baby! Is there a rescue nearby where you could get a 2-4 yo maybe? I know you'd have to check character compatibility too.
 
Spaniel said:
What other options should we consider?

It does feel like it would be kinder to get two girls for him so they have each other but selfishly we ideally don’t want more than two pigs total and not sure yet if we will continue after he passes away.

It’s really difficult.
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You could consider a live-alongside older piggy for company through the bars. This could be a sow or a boar.

There are sadly no easy options for any of us when we all reach the end of our ownership sooner or later.

A pair of bonded young sows would be easier to find a home for and they would not be at risk of ending up as singles; just as a consideration.
 
Thank you for the advice. It has helped us to really think about what we can realistically do and not do.

So we can’t take on more than one friend which I think rules out a very young piggy. It doesn’t feel fair to them as a single.

Side by side living just wouldn’t be ideal because of our layout and where the cage is set up.

So I think that leaves fostering a single adult sow as the ideal option. Maybe 2-4 years old?

I’ve already reached out to rescues so hopefully I’ll hear back soon.

If anyone comes across a good option for us, please let us know :)
 
Can I just ask - do you think it’s unkind to get a single of any age, letting them form a bond only to go through loss probably sooner rather than later? :(
 
Also, if we did choose a pair of girls under 4 months old, would they need to be bonded as soon as they got here or settle in first?
 
Spaniel said:
Also, if we did choose a pair of girls under 4 months old, would they need to be bonded as soon as they got here or settle in first?
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If you get a pair under 4 months of age, then they would have each other so wouldn’t need to be bonded with your boy until they are settled and you are ready to do it.

It’s only if you get a single baby sow (under four months of age) that bonding would need to be straight away as babies can’t be alone.
 
CTWC said:
Is it because of space that you're reluctant to get two girls for him? 💐
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We have a 6x2 c&c cage so space is ok.

The plan was always to adopt a pair if he was left alone so that they would have each other to play with, grieve with and move to their forever home with.

Now it’s here, the thought of caring for an extra one seems overwhelming. We have been through a rough couple of months, feeling exhausted and heartbroken to be honest. Another one to potentially get ill is really scary right now.
 
Absolutely! Ted who was 5 years old was bonded with two 6 month old ladies and they loved him to bits. Kiki was 5 weeks old when she was bonded with Hector who was 8 months old
 
Bill & Ted said:
Absolutely! Ted who was 5 years old was bonded with two 6 month old ladies and they loved him to bits. Kiki was 5 weeks old when she was bonded with Hector who was 8 months old
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If Ted had been closer to 7 years old and there was only one six month old girl available would you still have gone ahead? :)
 
Perry is being brave but he’s not good on his own. He’s clearly already ready for a friend and he’s being a bit frantic (stress?) :(

If we went ahead with one young female (3 months old) so we bring her home and put them straight into the bonding pen? Is it still worth it for her to form a bond even if it might only be for six months or so? Hoping for longer of course.

Two young girls we would split Perry’s cage initially and let them settle first.

It took 5 weeks to find a single female last time and he can’t wait that long this time.

He’s spent the last 2.5 years with his absolute soul mate. They were besotted and in love from day 1. So gutted for them both :(
 
Yes - if you get a single female baby then you need to bond straight away.
If you get a pair of baby females, then you don’t need to bond straight away but they do need to be side by side with him

I had four boys - a pair and two singles (the two singles were a pair but fought so had to be separated.

When one of the pair died, I bonded the more laid back of the singles with my bereaved boy. The younger was not yet 2 years and the bereaved boy was a bit over 6 years old. They only had six months together before I lost the older boy. Yes it absolutely was worth it. My older boy had never lived alone and although his bond with the original friend was better than with the younger it was still best that he spent those six months with a new friend.

I now only have the two youngsters (who turn 3 at the end of summer) so are back living side by side
 
Spaniel said:
If we went ahead with one young female (3 months old) so we bring her home and put them straight into the bonding pen? Is it still worth it for her to form a bond even if it might only be for six months or so?
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I'm sure it's worth it for her to form a bond with him! Why not? It could well be longer than 6 months, anyway, you don't know. And it'll be worth it for him!

I'll leave others to advise on bonding straight away, or not.

My elderly guinea who severely disciplined the overly-rambunctious baby - they were both females. A neutered male might well react differently.
 
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