Hi, So my little brother really wants a Guinea pig. Since i was already planning to get a third guinea pig i agreed to let him own my third one. All good right? Later when we went to buy some hay from the pet shop this plan was completely ruined when he fell in love with a little black piggie in the adoption section. Anyway the plaque said he needed a new home because he didn't get along with other piggies. My mum said he could get it as we have a spare cage perfect for one pig. But i don't really trust the pet shop. Do you think it really could just be that he needs to live alone? I thought about at least trying to introduce him to my piggies but hes a boar and they are sows.... I really don't think i could afford to neuter him immediately especially as it is supposed to be my little brothers responsibility and i have vet bills already.
So i was wondering if its ok to let him live alone, and if not if its ok to let him live alone for now, (1 or 2 months). I don't know i feel bad having my little herd all social and happy and then having him be alone.
Hi!
Please keep the single boar adjacent to your sow cage for round the clock interaction and stimulation, which guinea pigs need.
However, unless your little boy is 6 weeks post-neutering operation, he will not under any circumstances be allowed to physically interact with your sows at any time, EVER!
Neither boars nor sows have a menopause and ever stop being able to reproduce. Sows can come into season spontaneously in presence of boar pheromones when they are close enough to a season and boars can be amazingly athletic and determined to get at a sow in season. The problem is that even with the best of care every fifth birth ends with the death of babies and/or mum; with increasing risk of complications the older sows get. That is not something you want to risk.
Please make sure that your little brother is not able to put the piggies together for 'play time' EVER and get at the piggies without supervision at any time. Impregnation takes only seconds and happens too quickly for you stop it.
Your little boy is not unbondable. He is simply one of many failed shop boars that have been bought as a pair for looks and not for character compatibility and that have been forced to live in far too small cages. Then at around 4 months of age, the boys hit the teenage months with a bang and have no chance to get away from each other as they would normally do. He has then been failed again by being dumped back into the pet shop as an 'aggressive' piggy that is not getting on with others. Please do not fail him again by keeping him away from other piggies. He is currently a testosterone steeped boar, but he is not going to stay like that forever.
All he needs is either a neutering operation so he can live safely with sows OR he can be bonded with another boar at a good standard rescue that allows boar dating - i.e. boar meetings under expert supervision so the boars themselves can decide whether they like each other and want to live together or not. Hundreds of rescue bonded boars are living proof that boars are not condemned to live alone ever! Please be aware that not all rescues offer boar dating and by far not all rescues are good standard since anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without needing a licence or receiving any checks. We have got lists of recommended rescues for several countries.
PS: Several of my own 'husboars' (neutered boars living with one or several sows) are fallen out unwanted boars that failed to hit it off other boys and are now living a very happy and fulfilled life. Even my boar pair is neutered (Nosgan is not landing with any sows, so I adopted a little laid-back boarmate for him); simply because they live in a room with lots of sows and the risk of accidental meetings is just too high and NOT because it makes them live together better (neutering doesn't change personality or social interactive behaviour or even stops the production of testosterone).
We can help you much more if we know which country you are in. We have members and enquiries from all world.