Tell me about your age 5+ sows

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shinydriver

shinydriver

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I mentioned on another thread that a colleague is 'waiting for her piggies to die' :( so I am seriously considering taking them on. She is willing to give me with the hutch and everything. I don't think they rae in any danger, they are being cared for but not having their life enriched.

My concerns are mainly financial, vets fees etc and whether a group of 4 girls would play together in a run. I also haven't mentioned it to my husband! Anything else I need to think of?
 
As long as you have the time to share your attention between four piggies, the space for them, and the financial capability, then I don't see why not. :)

I have two 5 year old plus sows. One doesn't look or act a day over 2, the other is a little old lady in every sense of the word but she's a strong character. Despite her physical struggles (she has a disability affecting her front legs/shoulders) she's perfectly ok. Bit slower than usual though.
 
I have only the one 5+ sow. She is still the head of the herd, despite having some difficulty seeing and a lot less energy than she used to have. She adopted the new baby and is being 'mummy' to her without any problems.(Telling her off, making sure she's safe, washing her ears and bottom, trying to keep her in line and teaching her about the social life of the herd)

Older sows still have a lot of life in them. They will still give you masses of love and reward your investment in them fully. They may not popcorn as much as the young ones, or run about as much, they may move more slowly and almost visibly 'creak' when they stretch sometimes! But they are still brim full of personality and fun. They can also still learn new things as well, adapt to new situations and so on.

If you can take on the older sows then please do, but one little word of warning, like older people they need extra care sometimes as physical problems become more pressing. Diseases that are hardly noticed in early and middle age become more prominent and they may need more vet care. All I am trying to say, but not very well, is that you need to be aware of this and watch them carefully for changes in health.

And older piggies are very used to cuddles! My older girl is definitely a cuddle junkie!
 
I forgot to say, the four sows if they haven't lived together before will simply sort out their pecking order between themselves just as if they were younger. Just leave them to get on with it, be prepared for low level bullying and a lot of squeaking, give them plenty of opportunity to get away from each other if needed with hidey places etc and only separate if blood is drawn.

Best of luck.
 
OK thanks. I'm not going to rush into anything as our girls are still settling in and dealing with their own upheaval and new experiences. I also need to think of space over winter as I'd need another indoor cage (I have been offered one but I'm not sure of the dimensions)
 
I have two giurls who are 5 years and 4 months! x) They are gorgeous and very healthy. :) I don't think you'll have a problem with them playing in the run together. My guinea pigs happily accepted my friend's girl guinea pigs when she brought them over to play! x)
 
I had two girls, Apple and Devlin. They died last year but they never even looked old or had any problems. They weren't quite as lively as young pigs, but after Apple died and I got two young pigs to keep Devlin company, she got a new lease of life. :)

When she says she is just waiting for them to die, do you know if she is serious, that she doesn't really want them, or if she's just saying it? Because once my pigs reached that age, I was thinking they could die anytime, (not in a cruel way, just a realistic way) so I was prepared for it, and accepted it. I think it's important to accept that old animals are going to die, but it's ok, it's natural and I don't find it too sad, because it is their time. (Though I did shed a few tears for them.) It sounds kinda harsh but it made it a lot easier thinking like that, my bunny died unexpectedly around the same time as Apple, and I was so shocked, I was so upset. I was upset for the guinea pigs too but I accepted it.

If you can give the piggies a much better home and you want them, then definitely go for it :) Old piggies are just as lovely and fun. And you never know, they could have another 5 years left!
 
I had 2 sows called Artoo, Gidgit and Squirt who came to live with us in May 2004. We lost Squirt just before Christmas and Gidgit about a week ago :( This left us with Artoo - looking for a new friend at the ripe old age of 6 and a bit!

After LOTS of searching I found 2 older sows with Alice @ Windwhistle Warren. We went down there just over a week ago and Artoo met Maisie and Blizzy (we couldn't choose which to adopt - so had them both!). Maisie only has one eye and is 7 whereas Blizzy is 6 but has an inoperable tumour. There have been very few 'moments' in their bonding (MUCH easier than rabbits!) and, without a doubt, they have helped to give Artoo a new lease of life :) I wouldn't change them for the world!

We love our Golden Oldie Girlies .... hope you can help the sows your post is about. x
 
I adopted three girls from Lymm Guinea Pig Rescue in 2006. They were litter mates and 15 months old. Sadly, Poppet passed away in 2008 from kidney problems.

I still have her sisters Piggy Wiggin and Treacle who are now approaching 5 1/2. They are aunties to my four younger piggies. Piggy Wiggin also has kidney problems and drinks a lot. Treacle is slowing down and sometimes is not very nimble when she gets in and out of the litter trays. They appreciate each other's company and are often found snuggled together. I have a mixed-age herd and I find it works very well. To be honest it seems to keep the oldies more active. I am glad that I added to my herd two years ago when Poppet died as I think Treacle and Piggy Wiggin have really enjoyed the new company.

I haven't really changed the way I care for them, but I am aware that Piggy Wiggin does feel the cold, so when I put them outside I tend to take a cozy in case she gets chilly. I now have two water bottles in the cage because Piggy Wiggin drinks so much. I have also started feeding different kinds of hay and forage so that the oldies are bound to be wearing their teeth down properly.

I guess that vet bills and 'saying goodbye' is an issue to think of, but I have lost two pigs at 2-3yrs so it just shows that you never know.
 
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Yes vet bills are something to think about. But my two old guinea pigs never had anything wrong with them ever (except Devlin got mange). Obviously something was wrong that killed them, but they never had any signs of illness and died a natural death.

I always thought of guinea pigs as an animal that didn't really get sick much at all, before I joined this forum. Mine never get sick, besides the mange that time.
 
I rehomed Toffee last year from the RNGP in Rugby.She was 5 last week and i consider it an honour to have her live with us.She is so lovely and graceful and i love it how she walks slowly through the cage to her food !
She lives with Greg who is nearly 3 and he is devoted to her they squeak if separated and are constantly cuddled up together.Greg was used for breeding before i had him from a rescue centre and now he lives a lovely life with Toffee.I would love to have another older guinea pig in the future x
 
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