Two sow's already thinking about adding one more.

[Gp36]

I have two bonded females 17 months old and I would like to get a new sow to add to my guinea pig family. I understand that it would be better to add two new sows instead of one but unfortunately this is not possible. I have read up on introducing a new pig and have a good idea what to do but I am unsure if I should adopt a adult pig or purchasing a young pig would be the best. I would be grateful if someone could advise me.

 

[sport_billy]

Hello!

Welcome to the forum. Here is a link to recommended rescues http://goo.gl/maps/mKDT Many offer piggy dating so you could take your girls along to pick a new friend. We got 2 new friends for our girl after her sister passed away earlier this year.

If you could add your location to your user profile it can make it easier for posters to recommend things closer to you if you are in the UK

This thread http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?7-Technical-help-with-using-the-Forum shows you how to add photos to posts, should you wish to share photos of your girls with us. You will need a free photobucket account to do this

Welcome once again

 

[scpiggy]

I think your best option would be to find a rescue where you can take your girls in to meet potential friends to find the best suited piggy for them. And I wouldn't worry too much about only adding one pig to your pair, I have a trio of girls and they are all very happy together.

 

[Gp36]

Thank you I will have a look.

 

[Wiebke]

It depends entirely on the character combination. Have you considered a neutered boar as an alternative option?

Ideally, you get a third piggy from a place you are allowed to bring yours for an afternoon of dating. With girls or neutered boars you see pretty quickly whether they get on or not and it will save you quite a few sleepless nights.

Sadly, there are no top standard rescues in Scotland that we can fullheartedly recommend, but this one seems to be fairly decent and is within a reasonable distance from you. I know that some Scottish members have used it.
http://www.guinealynx.info/weigh.html

 

[Gp36]

I never knew piggy dating actually existed but I had thought in my mind something like that would have been perfect.
I have thought about this for over 6 months after chatting to my partner we decided to look after another Guinea pig,
We have spent 3 days looking and phoning every place imaginable to us where we could adopt another pig but unfortunately
have only found boars or bonded sows.

I then decided to ask at a well known pet store about buying (a) pig to be told that we could never introduce a young sow to my already bonded pair that I would have to purchase two.

About a neutered boar i have naively assumed that a sow would be better, but really the sex to me doesn't phase me as long as they were all happy and healthy I would be more than happy.

 

[madguinealady]

i have 4 girls living together. They were two bonded pairs There is a dominant sow but there is two of everything and they share the veg i put in Am i pushing it introducing another bonded pair to them. The first two i got are about 12 to 18 months old then the next two are 3 months old (my daughters) and have took on two more that are 6 months old These are in quarantine at the minute. They have their own room so if i need to seperate any as they get older plenty of space to do so.