Unwanted friends' sow when I already have a boar

Seven7

Seven7

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Hello, I am new to this forum. I joined this forum today because just yesterday, I was asked to adopt a baby girl guinea pig from an acquaintance of mine who don't want her.
I have known this family for some time and they just recently purchased a baby girl guinea pig about two to three weeks ago from a pet shop. Immediately after, they decided they really don't want to raise this girl guinea pig and asked me to take her. This baby is now about 2 months old.
They already know I am currently raising a boy guinea pig Finn whom I adore, and said I am the best candidate as their girl guinea pig's new parent. I also have 7 hamsters who all live in separate cages, whom I also adore dearly.

How do I house this femake since I already have a male?
I am planning on separate housing since I never planned on getting my boy Finn castrated. I don't want any accidents during a surgery, as he is part of my family so an important figure in my life.
Will separate housing work? Should I put them in separate rooms?

Obviously, my concern is over the unwanted baby girl guinea pig's well being so I want to help her. I just need some guindance.
Please, any helpful comment will be appreciated.
 
Seven7 said:
Hello, I am new to this forum. I joined this forum today because just yesterday, I was asked to adopt a baby girl guinea pig from an acquaintance of mine who don't want her.
I have known this family for some time and they just recently purchased a baby girl guinea pig about two to three weeks ago from a pet shop. Immediately after, they decided they really don't want to raise this girl guinea pig and asked me to take her. This baby is now about 2 months old.
They already know I am currently raising a boy guinea pig Finn whom I adore, and said I am the best candidate as their girl guinea pig's new parent. I also have 7 hamsters who all live in separate cages, whom I also adore dearly.

How do I house this femake since I already have a male?
I am planning on separate housing since I never planned on getting my boy Finn castrated. I don't want any accidents during a surgery, as he is part of my family so an important figure in my life.
Will separate housing work? Should I put them in separate rooms?

Obviously, my concern is over the unwanted baby girl guinea pig's well being so I want to help her. I just need some guindance.
Please, any helpful comment will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

You can house the boar and the sow in adjoining cages for mutual stimulation and interaction through the bars. What they cannot do, is to come physically in case of mating unless one of them is safely de-sexed.
Boars can make babies from 3-5 weeks onwards (even though their testicles won't descend until 4-6 months of age) and sows start coming into season between 4-6 weeks; basically as soon as they are weaned. Sows can come into season spontaneously in the presence of boar pheromones if they are close enough in their estrus cycle; it takes only seconds and is far quicker than you can intervene.

A baby girl that young is desperate for company; ideally you find her a another sowfriend or a neutered rescue boar to interact with directly. Guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to be on their own. Finn should be overjoyed at having neighbours.
The minimal welfare cage space should be 2x4 ft whether it is just a single piggy or a pair.
Companionship
Cage Size Guide

Please always double check the gender of any new guinea pigs (or any existing ones if you have never done it before). Mis-sexing is anything but uncommon, unfortunately.

There are some vets with a virtual 100% neutering success rate. If you live within reach of one them, then neutering Finn is very much an option. Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts

Another good place to find personality compatible piggies that come without hidden issues is one of our recommended rescues (we can provide a link for good rescues in some other countries). The UK rescue locator is on the top bar.

However, any further options for the long term very much depend on where you are located, your access to good rescues and vets. Since we have members from all around the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can help you much more efficiently with what is relevant and available where you are instead of having to keep everything as general as possible. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and speeds up things. Thank you!
 
Hello and welcome.
You sound like a very caring guinea pig owner and I hope you find a good solution for your piggies’ needs and wellbeing.
Please let us see pics of them
 
Please let me know on how to put pictures on this forum.
I live in US so I don’t know if I have to do things differently.
 
Thanks.
I have a couple of photos of my boy Finn when he was just a baby but he has grown since. He loves to eat and I love to feed him. I don’t ever want to see him going hungry.
I will choose the best pics to post.
 
Seven7 said:
Thanks.
I have a couple of photos of my boy Finn when he was just a baby but he has grown since. He loves to eat and I love to feed him. I don’t ever want to see him going hungry.
I will choose the best pics to post.
Click to expand...

You best post them either in your introductions thread or open a new one in our photo section.
 
I have two male piggies, who I got as a pair but then started fighting. They have lived separately in a large cage slit in two. They interact through the bars and lie next to each other all the time. They play out in a joining playpens in the garden. Hope you can find a solution. hugs.xx
 
Thank you for your much needed input.
I don't want my boy Finn castrated seeing there is a danger of infection. Also, I never planned on my boy being castrated. I will be adopting a girl guinea pig because a friend doesn't want her anymore, so it wasn't my choice. Finn is my family so I don't want to take a chance of an infection after castration.
 
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