We Got 2 Girls - Should We Get A Neutered Male?

[Elsieboo]

Hi

So we had planned to get 3 guinea pugs as have 3 daughters but it was proving so difficult trying to find 3 girls as they were all in pairs. Today we picked up our 2 girls from a lovely home - they are 8 weeks old.

Now we had decided they would just be joint pets but the 2 oldest girls have named one each and kind of taken one on and I have found myself saying there's your one etc. I feel horribly guilty for my youngest daughter now and thinking about whether to get a neutered male to join them?

If this is a bad idea please say, and if it is ok is it something we should do very soon whilst they are all settling in together and should the male be a similar age or older?

Any help very much appreciated, thank you.

Tania xx

 

[flowerfairy]

I have just taken on a young boar from gumtree and had him neutered. He will be bonded with my sows at the end of September. It can be a good mix. I had a trio before with that combo which was great.

I have had my two sows since January and decided that as I was enjoying them so much and finding their care nice and easy I would increase the numbers.

Maybe you could see how things go with your new baby sows and how interested your daughters remain before commiting to another guinea pig?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

So we had planned to get 3 guinea pugs as have 3 daughters but it was proving so difficult trying to find 3 girls as they were all in pairs. Today we picked up our 2 girls from a lovely home - they are 8 weeks old.

Now we had decided they would just be joint pets but the 2 oldest girls have named one each and kind of taken one on and I have found myself saying there's your one etc. I feel horribly guilty for my youngest daughter now and thinking about whether to get a neutered male to join them?

If this is a bad idea please say, and if it is ok is it something we should do very soon whilst they are all settling in together and should the male be a similar age or older?

Any help very much appreciated, thank you.

Tania xx

A number of rescues have got a boar neutering policy, which means that the risk of the operation is not on you.

At 8 weeks old, your girls should be very accepting of a daddy pig. Some neutered boars can make wonderful nursery maids for their wifelets. Both my Bedo and my Carwyn were smitten with and very caring of their baby wives.

PS: If you have rehomed privately, have you made sure that your two girls have not been in the presence of any boars over 3 weeks old?

 

[Elsieboo]

Thank you, yes they have only been together so no babies!

What sort of age boy should we look for and how soon to introduce? Should they settle first or do it all asap?

Thank you xx

 

[Elsieboo]

Would they take to a 3rd girl or is this best left until they are older? X

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, yes they have only been together so no babies!

What sort of age boy should we look for and how soon to introduce? Should they settle first or do it all asap?

Thank you xx

Basically, any age will do and you can introduce an already neutered boar anytime. Mutual liking is more important. I have same age piggies and piggies very much in love with an age gap of over four years. An adult boar has the advantage that he is a natural leader and dominance will be crystal clear; the babies will automatically attach themselves to him and follow him. it is actually very cute!

You can also introduce a third sow, but in that case, I would consider whether looking for another bonded pair of either older or same age sows; an age/size gap between pairs keep dominance during bonding clear. By merging two already bonded pairs, you avoid an outsider situation, as the sows have their old partners. With four piggies you also get mini-group dynamics, which are more inclusive.

If you prefer to neuter yourself, you have to a) research for finding either a general vet with lots of experience in guinea pig neutering or small animal specialist with practice in small furries ops. This goes a long way to keep the risk of post-op complications down, which are unfortunately still pretty common. You also have to factor in a full 6 weeks safety wait.
The little baby in my avatar is the unplanned legacy of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine), just to prove that particular point. Tegan is not a one-off.