What do you think....?

[Lessie]

Hi,

I do not know where to put this so I thought this may be the suitable place for this thread.

Anyway, some of you may know that I have been considering of adopting another guinea-pig for my current sow as a companion. Well I have already been to a rescue centre on Saturday to see whether if she gets on with guinea pigs. The good news is we now know which sex she gets on better and that is boars just what I thought. There is a male guinea pig there called Barney whom my sow loved, and he seems ideal as he is 3 years old. As my sow is 4 years old.

However, he is not neutered. Therefore, if we adopt him we will have to wait for 4 weeks till my sow and barney can be together. We don’t have the right facilities to keep them separated for the next 4 weeks, and we feel it's un-fair to do so, as we cannot bring Barney indoors because we have two working dogs, and it will be a chaos so again we think it would be unfair for Barney.

Nevertheless, the rescue has offered to accommodate him for the next 5-6 weeks, and we can collect him once he is fully sterilised. Which I think it is best for us, and I really like Barney and so does my Sow and I really want to adopt him. As when my sow met him, she immediately licked him, started eating hay with him and she was relaxed. It was amazing seeing her like this, so I will probably end up having him!rolleyes

Anyway but now my dad is concerned that my doe (rabbit) will feel really jealous and lonely if we have Barney. But I’m not too sure, what do you think?

If we do have barney, of course they will be separated from my doe, but she can obviously still smell them and hear them. I do not want to make my rabbit un-happy but I also don’t want to make my guinea-pig unhappy. As she will have to wait on her own for the next 4-5 weeks. Also my parents suggested I should wait till the summer once I’ve completed all of my exams and then adopt a guinea pig but I don’t want to make my piggy unhappy of having to wait til the summer until she will have another piggy friend. So do you think it would be better to adopt Barney now, and collect him in 5 weeks time rather than waiting til the summer.

The sad thing is that the rescue said Barney will probably still be there for a while as not many people are interested of adopting a guinea-pig.

I know my sow will be really happy with him, but I am slightly worried about my bunny, so do you think I should also adopt another bunny for her?

If so, I will wait til the summer, as I will only be adopting another bunny if she’s unhappy on her own, but we don’t know that yet.

So how will I know that she is not happy if Revolver my sow has Barney as a companion?

What I want to do is, adopt Barney but we will not have him till May, and see how Velvet my doe reacts. But my dad is pretty sure she will get jealous. However, I’m not too sure, as she is quite bossy of Revolver when they used to live together.


Sorry this is long.

Look forwards hearing your opinions

 

[MissPiggy78]

What a dilemma! I'm not sure about rabbits and whether they need a partner in crime but I do know about piggies. Piggies need a friend, and one which isn't a rabbit unfortunately. I know many people keep piggies and bunnies together but this really isn't advisable and can be very dangerous. Rabbits have very strong hind legs and sadly can kill guinea pigs- you've already mentioned how Velvet is quite bossy with Revolver. I would seperate them ASAP. xx

 

[MemberX]

I would adopt Barney now and get him when neutered in 5/6 weeks and do please get your rabbit a friend, a neutered buck would be ideal. doe to doe pairings may be harder if your rabbit is older.

Rabbits need companionship, you will see a huge change in her when she has a friend. When my foster bunny Tiara was here she was so sad looking on her own, in contrast to the two nethies Cindy and Misty who arrived in the week who are very playful and my own married couple Tika and Harvey who are very much loved up.

Rabbits suffer in silence when alone, it's only fair that she has a pal too.

 

[Lessie]

I would adopt Barney now and get him when neutered in 5/6 weeks and do please get your rabbit a friend, a neutered buck would be ideal. doe to doe pairings may be harder if your rabbit is older.

Rabbits need companionship, you will see a huge change in her when she has a friend. When my foster bunny Tiara was here she was so sad looking on her own, in contrast to the two nethies Cindy and Misty who arrived in the week who are very playful and my own married couple Tika and Harvey who are very much loved up.

Rabbits suffer in silence when alone, it's only fair that she has a pal too.

Hi there,

Thanks for your reply. I think that is what I will do, I shall pay the adoption fees inc neuturing fees for Barney and collect him in May. Then we shall look for a bunny in the summer for her, probably June when I've finished my exams.

She recieves loads of company from me and she only relies on me and loves me as she only licks me, allow me pick her up only and she's never bitten me wheras she has bitten my parents!

Thank-you for your advice, I just want to make sure that I am doing a sensible thing and the right thing.

 

[Niki]

I totally agree with what Louise has said, bunnies need companionship, of their own kind, as much as piggies

 

[purple_mice73]

Definately your bunny needs a bunny friend not a piggy friend. the communication is totally different between the species and she needs someone who will undertsand her language! How old is your rabbit? and has she been neutered? If not I would def advice you to have her done as not only does it mellow her and make a bonding with another bun easier it also saves the risk of ovarian/uterine cancers (big killer).

Rabbit bondings are much harder than pigs so be aware. definately let them meet on neutral ground at the rescue centre, you know pretty quickly if they are ever goin to be a suitable match (and more often than not ** lady will **** chose her own man and not your first choice! little scallies!)

I have a lovely trio of bunnies and it is so warming to see them grooming each other and lying in a big heap all together.

remember with rabbits space is the most important! they like to move! and with two you need to double your ground space! (I'm spoilt and have a 10ftX7ft enclosure)

good luck with barney hes a lucky guy! bun will be ok! nice to hear your putting there needs first! xx

 

[Lessie]

Definately your bunny needs a bunny friend not a piggy friend. the communication is totally different between the species and she needs someone who will undertsand her language! How old is your rabbit? and has she been neutered? If not I would def advice you to have her done as not only does it mellow her and make a bonding with another bun easier it also saves the risk of ovarian/uterine cancers (big killer).

Rabbit bondings are much harder than pigs so be aware. definately let them meet on neutral ground at the rescue centre, you know pretty quickly if they are ever goin to be a suitable match (and more often than not ** lady will **** chose her own man and not your first choice! little scallies!)

I have a lovely trio of bunnies and it is so warming to see them grooming each other and lying in a big heap all together.

remember with rabbits space is the most important! they like to move! and with two you need to double your ground space! (I'm spoilt and have a 10ftX7ft enclosure)

good luck with barney hes a lucky guy! bun will be ok! nice to hear your putting there needs first! xx

Hi

Thank-you for your reply. I agree with you. My rabbit is spoilt as well and she's got everything she needs including a 16ft x 8ft run - Yes I'm not joking! Also I always play with her on our balacony everyday which is also massive approx 20ft x 12ft, so she has a different scenery. I love her so much, and she is so special to me as she is my 1st rabbit.

Unfortunatley she is not spayed because I am terrified of losing her throughout the operation even though nowadays it is rare or things have improved but there is always a risk. I also do know that Uterine cancer is a killer and a dreadful virus for does but it just so risky. At the moment she is so healthy and happy.... And I don't want to end that.

Lastly when I have Barney I will let you know more and post some pictures!