Worried About My Male Piggies!

Status
Not open for further replies.
lovin'guineapigs

lovin'guineapigs

Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
112
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
New South Wales,Australia
Just A Question.
I have 3 male Guinea pigs all around the same age, Alfie my white male Guinea pig (He is the largest) is Picking on Chops (he the middle sized one) & I'm starting to get worried that Alfie is really going to hurt Chops. Poor chops seems scared all the time.:(
Any suggestions would be great:)
 
Unfortunaltly keeping 3 male guinea pigs all together rarely works out in the long term. Hopefully more experienced members will give more detailed advice, i just wanted to prepare you that the likely outcome is you will have to split them into a pair and a single, then find the single boy his own friend.
 
How old are your boys? Trios sadly very rarely make it through the stroppy hormonal months between 4-14 months old.

Weigh your boys weekly and check them regularly for scabs or bite wounds. If necessary, separate Chops for a day. If Chops perks up noticeably when he is away from Alfie, you know that bullying has been going on and that they shouldn't go back together. If Chops is intent on going back with his mates, I would put him back and keep an eye on the situation as it develops.

You may find these links helpful:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=76162 (info about boar life)
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949 (detailed boar behaviour)
http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/optionsmenu.htm (see especially the chapters bullying and separation at the bottom of the page)
 
Thanks wiebke,
My boys are about 4 months I'm guessing. Alfie came from our local RSPCA & they weren't very helpful when i asked his age:( but they said he was only young. Chops is used to being picked on unfortunately:( he came to me with war wounds. He's wounds from his previous home have now healed & i cant see any fresh wounds. I dont want any of my piggies to be bullies:0
Oh & i have just bought scales & started weighing my pigs, so that will also be a good way to keep an eye on them.
 
My two boys scrap occasionally - they've never drawn blood (apart from when Junior stepped on Casper's head to get to the food - they just can't work out how to move around each other!) and I can tell Junior is top pig as his ears have no little nicks in.
I hope everything works out with your pigs, although 3 boys together might just be a bit too much :(
Have you maybe considered getting one neutered and finding him a wifey-pig to live with? He might be happier that way and it could stop the fighting :)
 
Hi Sapphiredreams,
I Have a lot to think about:{ I have Just separated Chops from the other pigs & Chops Seems Quiet happy now :) Maybe I'm just going to have to keep them separated & let them occasionally play together.
I already have 3 females that get along great together. Is neutering your piggies risky? I'm not sure if the vets in this town care much for Guinea pigs, as my friend took her much loved pig to the vet & he asked why she was bringing it as they are disposable pets.
 
lovin'guineapigs said:
Thanks wiebke,
My boys are about 4 months I'm guessing. Alfie came from our local RSPCA & they weren't very helpful when i asked his age:( but they said he was only young. Chops is used to being picked on unfortunately:( he came to me with war wounds. He's wounds from his previous home have now healed & i cant see any fresh wounds. I dont want any of my piggies to be bullies:0
Oh & i have just bought scales & started weighing my pigs, so that will also be a good way to keep an eye on them.
Click to expand...

Guinea pigs are not humans - you have to love them as they are and accept that they march to a different beat than our own!

If you feel that a trio of hormonal boys is not the right environment for Chops, then I would think that having him neutered by a good vet and afterwards (prefeably dated) with a sow may be a better option for him in view of his history in the long term. Please be aware that it is vital to find a good and experienced vet in order to minimalise post op complications. A neutered boar requires a wait of 6 weeks before he is 100%safe to join any sows (I have the over 5 weeks post op surprise baby to prove that particular point, rare as it is!mallethead).

Spayed sows are very rare as spaying is a much more invasive, risky and expensive operation that is usually only undertaken for medical reasons.

It sounds like your boys are just at the beginning, so you may have still some time to think all options over carefully and get as much information in as possible before things come to head and you have make any big decisions.

PS: It is advisable to keep boars well out of sight from sows (best in a different room, across a room or, if space is a problem, above sows, so sow pheromones don't trigger fights). You need to take this point into consideration for any plans that include sows, especially as long as your other two boys are not yet mature hormally stable adults.

PS2: Weighing regularly throughout a piggy's life is an important help in order to spot problems early on when they are still treatable. Guinea pigs can hide their illness very well, but scales don't lie.
http://www.guinealynx.info/weigh.html
 
Last edited:
I do think you have alot to think about, but please be aware that as the boys dont live together, giving them floor time together will mean every time you pop them in the run together, they will have to reestablish who is boss piggie, and this would be very stressfull for them. :( It sounds like a great idea to us, but sadly often with piggies its just best to let them have floor time seperatly.
 
Ok So I have Tried A Few New Things & So Far So Good:) I Have Given The Boys More Things To Hide In & Play With, Plus I Have Also Put 2 Separate Food Dishes In For Them So They Dont Have To Share. Also I Have Moved The Females A Fair Distance From Their Cage & Tomorrow I Will Be Giving Them Their Fist Bath So They Will All Smell Similar. I Also Weighed Them & They Are All Gaining Weight Nicely Chops Has Put On 46grams This Week:)
So I'm Just Hoping The Calm Keeps Up As i know These Things May take Time Or May Not Work Out, But Ill Try My Best:(|)
 
Update.

Just An Update On My Boys.
Sadly They Have Started Fighting Again & This Time They Drew Blood:(
I Have Now Decided That I Needed To Find 2 Of My Boys Alfie & Mac New Homes Together, As I cant Part With Chops Cause he Has Had A Tough Start To Life.
I'm Happy To say Though My Really Good Friend Has Offered To Take Them So I Will See Them All The Time:) She Has Grown Up With Guinea Pigs & Has Recently Lost Her 2 males To A Virus, So She Was Very Happy To Take Them:(|)
I Think I Will Cry When They Go Though:0
 
Awww thats very sad! Will you be looking to get patch a new friend, as he will be very lonely on his own. :(
 
Yep Chops Hopefully Will be getting a new friend. I Have A Pregnant Sow That I Asked Advise About In Another Thread & I'm Hoping A Baby Boy Is Born For Him, If Not I Will Defiantly Look Into Getting Him A Baby Brother. The Reason I Am Getting Rid Of The 2 Piggies Instead Of 1 Is Alfie & Mac Have Become Best Mates & I Couldn't Separate Them.
 
I have no idea why i said patch, i clearly am not with it today sorry! And that does sound like the best plan of action :) Keep us updated.
 
I am glad that you have found a solution.
 
Just An Update On My 2 Boys I Gave To My friend. I Now have Them Back!:<>
I Couldn't Live Without Them. Its Been A Crazy Couple Of Days. Chops Is Now Back Living With His Original Owners Who Have Partnered Him With A Very Gentle Older Male Piggie & My Boys Alfie & Mac Are So Happy To Be Homex)
I have Been Very Worried & Confused This Week, But Now That I Have My 2 Boys Back The Sick Feeling I had Is Gone.
I Will Post Some Pics Tomorrow Of My Happy Boys:(|)
 
Oh gosh you have had a lot to deal with!
Wishing you all the best and i do hope too that the other people update you often on little Chops :)
Pigtures....YAY please pop them in the stories section for everyone to enjoy drool
 
Glynis, I Have Had A Lot To Deal With This Week. I Feel Like The Worst Guinea Pig Mum Even Though I Thought I Was Doing The Right Thing & I Thought They Were Going To A Great Home:(
Update On My Boys Mac Is Doing Great:) But Alfie On The Other Hand Not So Good:... I Checked Him Over When I Got Him Home Cause He Looked Like He Had Lost Weight ( i sent treats to their new home for them). I Found A Wound On His Cheek, I Was Devistated:( I Have Bathed The Wound In Salt Water (he was a good patient) & He Is Eating Well. I'm Going To Weigh Him Daily & Keep A Close Eye On Him. If He Stops Eating Or Doesn't Start Gaining Weight Now I Have Him Home I Will Rush Him To The Vets.
Here's Some Pics
P1000901.jpg

Thats Alfie Having A Snugglexoxo
P1000902.jpg

This Is Alfie's Wound Just After I Cleaned It:(
 
Oh no, that doesn't look nice at all! I hope that Alfie-pig gets better soon and his cheek cut heals well :) x
 
lovin'guineapigs said:
Just An Update On My Boys.
Sadly They Have Started Fighting Again & This Time They Drew Blood:(
I Have Now Decided That I Needed To Find 2 Of My Boys Alfie & Mac New Homes Together, As I cant Part With Chops Cause he Has Had A Tough Start To Life.
I'm Happy To say Though My Really Good Friend Has Offered To Take Them So I Will See Them All The Time:) She Has Grown Up With Guinea Pigs & Has Recently Lost Her 2 males To A Virus, So She Was Very Happy To Take Them:(|)
I Think I Will Cry When They Go Though:0
Click to expand...

Sorry didn't mean to thank that! silly phone! x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top