Argument injuries and a possible snotty nose

[Diane H]

Boys are separate today in the kitchen, Dragon happy in the run, Kiro happy with his free reign of the kitchen. They can interact through the sides of the run. Another run will arrive tomorrow along with extra supplies. Speaking to the Rescue Centre I got them from to discuss how best to proceed. Kiro booked in for a vet check tomorrow.

Now just a son with croup to get tested for COVID-19 so he can go back to nursery with a negative result! Oh all the joys!

 

[Diane H]

I called the rescue centre and talked through everything thoroughly. They know my boys well because they had them in their care for a while. They are willing to re-match and rehome Kiro and help me keep and match Dragon via their bonding pen. We are considering neutering Dragon then finding him a lady friend. I have also offered to neuter Kiro or at least contribute to this. Does this sound like a suitable way forward to re-match these boys considering I cannot afford and have not got room to keep them separately but connected in the long term? As devastated as I am I appreciate your guidance as what to do next as the rescue centre are not highly experienced with male guineapig shenanigans and I need to do what’s right for them and my family.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I called the rescue centre and talked through everything thoroughly. They know my boys well because they had them in their care for a while. They are willing to re-match and rehome Kiro and help me keep and match Dragon via their bonding pen. We are considering neutering Dragon then finding him a lady friend. I have also offered to neuter Kiro or at least contribute to this. Does this sound like a suitable way forward to re-match these boys considering I cannot afford and have not got room to keep them separately but connected in the long term? As devastated as I am I appreciate your guidance as what to do next as the rescue centre are not highly experienced with male guineapig shenanigans and I need to do what’s right for them and my family.

Yes this sounds like a good long term plan for both of them.
A sow/boar pairing can be more stable and less prone to problems down the line so your plan is a good long term option for them both. Just ensure that he is kept away from sows until six weeks after the neutering op as before six weeks they are still fertile

 

[Diane H]

Tea either side of the barricade

 

[Diane H]

Yes this sounds like a good long term plan for both of them.
A sow/boar pairing can be more stable and less prone to problems down the line so your plan is a good long term option for them both. Just ensure that he is kept away from sows until six weeks after the neutering op as before six weeks they are still fertile

Thank you, advice appreciated. It has not been a easy decision and there have been lots of tears but it is what it is. The rescue centre are confident it’s nothing I have done and that they have come to their own decision about their relationship so I have to respect their decision.

This forum has been so helpful and give me extra confidence in my decisions so thank you.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s not something you’ve done. Not all pairs will make it together, they suddenly decide they don’t like each other, can’t sort out the hierarchy and an underlying problem comes to the surface - this goes for boars and sows. It’s sad that this has happened, but it’s definitely not your fault and it cant be helped but they are going to be happier apart.

I hope your son feels better soon.

 

[Diane H]

Rearranged the kitchen for the new indoor run. It’s a bit of squeeze! Enjoying the last few days I’ll have with both boys until I take Kiro to the Rescue Centre. We’ll find him a nice new home and a nice new friend

 

[Diane H]

It’s not something you’ve done. Not all pairs will make it together, they suddenly decide they don’t like each other, can’t sort out the hierarchy and an underlying problem comes to the surface - this goes for boars and sows. It’s sad that this has happened, but it’s definitely not your fault and it cant be helped but they are going to be happier apart.

I hope your son feels better soon.

Thank you, those are comforting words. I’m coming to terms with it all now.

My son is fine, but now me n hubby have his cold typical!

 

[Diane H]

Following the tearful, stressful rollercoaster that has been the last 2 weeks, Kiro is happily settled at Animal Rescue Centre Arbroath (they are being brilliant, updating me on him) and Dragon has perked up a lot. He’s finished his course of antibiotics and is visibly less stressed. We have our little popcorn boy back!

I am drinking wine and trying to focus on the positives. Dragon needs a lady friend in his future, he needs neutering. My question is how long should I wait between him finishing his antibiotics and putting him through neutering? I do not want him to be a bachelor for too long but I don’t want to put his body under the stress of an operation too soon. TIA you lovely bunch x

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so glad Kiro has settled in and that Dragon is doing well.

The vet would be the best person to advise you on how well he has recovered following the antibiotics. They would want to do a check of him before surgery in any event. He will need to be kept away from ladies until six weeks after he has been neutered.

 

[Diane H]

I’m so glad Kiro has settled in and that Dragon is doing well.

The vet would be the best person to advise you on how well he has recovered following the antibiotics. They would want to do a check of him before surgery in any event. He will need to be kept away from ladies until six weeks after he has been neutered.

Thank you. Yep, he won’t be doing any dating until six weeks post-op. In the meantime I am reading the guides on pairing and mixed pairs. I’ll check with the vet on Monday.

 

[Piggylove82]

They a 5 ft 2 storey hutch and lots of hidies. The roam in the kitchen or in a 4ft run when it’s nice. They have a mix of toys, I try to go for 2 to 4 exits but maybe I’ll try having more things that they’re used to. I try and mix it up each day to make in interesting for them. The problems started after I cleaned Kiro’s grease glad, it was rather dirty. He also got aggressive when I let them roam in the kitchen, they argued over a patch under the dining room table (again, following on from the grease gland today up)! He’s calmed down now and Dragon is always yawning his subordinate yawn. I’m hoping this little spike in aggressiveness has peaked. They’ve been great today.

I think boars need a 6ft hutch

 

[Diane H]

I think boars need a 6ft hutch

The guides I read (not on the forum, a rescue centre pointed me towards the forum when I was putting the feelers out) prior to getting the boys said a 5ft Double Chartwell (which I went on to buy) was fine for 2 boars. I used this guide: Best Guinea Pig Hutch
So really they had just under 10ft of floor space most of the time and also had the run of the kitchen because I’ve been working from home and they have been keeping me company during the day most days, unless it was nice then they were out in their run. Sorry if this was not fully explained previously, I was rather panicky last week. I think they had space but one decided to not be so subordinate anymore maybe.

 

[Piggylove82]

The guides I read (not on the forum, a rescue centre pointed me towards the forum when I was putting the feelers out) prior to getting the boys said a 5ft Double Chartwell (which I went on to buy) was fine for 2 boars. I used this guide: Best Guinea Pig Hutch
So really they had just under 10ft of floor space most of the time and also had the run of the kitchen because I’ve been working from home and they have been keeping me company during the day most days, unless it was nice then they were out in their run. Sorry if this was not fully explained previously, I was rather panicky last week. I think they had space but one decided to not be so subordinate anymore maybe.

Here's the forum guide to cage sizes...

Cage Size Guide

Unfortunately a double storey hutch doesn't add to floor space . It just means they can spread their poops out more!

 

[Diane H]

I just looked up what I actually bought back in May, it’s the following: Chartwell 4ft Double Luxury Guinea Pig Rabbit Hutch & Run Combo | Perfect Outdoor & Indoor Rabbit Hutch for 2 Rabbits Or Guinea Pigs | The Biggest 4ft Hutch Combo On Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MJYOR9U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YKSsFbSTQ5DPR
From the guide I mentioned this had a tick next to ‘2 boars‘. If this information is incorrect the folks who are providing the guidance need to know, because I’m sure a lot of people do their research but are not finding it easy to search out reliable information. This forum should pop up first in a Google search but at the time I started researching it did not show up. It’s easy to say that folks should do their research, I think a lot do, but the information they are coming across is not always correct. I bought the biggest hutch I could afford from what was available during lockdown and what I read was suitable for 2 boars.

 

[Piggylove82]

I just looked up what I actually bought back in May, it’s the following: Chartwell 4ft Double Luxury Guinea Pig Rabbit Hutch & Run Combo | Perfect Outdoor & Indoor Rabbit Hutch for 2 Rabbits Or Guinea Pigs | The Biggest 4ft Hutch Combo On Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MJYOR9U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YKSsFbSTQ5DPR
From the guide I mentioned this had a tick next to ‘2 boars‘. If this information is incorrect the folks who are providing the guidance need to know, because I’m sure a lot of people do their research but are not finding it easy to search out reliable information. This forum should pop up first in a Google search but at the time I started researching it did not show up. It’s easy to say that folks should do their research, I think a lot do, but the information they are coming across is not always correct. I bought the biggest hutch I could afford from what was available during lockdown and what I read was suitable for 2 boars.

I agree. There is a lot of misinformation out there

 

[Piggies&buns]

There definitely is a lot of misinformation.

Two boars do need a 6ft x 2ft hutch but as you will be getting him a sow to live with then a 4ft x 2ft is fine but it is only the minimum size for two piggies - 4ft x 2ft is the minimum welfare size for two sows or a neutered boar and a sow but a 5ft x 2ft is better. Two boars need a 6ft x2ft. Piggylove82 has mentioned, but upper levels don’t count towards the cage size, so the bottom level needs to meet size requirements on its own.

It’s really quite sad that the information for the 4ft hutch says it’s suitable for two rabbits - it’s really really not. Rabbits cannot be kept in a 4ft hutch, they need a hutch of at least 6ft x 2ft with a run attached totalling 60 square feet of available space.