Hi again, lots has happened since I last posted on here!
Turns out that one of my piggies was pregnant when she arrived, as she produced two lovely surprise babies last Friday! She had several homes in quick succession before I had her so unsure when she was in with a boar. We have a girl baby and, unfortunately, a boy baby. It would have been much more simple if they had both been girls!
I know that baby boy needs to be separated at 3 weeks so I was hoping someone could give me some advice. I have ordered a new cage and was hoping to adopt him an older friend for when he is separated. However, a rescue that I contacted said that they wouldn't bond a baby boar until they are 3 months old - this would mean that he is on his own for a couple of months. I was hoping to avoid him being alone by having an older boar friend ready for him to move in with. Is this unrealistic? Would it be better to find him a younger friend who is of a similar size? I thought that an older boar (2+ years) would be more gentle and accepting as they are out of the teenage years but now doubting myself.
The other option is to get him neutered as early as possible so he can be back in with his mum, aunts and sister. The Guinea Pig Vet in Matlock is happy to castrate him at 4 months, so he would be able to go in with the ladies at around 6 months of age. I'm just worried that he will be on his own all that time. Will he still learn the social skills he needs? He would be next to the girls, but it seems a long time to be without proper contact and socialisation.
Help! Thank you
Turns out that one of my piggies was pregnant when she arrived, as she produced two lovely surprise babies last Friday! She had several homes in quick succession before I had her so unsure when she was in with a boar. We have a girl baby and, unfortunately, a boy baby. It would have been much more simple if they had both been girls!
I know that baby boy needs to be separated at 3 weeks so I was hoping someone could give me some advice. I have ordered a new cage and was hoping to adopt him an older friend for when he is separated. However, a rescue that I contacted said that they wouldn't bond a baby boar until they are 3 months old - this would mean that he is on his own for a couple of months. I was hoping to avoid him being alone by having an older boar friend ready for him to move in with. Is this unrealistic? Would it be better to find him a younger friend who is of a similar size? I thought that an older boar (2+ years) would be more gentle and accepting as they are out of the teenage years but now doubting myself.
The other option is to get him neutered as early as possible so he can be back in with his mum, aunts and sister. The Guinea Pig Vet in Matlock is happy to castrate him at 4 months, so he would be able to go in with the ladies at around 6 months of age. I'm just worried that he will be on his own all that time. Will he still learn the social skills he needs? He would be next to the girls, but it seems a long time to be without proper contact and socialisation.
Help! Thank you
