Boars and sows in the same room?

[danuutka]

Hello, I rescued two awfully neglected adult sows today, and already own a boar duo (9month old and 9 week old).

Ideally, I would like to have a stacked cage, where my boys would take the bottom cage (they're used to being able to free roam), whilst the ladies take the "top bunk". Is this something that could work?

Ozzie is in his hormonal stage, so he's getting very excited by the ladies presence already. Is there anything I could do to minimise any conflict to them all? I knew Ozzie reacted negatively to other boars, but I never thought the same issue would arise at the presence of ladies.

Is there any way to mask the pheromones of the ladies whilst they lived on the top bunk? e.g. using the pet remedy plug in, or draping some material over the sides of the cage etc?

I really want to make this work.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

It was good of you to give a good home to the poor neglected sows!
I believe the usual recommendation for having boar pairs and sows in the same room, is that the sows should be down below, because their exciting pheromones will otherwise drift downwards where the boars can smell them, and that could disrupt the bond especially once your younger boar hits the teenage months. Sorry that probably isn't what you want, I hope you can find a good alternative!

 

[danuutka]

It was good of you to give a good home to the poor neglected sows!
I believe the usual recommendation for having boar pairs and sows in the same room, is that the sows should be down below, because their exciting pheromones will otherwise drift downwards where the boars can smell them, and that could disrupt the bond especially once your younger boar hits the teenage months. Sorry that probably isn't what you want, I hope you can find a good alternative!

Thank you for replying! Such a bummer, I wanted to keep my boars on the bottom just because they're used to being able to free roam my room, whereas one of the girlies I just rescued is blind so I would prefer to have her above, away from the boys, and only let her and her sister out in another room completely supervised

I'm worried that if the sows were on the bottom, and I let my boars out for a run, they would cause all type of chaos and fights.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for replying! Such a bummer, I wanted to keep my boars on the bottom just because they're used to being able to free roam my room, whereas one of the girlies I just rescued is blind so I would prefer to have her above, away from the boys, and only let her and her sister out in another room completely supervised

I'm worried that if the sows were on the bottom, and I let my boars out for a run, they would cause all type of chaos and fights.

Hi!

Introducing sows into a room with teenage boars can be a problem, especially when they have a strong season in response to boar pheromones which creates lots of sow pheromones. Since smell is not a strong human sense, we tend to underestimate the power of it; it is one of the strongest guinea pig senses.

If possible, keep the sows in a different room or as far away from the boars as possible so the pheromones can't reach.

You can find the tricky issue of boars and sows in the same household/room discussed in detail at the end of chapter 3 in our boar guide: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

If you find that the presence of the sows is causing real upsets, then please contact Milhaven Guinea Pig Rescue in Keighley whether they are prepared to take on the sows so they get the care they need and can find a new home in good time that is home checked and safe. This is no detriment to you. We can only work within the constraints of what we have got available. Knowing and accepting our limits is important, as long as we deal with the problem in a way that is putting the welfare of the animals involved before our own pride. Can you pay for an eye removal operation in case that becomes necessary?