Boars or Sows?

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musicqueen

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So i'm looking into getting my first two guinea pigs from a rescue:) I just wanted to know whats the difference between a male or female guinea pig? personality, temperament etc
 
Males can be more territorial I think. And they tend to have a greasier grease gland compared to females from what I have experienced but other then that I don't think there is much of a difference :)
 
Females will usually live happily together in pairs or groups, and even better with one nuetuered male for company, where as boars sometimes live happily in pairs especially around female piggies, and very rarely get along in groups as they will fight. A sow and nuetuered boar or 2 sows would probably be the best option, unless a rescue have a bonded pair of boars, but even this is never guaranteed to last.....
 
If you only want 2 guinea pigs, males are fine. If you want a larger group, you are better off getting sows or a neutered male & sows.

As Toffeewoffee says :)
 
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Boars are often more laid back and cuddlier than sows. Getting two bonded boars from a good rescue gives you a much better chance of a stable bond.

Girls can be a bit b*tchy occasionally, especially when they come into season. If you are not rehoming from a reputable guinea pig rescue, you have to be very careful that you do not end up with a pregnant sow (have a look through our pregnancy section), as many people are not aware how very soon guinea pigs can start the next generation.

If at all possible, the best place to get guinea pigs from is a reputable rescue because your guinea pigs will not only be healthy, well bonded and guaranteed not pregnant. You will also get support and advice during the settling in period and can always come back to the rescue if you are having problems.

Choose the piggies that speak to your heart and make sure that they have enough space! Sadly, most shops still sell far to small cages. you can find our more about that side and where to get the cheapest bargains in our housing section.
 
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I have only had sows so can't say what boars are like. My sows do get a bit funny with each other sometimes, I suspect this is when they are 'in heat'. My sows are fairly cuddly and friendly. I think its more to do with the actual pig rather than the sex of the pig that determines temprament really.
 
i believe it comes more down to the personal piggies than it does anything else, the personalities and needs of each individual pig vary so much that i think it would be unfair to say there is a better sex. (apart from with humans, clearly girls rule) ;)

I don't believe boars smell any worse than girls - or at least mine don't. And as for keeping them in pairs - the only time mine have fallen out is when it is something i have done wrong (not introducing properly ect)

If it was me having to choose, i would look at both sows and boars and just see which pigs i clicked with.
 
I think the decision should be based on what you want piggy-wise, as others have said.

If you want a pair, then really, it makes no difference whether you have a pair of bonded sows, a bonded sow/boar pairing (one MUST be neutered!) or a bonded boar pair. A guinea pig rescue is the ideal place to get a correctly sexed, bonded pair. Reputable rescues will also provide you with back up and support for the rest of the piggies lives, which can be invaluable for a first time owner :)

Piggies are little characters, whether they're male or female. One thing to be aware of, is that males can need a little bit of extra cleaning, but I think (and certainly in the case of me and my boys), it adds to their bond with you! I have a pair of boars, and a neutered male/female pair - they're both fantastic little pairs, and my sow (who I've only had a few months and has been unwell recently) is coming out of her shell and becoming a cheeky little madam, just like her hus-pig!
 
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I dont think it makes much difference. I had females before and loved them loads, this time round when I was looking to just have some piggies I had no preferance to what sex but ended up with three girls, then added a neutered male.

I would so love a pair of boys as they do get overlooked, all the wrong information and misunderstandings surrounding them gives them the wrong impression so I would still love a pair of boys, but not in my current set up as I would not be a suitable home for a stable pair.

I do find the girls very tetchy with each other at times, never overly nasty but certainly handbags and tantrums, the male is a lot more laid back and I love the way he struts his stuff round them every now and then.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies:) so it seems there is not a huge difference between males and females. I'm trying to find a reputable rescue and would love to get a bonded pair. Is it true males need more space than females?/
 
When kept together this would be the case due to how territorial they can be, however the bigger space you can provide for either males or females would be an advantage, they need as much space as possible to be able to run and stretch their little legs. If you give us your location, maybe we can recommend a local rescue to you? If not there are some very helpful members on here who may be willing to offer some help in a piggie train.....?
 
I'm going to get a ferplast 140 cage and then possibly have a C&C cage in the future. It would be great if anyone can recommend me any rescues. I live in Sheffield so any in the South Yorkshire/Nottingham area. I was thinking of Thornberry Animal Sanctuary as I live close to there and have looked into getting two rabbits from there before. They seem like a really nice rescue:) I'm just worried they may not have any Guinea pigs in so would like to know of other places too.
 
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