Can You House Male And Female Guinea Pigs In Close Proximity (in Separate Cages)?

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Chessles

Chessles

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Hello, I currently have 2 boars but I have seen a pair of sows that I want to get from a rescue. My boars have an enormous c and c cage plus a commercial cage attached so tons of space. My question is... Can I section off part of their c and c ( then extend it a bit) and then put the sows in that part? Or would it send my (not neutered) boars a bit crazy/make them fight being so close to ladies?

Otherwise, is it ok to put a second c and c level on top of their current one and put sows in that?
 
I have heard some owners keep intact boars and sows . Personally, I wouldn't as the boars are bound to recognise the smell of the sows.

Also, I seem to recall someone posting about a boar that escaped and got in with thier sows . I din't think it's worth the risk.
 
I wouldn't risk two bonded boars in the same room as sows, the smell of the sows can cause the boars to fall out and that would be a terrible shame. I also remember the post about an escapee getting where he/she shouldn't. I know some people keep boars and sows out of smell range in the same room but you have to be careful with things like floor time.
 
That's interesting to know @furryfriends (TEAS) , I'd love to have some sows but my boars get on so well together I'm nervous of upsetting them. There's a spare cage under the bed that keeps calling out to me!
 
I would put them into bunkbed type cages. Boars on the top, girls underneath. My boys are completely oblivious to the female piggie living beneath them.
The boys also can't get to her as they are too high up and there's grids blocking them getting out. Not that either have ever tried.

I wouldn't go the CC route with the sectioning. It sounds very risky.
 
Thanks for your advice everyone! julesie, would it make a difference if the girls were on top instead?
 
I have 3 groups of piggies in a stack hutch. I have a pair of boars in the bottom and middle hutches, and a neutered boar and two sows in the top. I have had this set up for years no and my boys have never fallen out. I've even had happy trios of boars in there with no ill effect.

I would advise if you were to go ahead is have it so the sows are in a c&c above the boars. Certainly not right next to them, that would be asking for trouble.

May be worth finding out if the rescue would even home you sows with two intact boars. I have been turned down in rescuing sows by a rescue before because of my boars.
 
I would advise that you do the process gradually. Place The guinea pig into two separate cages where they can not see, buy smell the other. After 2 to 3 weeks place them in the same cage but watch them closely. If Any aggressive attitudes remove them immediately from each other.
 
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