Do you think I should get Cenci a new friend or not?

[CiaraPatricia]

So here's the story, I had Cenci and Moxie living together since they were 8 weeks and 5 weeks and they got on great. Then I got Meeko, who was old and chilled out and he settled in well with them. They were all boars.

Moxie and Meeko became better friends, and would cuddle up together, while Cenci tried to be the boss of them, but Meeko didn't really care, and Moxie was the submissive one.

Well then once he got older Moxie decided to get his own back and became very bossy! He started being aggressive to Cenci until Cenci was terrified of him, then he attacked Cenci and left him with wounds so I seperated them. I felt sorry for Cenci on his own, and Moxie started being aggressive to Meeko so I put Meeko with Cenci, and they got on fine. Moxie lived next door to the girls and was happy there with no other boys. I don't blame Moxie, he was just asserting himself finally, and was a sweet pig.

But then Moxie and Meeko passed away in December, so now I've only got Cenci and he lives next door to the girls. He's about a year old now. I have a feeling he is lonely, even though he can see the girls and touch noses through the wire.

I could either bond him with a very young baby boar, or get an older one from a pet shop. No rescues around here unfortunately, so I'd just have to try and find an older one, but wouldn't be sure what age. I could try to find one in the free ads, but there's not often any for sale here (south of Ireland).

But I'm so scared that if I get another boar then I'll end up having to seperate them too. But I want Cenci to have company. It's so difficult to chosoe . . . what do you guys think?

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Also should mention, if I get another male then I can keep them far away from the girls to avoid fights now. The girls are in the shed, but I have a 2X3 hutch too, which is not very big I know, but they can go in a 4X3 run during the day all spring/summer, then they could have a bigger cage in winter. The girls would be out in a run too, but a few metres away.

Well if the 2X3 hutch wasn't big enough then I could have them in a run on concrete at night too, to have lots of space . . .

 

[Wiebke]

Ireland is not a good place for rescues indeed, sadly.

I would try and get Cenci a baby friend as he is a dominant character.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

No, unfortunately there aren't many rescues around here that'll take small animals. I guess less people keep them as pets, but still people do, so where do the unwanted ones go . . .

I do know a few people who rescue them but they're quite far away.

Thanks anyway Wiebke, I will try him with a baby pig. I do want him to have a friend, he seems a bit lonely.

 

[Sue G]

Would you consider having him neutered so he could go in with the girls?

 

[Curlycritter]

Would you consider having him neutered so he could go in with the girls?

i heard that neutering doesnt alter the males behaviour just stops them producing babies... so I'm guessing the fighting will still happen with the females (especially if they are all different ages)

A baby sounds like a good idea though, xx>>>

esther x

 

[CiaraPatricia]

i heard that neutering doesnt alter the males behaviour just stops them producing babies... so I'm guessing the fighting will still happen with the females (especially if they are all different ages)

A baby sounds like a good idea though, xx>>>

esther x

I think she meant just to neuter the one male I have and let him live with the girls. He won't fight with girls, cos he loves them.


And yeah Sue I thought about it, but didn't think it was a good idea, because no vets around here would be experts in smallies so I wouldn't trust them. A vet hospital near me said they would neuter guinea pigs, but they use injectable anaesthetic a lot, which I don't trust. I could go to a vet hospital in the city that would be good but I don't drive so it's not really possible. I could take him on the train and bus but I think it'd be a bit stressful. So in the end I didn't think it was worth the risk of the operation, if I couldn't go to an pig-experienced vet.