Help: Female Or Male?

[Melissa369148]

hello everyone!
This is my first post here and I am in love with this website! I have been researching about guinea pigs for the past year and the time has finally come for me to get my guinea pigs! I could not be more excited! The only problem is there is a lot of different sides wether to get 2 boars or 2 sows? What's this about cleaning the gland? I'm very confused about this and I can't get any guinea pig until I'm clear on this! Thanks

 

[sport_billy]

Hello Mellisa, welcome to the forum.

This thread is what you will want to have a read through and should answer most your questions https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-sows-or-mixed-pairs-babies-or-adults.108944/

Here are some threads that may prove helpful to have a look at, they will give you lots of information regarding piggies

Settling Piggies http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/
Things piggies need http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/getting-a-guinea-pig-items-youll-need-to-buy.112288/
Food List http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/
General Food Overview - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
Piggy Body Language http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/

Regarding Grease Glands, Taken from a thread on the forum -
Guinea pigs have a grease gland located at the base of their spine, roughly where the tail would be if they had one. It is harder to find on some pigs than others, but boars in particular tend to have quite active grease glands, and locating it will be made easier by the greasy circle you can feel - and in some cases see! The photos below show the position of the grease gland.

Welcome again

Lee

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

It is great that you are doing your research first!

Could you please add your country, state or (for the UK) your county to your details. As we have got members from all over the world from very different climates and backgrounds, brands, access to vets and rescues, our advice can differ massively according to what is possible and available where you are.

In your case, it mostly hinges on whether you have got access to a good standard piggy savvy rescue. We have got a UK rescue locator on the top bar, but can provide a link to recommended rescues in other countries.
All guinea pigs in these rescues are fully healthy and have undergone a quarantine and any necessary medical treatment. Any sows have undergone a pregnancy watch to make sure that you won't have any unplanned surprises. These rescue piggies have also been carefully character matched, which is the key to a stable boar bond and to any happy piggy bond. If you have access to such a rescue, you do not have to worry about the gender (boys, girls or a sow/neutered boar pairing) and can concentrate on guinea pigs that are suitable for beginners, so you have got a very smooth start.
@sport_billy has given you our link in which we have listed the pros and cons of all possible combinations.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/the-myth-about-boys.126564/

If you don't have access to a good rescue, then you have to weigh up whether you rather take the risk of potential mis-sexing and/or pregnancy or a fall-out between mismatched teenage boars. Boars need more cleaning of their bits, but sows often develop ovarian cysts when they get older, so it is not just one gender wins hands down! Rehoming from free-ads means that all the risks are on your side re. health/neglect, stability of the bond and an undisclosed pregnancy; desperate sellers can be more than economical with the truth!

An overactive grease gland can affect both genders although it is more frequently an issue with boars. You can stay on top of it without too many problems. It is also not something that happens constantly, but rather in spurts.

 

[AuntyC]

Hi Melissa.. How very exciting for you. Ask as many questions as you like, the forum is a mine of information and there are several experts to help out. If you have a good rescue centre within reach you can look up their website to see what they have available. Lots of luck in your search x

 

[Sunnycharlie]

Being a new Guinea pig owner and having had a rough start, can I heartily recommend listening to the advice given by everyone on here. My two baby boys were purchased from an inexperienced breeder who told us they were both girls. We did have a frightful afternoon when we thought we had one of each! I can now see the advantage of getting guinea pigs from a knowledgable rescue centre.

 

[artcasper]

this website is fantastic for advice / ideas and information..

 

[Lady Kelly]

HI and welcome to the forum. Don't let the grease gland put you off boys. Girls have them too and though its less common I do have one lady with a very active gland lol