Help - housing sows and boars

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Hi
Need a bit of advice..
Up until yesterday, I had 2 sows together and 2 boars together in separate enclosures. Unfortunately one of the sows died yesterday :( (she had an operation before Xmas for a massive bladder stone and had been recovering well, but died unexpectedly yesterday).
This now leaves me with a sow by herself and obviously she needs some companionship ASAP.
Ideally I would like to house my three remaining g.pigs together , but all of my g.pigs are rescues and have a variety of health problems, one of the boars has a neurological problem which means that I would not risk putting him under anaesthetic.
So I considered having the sow spayed and then introducing her to the two boars - but I am worried that the two boars will just fight over her as they are not neutered? Has anyone successfully kept a spayed sow with other males?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks
 
So sorry to hear of your loss :(

As far as i'm aware neutering and/or spaying does not alter the piggies behavior and which ever way you look at it two boars with 1 female isn't going to work as they will fight over her. The spaying of a female is a very complicated procedure and i don't think there are many cavvy savvy vets that will carry out the spaying operation unless it is for medical reasons.

Putting the female within eye shot of the boys is also likely to create fall outs between the pair.

Where are you located? It might be worth contacting your nearest rescue and either finding your girl a neutered boar or getting her another female for company :)

Unfortunately boys are not as easy going as girls - ive got 4 boys split into pairs and i'd love for them all to live together - but it just wouldn't work in a million years - if you've already got a bonded pair i wouldn't risk it - boys are very funny creatures - not at all like girls who can live in big herds :)
 
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Thanks sodapops for your advice. I think deep down I knew that would be the answer! The two boars are very well bonded so I would not want to ruin their relationship.
I have already started ringing round the rescue centres, so hopefully I will find a friend for little Mindy soon. She definitley needs someone soon as she has always been the 'follower' of my other sow and seems totally lost now :(

I am in East Yorkshire if you know anyone rehoming in this area.

Thanks
 
YORKSHIRE
RSPCA South Yorkshire Animal Centre
Black Firs Farm, Great North Road, Bawtry, South Yorkshire, DN10 6DE
Tel: 01302 719790 / Website

Thornberry Animal Sanctuary
The Stables, Todwick Road, North Anston, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S25 3SE
Tel: 01909 564399 / Website

Newdean Guineas Small Animal Refuge & Rehoming
Newsholme Manor, Newsholme, Slack Lane, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD22 0RQ
Tel: 01535 642964 /

Hull Animal Welfare Trust (View Rabbits)
Pinfold Lane, South Cave, Esat Yorkshire, HU15 2JR
Tel: 01430 423986 / Email / Website

Artis Pet Sanctuary
94 Weston Road, Balby, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 8ND
Tel: 01302 857104 / Email / Website

RSPCA Hull & East Riding Branch
Clough Road, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU67PE
Tel: 01482 341331 / Website

Royston Animal Welfare (View Rabbits)
Penistone, South Yorkshire
Tel: 01226 765884 / Website
 
Thanks flintstones - just waiting for Hull Animal Welfare Trust to call us back.
 
Best of luck with your search for a new friend. Sadly, you won't be able to have more than one neutered male with any amount of sows. Neutered or not, males will fight.

I nature, guinea pigs live in a roaming core group of 10-15 sows living with a male while bachelors hang around the edges waiting to take over or to mate with one of the younger sows. An adventurous pair might set off and try to start their own herd. In captivity, you can either create something that resembles a core group or something that echoes the bachelor environment.

Here is another guinea pig rescue, based in Scunthorpe, Lincs.
http://www.popcornparadiseanimalrescue.co.uk
 
I think RSPCA in Lincoln has some girls if Hull Animal Welfare doesn't. There are a few lovely looking little neutered lads at Barnsley Animal Rescue in the rehoming forum. There is no harm in having one boy with a girl, it is usually a very stable friendship. Whereabouts in East Yorks are you?
 
A very rare time I've heard of people who keep more than one boar with sows, but that's very very risky and only heard of it in very big cages, so I wouldn't try really. And sorry you lost your pig :(
 
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