Loan Piggies ?

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twiams

twiams

Adult Guinea Pig
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I know everyone say's that you should keep pigs together, but i've heard that some pigs don't get along, do rescues ever find they have pigs that are alone ?

Would it be cruel to keep a pig alone, even if it did get on with others ?

My boys are moving into a C&C soon and I was looking about maybe rescuing a pig to go in there old cage.

It's not big enough in my opinion really for two pigs even though i have two in there at the minuet, I'm in Plymouth, Devon, so if anyone know's any rescues that have loan piggies i'd be grateful :)
 
One of my boars, Bubbles lives on his own because he just cannot be put with another pig! I had to separate him from Squeak a few weeks after I got them because Bubbles picked on Squeak so badly and one day turned on him and drew blood. I think pigs are fine on their own as long as they definitely can't be housed with others due to aggression - Bubbles is really happy on his own now, and has come on so much since I separated them. He gets lots of attention which is important for loan pigs. I have seen lots of pigs in rescues on their own, so I think as long as you get one that needs to be kept alone then it would be fine :) ... lots of fuss and cuddles needed of course :P
 
I think its a very tricky topic, i have never heard of any piggy on the forum being rehomed alone by a rescue because they actually couldnt be put with another piggy. Same sex bonding is usually tried first, then neutering to find an opposite sex partner. If the effort is put in its very rare guinea pigs actually wont find a friend. They are just picky, same as humans. :)

I would say be very carefull if you wish to do this. Our local RSPCA rehomes every male as a single, unless he comes in as a pair, because "males cant live together or they fight" we all know this is not usually the case.
If you could find a reputable rescue that had tried everything, ie neutering and same sex pairings, and was happy to rehome him alone then go for it. :)
 
What size is your current cage?

When I first saw this post I assume you meant piggies you can borrow ha I am a tard
 
Debatable i suppose. Ive had a boar who spent nearly a year alone because he was so difficult. Hes now in a successful pair with a very young boarfriend. I know some piggies can be very difficult. Some rescues on here i have seen have had some moody sows that are impossible to bond with others.

x.
 
If i could get neutered boar or a sow then next christmas i'd probably look at using my christmas money (like i am this year) and getting him/her a C&C cage, then getting him/her a friend.
The whole reason for this is my two boars don't actually live with me, me and my boyfriend bought them together and they live at his house, i only see my pigs a few time's a week and would love to have a pig or two live at home with me :)
While also the thought of giving a pig a home from a rescue is great !
 
I do not like the idea of loan pigs. I find it very hard to believe there is not a single piggy they can get along with. Guinea pigs really need company of their own kind and all the spoiling in the world is no comparison.
 
I guess it depends if you can rescue a old piggy as we was going to rescue a 5 year old and the rescue was happy with him being alone.:)p
 
At this rescue there are a number of single pigs - they stay here until they are paired up with another pig either as part of the piggy dating service or with another single pig in rescue. Very occasionally there is one that will not pair up with a same sex pig, then the male is neutered and paired with a female (as I run a very successful dating service I have only neutered one male in the past 6/7 years).

Those that need to stay in rescue due to age/health/temperament reasons have lots of piggy company and a neighbour on the other side of a divide so while they may not live with a cagemate they are never alone.

I do not home any pig to live a solitary life as it is of no benefit to the pig to live without piggy company. I do not rate any rescue that is happy to allow a pig to live a completely solitary life.

Suzy x
 
i have enquired about a sow pair on another website depending on there cage (if they come with one) i may be able to connect it to the cage i already own and give them one big cage :)
 
It is very much preferential to have guinea pigs in pair or groups. I don't know of any reputable rescue who would rehome a single guinea pig unless it was to live with others at the new home. Even then a home check should be carried out to make sure this was the case.

All my piggies live with a friend or friends bar one boar. I've tried to pair him up on many occasions all of which have been unsuccessful, even with boars as young of 4/5 weeks old who pose no threat at all. The last meeting he had which was a few months back now he tried to hump the poor baby boy to death! That was fair enough but then he was biting and pulling at him so it was a no go.

He's 8 years old now, therefore too old to neuter otherwise I would consider that to be a good option (I have another neutered boar, he was done by the rescue I got him from and he's great with the ladies). He now lives next door to 2 other males, both very laid back boys and he can see them through the divide just not get to them. I know 8 years is a long time for a guinea pig to be alive without company but he's not like my other pigs, he comes and watches tele and falls asleep on the sofa blankets etc. He seems very attached to me but to my sister in particular.
 
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