Mixing neutered and entire boars

[Eleanorh99]

Hi everyone! This is my first post so sorry if it's a bit dodgy...
I currently have a pair of 6 old guinea pigs, a neutered male (Cappuccino) and a neutered female (Edith). Edith has recently been diagnosed with a tumour in her abdomen, and we don't know how long she has left. The problem is that Cap is very attached to her and I'm worried about how he'll cope without her. I want to get him a new friend as soon as possible after Edith passes, and want to make sure I have as many options as possible.
So to my question: could I mix him with an entire boar or would the different hormone levels cause problems? Thanks :-)

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear about Edith’s tumour.
In answer to your question, being neutered or not does not make a difference to the ability to bond boars - it’s character compatibility which counts. However, you will likely find your boar will not accept living with another boar given he has been with a sow. You will most probably have to find another sow for him to be bonded with

 

[Siikibam]

The best way in any case would be to take him to a rescue centre where he can go dating and choose his own friend.

I'm sorry to hear about your Edith. May she have many more happy todays

 

[Eleanorh99]

I’m sorry to hear about Edith’s tumour.
In answer to your question, being neutered or not does not make a difference to the ability to bond boars - it’s character compatibility which counts. However, you will likely find your boar will not accept living with another boar given he has been with a sow. You will most probably have to find another sow for him to be bonded with

Thank you. I'll keep an eye out for sows

 

[Eleanorh99]

The best way in any case would be to take him to a rescue centre where he can go dating and choose his own friend.

I'm sorry to hear about your Edith. May she have many more happy todays

I'll see if any rescues will allow it - when I was looking for another rabbit a few years ago a lot of rescues weren't fond of speed dating. Luckily Edith loves her meds (and her treats afterwards) so she seems happy at the moment.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'll see if any rescues will allow it - when I was looking for another rabbit a few years ago a lot of rescues weren't fond of speed dating. Luckily Edith loves her meds (and her treats afterwards) so she seems happy at the moment.

A lot of the reputable rescues do offer dating as it is the safest way to find a compatible friend. However, during these lockdown conditions most are not offering the service at present but may still be rehoming for bereaved piggies. The issue here of course is you are taking the risk of a failed bonding if dating isn’t available

 

[Siikibam]

If (hopefully not) Edith passes away during lockdown then you can put your boy next to your other pairs so he can still have interaction until you're able to take him dating. Below is a link to the rescues. I would contact all (near and far) to let them know your circumstances. Actually, one of our members on here has an older ill sow. She was partners with a boar. She was worried about her sow passing away and leaving behind a lone boar so took them dating to find a friend. She came home with a sow they'd both chosen. Unfortunately it was actually her beautiful boar who passed away. I'll tag her in @Betsy Could that be an option for you, if normal service resumed and she was still with you?
Rescue Locator

 

[Betsy]

Yes it was indeed my handsome Silver Fox Christian who passed suddenly. He seemed OK in the evening and in the morning he had passed over to The Rainbow Bridge - such a shock especially coming 4 days after my other boar Cutey Pie Dennis passed over The Rainbown Bridge too! My Meg was ill during the first Lockdown so I took her and Christian piggy dating at a Rescue 2 hours drive away. They both made friends with Patsy and she came home with us. Now I have Meg, Patsy and Betsy (Dennis's wifey piggy) all living together as The Old Maids in Retirement in the Luxury Penthouse Apartment. Bonding Meg, Patsy and Betsy was a bit fraught but they decided on the hierarchy and live in relative harmony. I do miss my boys though they were such characters.

 

[Eleanorh99]

I do quite like the sound of getting one they both pick! Not sure if my cage is big enough for a 3rd (I have a 2x4 C and C) though. I don't have any other piggies, which is why I'm so concerned about getting a Cap a friend as soon as possible

 

[Eleanorh99]

Yes it was indeed my handsome Silver Fox Christian who passed suddenly. He seemed OK in the evening and in the morning he had passed over to The Rainbow Bridge - such a shock especially coming 4 days after my other boar Cutey Pie Dennis passed over The Rainbown Bridge too! My Meg was ill during the first Lockdown so I took her and Christian piggy dating at a Rescue 2 hours drive away. They both made friends with Patsy and she came home with us. Now I have Meg, Patsy and Betsy (Dennis's wifey piggy) all living together as The Old Maids in Retirement in the Luxury Penthouse Apartment. Bonding Meg, Patsy and Betsy was a bit fraught but they decided on the hierarchy and live in relative harmony. I do miss my boys though they were such characters.

I'm so sorry, that must have been horrible losing two so close together. Were the rescue ok with you going during lockdown? I can never figure out what the rules are anymore. Did it take long for them all to bond? I've never bonded guinea pigs before, but I have done rabbits so I'm assuming its a similar process

 

[Piggies&buns]

A 2x4 c&c is big enough for two piggies. A 2x5 is needed for three.
as we said it could be tricky to bond him with another boar anyway, but a 2x4 is also a little on the small side for pair of boars - a 2x5 is needed for two boars due to their more territorial nature

the bonding with guinea pigs is a process of putting them in a neutral territory pen for several hours and see it through to conclusion whether its success or failure. If successful then move them to their cleaned out cage to live together from then on. It takes a further two weeks after a successful introduction for them to fully establish their relationship and hierarchy.

 

[Betsy]

I'm so sorry, that must have been horrible losing two so close together. Were the rescue ok with you going during lockdown? I can never figure out what the rules are anymore. Did it take long for them all to bond? I've never bonded guinea pigs before, but I have done rabbits so I'm assuming its a similar process

It was very hard losing both Christian and Dennis so close. Tbh I think I'm still in shock as it happened only 8 weeks ago.

I went to the Rescue in September when the rules weren't nearly as strict as they are now. I left my 2 at the Rescue for 3 weeks as I went away on holiday in my caravan and picked all three of them up after my holiday.

 

[Eleanorh99]

A 2x4 c&c is big enough for two piggies. A 2x5 is needed for three.
as we said it could be tricky to bond him with another boar anyway, but a 2x4 is also a little on the small side for pair of boars - a 2x5 is needed for two boars due to their more territorial nature

the bonding with guinea pigs is a process of putting them in a neutral territory pen for several hours and see it through to conclusion whether its success or failure. If successful then move them to their cleaned out cage to live together from then on. It takes a further two weeks after a successful introduction for them to fully establish their relationship and hierarchy.

So you basically put them together in neutral territory (I'm guessing with snacks and hides) and see what happens? In rabbits you slowly build up time together over a few weeks and they almost all bond eventually - does this not work with guinea pigs?
I'm not sure if I'd have space to extend the cage, I'll have to measure when I get back to uni (I'm at home at the moment so the piggies are in their holiday cage, which is a different shape to their main cage)

 

[Siikibam]

Every time they're put together is a bonding session for them. But the issue is they can't see it to the end which is stressful for them. Hence doing it in one go. They can't do 'playdates'. You put in a neutral area with just hay, no hides. And see how it plays out.

 

[Piggies&buns]

So you basically put them together in neutral territory (I'm guessing with snacks and hides) and see what happens? In rabbits you slowly build up time together over a few weeks and they almost all bond eventually - does this not work with guinea pigs?
I'm not sure if I'd have space to extend the cage, I'll have to measure when I get back to uni (I'm at home at the moment so the piggies are in their holiday cage, which is a different shape to their main cage)

I'm a rabbit keeper myself and the bonding between piggies and bunnies is different.
bonding piggies is a one time thing. You can’t do slowly over a period of weeks like you do with rabbits, as they don’t bond that way (There are occasions when such a slow bond is needed ie in fear aggressive piggies, but mostly it is done as an all one in process). So yes put them in a neutral pen and leave them (obviously watching them the whole time) to see if it works out.
You actually don’t add hides to a bonding pen for piggies - just a pile of hay and nothing else.