New Boys...Advice please?

[shanmissycasscass]

Hi, and help! I have unexpectedly adopted 2 bonded adult boys x) (From someone whose children no longer wanted them). This is their third home and I am 100% committed to giving them a home for life. I am an experienced Piggie owner, and have had my current 2 piggies (girls) for 7 years and 2 years respectively. Therein lies my dilemma. I have only ever had girls, and can't have any mating! The boys have not been 'done', so I would be looking to get that sorted as quickly as possible. They are approximately 1-2 years old. Is it OK to have them castrated at this age? If so, are there any recommendations you could give as to whether it should be one at a time, and how to help them recuperate afterward. Or is castration not recommended? I have plenty of accommodation (2 X 5ft double hutches (tiered) with almost twice that actual floor space), to always keep the boys and girls separately. However, I would hope to eventually be able to house them all together. This would depend on whether everyone got on or not. My little old lady likes her peace and quiet, and I don't want anyone to be unhappy. Also, looking forward to the winter...My girls always live in during the winter, and I would expect to do the same with the boys. If I was able to successfully bond everyone, what would be the recommended cage/hutch size? Generally any advice experienced boar owners can offer will be gratefully received. They are the sweetest, friendliest, handsomest lads and deserve at last a happy forever home. -c

 

[dylansmummy]

hopefully someone will be along soon who can help as i am a boar only home i have mine in pairs uneutered and its fine but we have no girlies to excite them, i think you only put one neutered boar in with 2 girls but someone will correct me if I'm wrong i personally would keep them as 2 uneutered boys well away from the girlies as they are happy as they are.

Sorry not much help but someone will help soon.

 

[Connie]

sadly dylans mummy is right! You can only house one boar with a group of sows as otherwise the two boars will fight. I know that makes your set up awkward but piggies can fight to the death! The reason they dont ususaly work is in the wild, there would be one top piggy with his herd of sows.

 

[SweetsPig11]

I have to agree with the above, only one boar per any group or pair of sows. If your boars get along well, I wouldn't neuter them and split up a happy pair just so that one could be with the sows. I'm sure people on here have their opinions on getting a boar neutered or not and I honestly think that if your pair of boars are getting along fine then don't risk the neuter op because it's a big operation on a small animal and there can be so many problems that happen after the operation. I would keep the boys together and everything exactly how you have it. Good lucks! And Congrats on your new additions can't wait for pigtures drool

 

[shanmissycasscass]

Hi there, and many thanks for your very welcome advice. I'll keep looking on to see what other messages come in, but to be honest I will be more than happy to just keep everyone apart. My girls are very happy as they are, and the boys have been together for as long as their previous home is aware. I will keep an eye on them as they settle in, but they seem to be well bonded and good friends. I would really rather not have them operated on, so I will plan to let them stay entire. I'm quite relieved about that as I'm sure they would be!:<> I will keep the 2 pairs well separate, and start to plan my winter set up. Any more tips etc on boars, or other ideas on housing etc gratefully received. p

 

[Wiebke]

If you have got a happily bonded, stable pair, please don't split them up and keep them out of sight of any girls. Why mend what is not broken?

You can have any number of girls with one neutered boar, but never more than one neutered boar at once. Guinea pigs live in a roaming core group of sows with one boar with bachelors hanging loosely around the group waiting to fight for their chance at fathering the next generation. You can either mimic the core group or a bachelor set up with two boar and no sows present. Neutered boars only lose the ability to father babies, but NOT their instincts or behaviour. I have two neutered boars living with their own sows each, and I have to be very careful that they never meet.

Your boys are technically not too old to be neutered, but you need to be aware that the risk of post op complications is considerable. It is higher in older boars than younger ones - 6-12 months old is the best age, as they heal quickest at that age. It is vital that you can find an experienced vet. http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm