New to cavi love! Need some advice!

[Kylo]

Hi everyone I just joined. Have some concerns and questions.
I first encountered a piggie at my friends house a few months ago. I fell in love and was promised apiglet. They bought two sows from a petstore (terrible, I know) and one came pregnant.
The sow had a litter of 2. I'm getting the abyssinian cross. He's beautiful and hilarious, I've named him Harvey and he's due to come home with me in exactly 2 weeks. My cage is on the way. I feel bad already. I don't have room for a mate yet (i'll be moving soon and will get another as soon as)
My cage is 39inches L by 21inches W by 17inches H
Is this big enough to start off with? I'm going to build a huge C & C cage when I move and add plenty of mates for my Harvey. but will he be okay?
He's currently cramped with 3 piggie mates in a small area where sawdust is used as bedding!
He's so utterly timid and attached to his mother - will he get over being taken from her?
I'm planning to give him fleece bedding and build a giant run area. I work from home so I can be in his company all day. I'll try my best to keep him comforted and amused as much as possible until he gets a mate to take the night shift.
What can I do to make my young guinea happy? I want to keep him comfortable, entertained, as hhappy as possible and loved.
I've done so much research on guineas (I mean hours) but I can't find specifics on separating a piglet from his mum and making him a home that'll soothe him. Please help.
I have the diet drilled into my brain but I already worry about his happiness..

 

[lissie]

The cage you have will be okay as a temp cage. How old is he now? He has to be separated from mom at 3 weeks old, otherwise he can get her pregnant.

To help him cope without mommy, you could take him to a reputable rescue and pair him with an older boar. They usually help take care of the baby.

 

[Whispa5]

You sound like a very good owner! If you can get your guinea pig as much room as possible the will be very happy. And fleece is a very good idea too as shavings can cause problems.
Welcome to the forum!

 

[Shellza]

Your boy does ideally need a friend, that's the best way you can make him happy and space wise they won't take up any more. Guinea pigs need a minimum size cage of 120cm , or 2x4ft (for 1 or 2 as they generally live in pairs). Yours is rather small being only 100cm, but will suffice for the time being while he is small.
You may need to leave him a few days to settle down before handling him (depending on how comfortable he is around humans) but sitting by the cage and talking softly to him, hand feeding veg if he'll come up to you will all help him settle and get used to you.
He will be lonely after leaving his family, so getting a soft toy suitable for babies or puppies with no plastic eyes or bits he can chew will be great for him to snuggle up to. He will need somewhere he feels safe and secure. A cardboard box or shoe box would do the trick especially filled with hay so he can burrow in it. Unlimited hay and water, veggies (introduced slowly if he hasn't had them before) and dry pellet food will all go down well too.

Good luck on getting your boy. I look forward to seeing some pictures when he arrives

 

[Kylo]

Thanks for the advice. I have a fleecy safe teddy which has now been altered into a cosy\pillow for Harvey.
I was looking at boars an hour ago and may consider making a c & c cage earlier than expected to get him a buddy.
He's utterly timid. All the other piggies in his family let me feed, stroke and hold them. His mother purrs like mad when I cuddle her. I don't understand where his fear is from. He screeches in distress when a person is near. Even me. And I talk, give me small cubes of treats and gentle 5 second strokes.

I'm actually concerned about his health. My friend assured me she'd done her research and knew what she was doing. But the mum, two babies and other sow are all together in a cage smaller than the one I have coming! They were without hay the last time I was there and the cage was filthy.
I would take them all with me in a heartbeat, but my friend would never allow it. I worry about them.

Harvey is stilll with his mum! How do I tell my friend she's treating these sweethearts terribly without causing a row and losing my chance to take Harvey?