Piggy Research

[the boys]

Hi...I'm not new but haven't been on here for a while. My boy hutch died last year, j still have his brother. He's moved into the house and is loving life.

My question is are boys friendlier than girls (I know it depends on personality as well) do girls work well as pairs or a group as I love the idea of having a small heard.

I just want to do a bit of research

Thanks everyone

 

[Wiebke]

Hi...I'm not new but haven't been on here for a while. My boy hutch died last year, j still have his brother. He's moved into the house and is loving life.

My question is are boys friendlier than girls (I know it depends on personality as well) do girls work well as pairs or a group as I love the idea of having a small heard.

I just want to do a bit of research

Thanks everyone

Hi!

It is great that you are doing your research first!

If you want to build up a litte herd, you'd best go for a one neutered boar and any mumber of sows group. Boars only work in pairs or in large bachelor groups with oddles of space (ideally 10 boars plus). Small groups are particularly unstable and prone to fights and fall-outs.
A sows and one "husboar" group with sows of varying ages mimics the core groups that guinea pigs live in. Always start with one dominant founder piggy (like your boy if he is neutered and past his 6 weeks post-op wait). Choose sows that are either known to be submissive, very laid-back or used to living in a group, so they will fit in well.

Please consider adopting from a good rescue, as that way you are guaranteed to only come home with fully quarantined/healthy, properly sexed and guaranteed not pregnant piggies and can also choose sows whose personalities/backgrounds fit into the setting you want to create. All the listed rescues also allow you to date your piggies at the rescue so you come home with new adoptees only if acceptance has happened.
Character compatibility is going to be your biggest challenge when creating a small group. For all that guinea pigs are social animals, they have their distinct likes and dislikes and are every bit as difficult to match and to work out together as a group of humans!

I am not sure whether the RSPCA Walsall still has got guinea pigs (they haven't had any listed for a while), but The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Stoke on Trent have just taken in several pregnant sows from a large rescue action on the South Coast, so there are going to be several younger mums and female babies around in roughly 2-3 months' time. They should also have some neutered boars ready for adoption in a few weeks' time.
The other good and experienced guinea pig rescue within your reach would be Honeybunnies near Leicester, just off the M69/M1 junction.
If you are thinking about having your remaining boy neutered, I would recommend to go to the vet that is being used by the RSPCA Walsall branch, as they will have the most practice and experience with that operation in your area. The RSPCA has got a boar neutering policy.
Walsall Branch - Home - rspca.org.uk or Rspca Walsall
Welcome to The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue, a safe haven in Stoke on Trent. or Welcome to The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue, a safe haven in Stoke on Trent.
HONEYBUNNIES - RABBIT & GUINEA PIG RESCUE

I have written about my own group adventure in Guinea Pig Magazine issues #37-39 (the last of these issues is the current one) if you are interested in reading about the highs and lows of building up and running a group over a number of years with their constantly changing dynamics. You can order the issues more cheaply as a download. Guinea Pig Magazine

 

[the boys]

Hi!

It is great that you are doing your research first!

If you want to build up a litte herd, you'd best go for a one neutered boar and any mumber of sows group. Boars only work in pairs or in large bachelor groups with oddles of space (ideally 10 boars plus). Small groups are particularly unstable and prone to fights and fall-outs.
A sows and one "husboar" group with sows of varying ages mimics the core groups that guinea pigs live in. Always start with one dominant founder piggy (like your boy if he is neutered and past his 6 weeks post-op wait). Choose sows that are either known to be submissive, very laid-back or used to living in a group, so they will fit in well.

Please consider adopting from a good rescue, as that way you are guaranteed to only come home with fully quarantined/healthy, properly sexed and guaranteed not pregnant piggies and can also choose sows whose personalities/backgrounds fit into the setting you want to create. All the listed rescues also allow you to date your piggies at the rescue so you come home with new adoptees only if acceptance has happened.
Character compatibility is going to be your biggest challenge when creating a small group. For all that guinea pigs are social animals, they have their distinct likes and dislikes and are every bit as difficult to match and to work out together as a group of humans!

I am not sure whether the RSPCA Walsall still has got guinea pigs (they haven't had any listed for a while), but The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Stoke on Trent have just taken in several pregnant sows from a large rescue action on the South Coast, so there are going to be several younger mums and female babies around in roughly 2-3 months' time. They should also have some neutered boars ready for adoption in a few weeks' time.
The other good and experienced guinea pig rescue within your reach would be Honeybunnies near Leicester, just off the M69/M1 junction.
If you are thinking about having your remaining boy neutered, I would recommend to go to the vet that is being used by the RSPCA Walsall branch, as they will have the most practice and experience with that operation in your area. The RSPCA has got a boar neutering policy.
Walsall Branch - Home - rspca.org.uk or Rspca Walsall
Welcome to The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue, a safe haven in Stoke on Trent. or Welcome to The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue, a safe haven in Stoke on Trent.
HONEYBUNNIES - RABBIT & GUINEA PIG RESCUE

I have written about my own group adventure in Guinea Pig Magazine issues #37-39 (the last of these issues is the current one) if you are interested in reading about the highs and lows of building up and running a group over a number of years with their constantly changing dynamics. You can order the issues more cheaply as a download. Guinea Pig Magazine

Thank you wiebke for your amazing input. Unfortunately this is something I'm looking to maybe do in the future as I think fudge is too old to be neutered as he is over 4 years old. I will have a look at what you have wrote as I have known about you having a herd. I'm not sure I could handle 10 boys haha


What home checks are the rescues looking for as id hate to be declined because of got something wrong.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you wiebke for your amazing input. Unfortunately this is something I'm looking to maybe do in the future as I think fudge is too old to be neutered as he is over 4 years old. I will have a look at what you have wrote as I have known about you having a herd. I'm not sure I could handle 10 boys haha


What home checks are the rescues looking for as id hate to be declined because of got something wrong.

What rescues look out for:
- the guinea pig area must comply with minimal space recommendations for the number of guinea pigs you keep together. Our forum recommendations on housing and vare comply with and often surpass welfare recommendations. Cage Size Guide
- it must be safe from other pets (cats, dogs, ferrets, rats) and outdoors predators. Outdoors guinea pigs must either have an insulated, heatable shed with daylight or alternative accommodation where they are out of weather and frost during the winter months.
- your guinea pigs should be safe from any toddlers and small kids and any interaction should only be supervised.
- your house should not be the kind of dump pets are usually seized from, but it doesn't have to look like it could feature in a magazine. What rescues are looking for is a normal home with normal, caring people.
- the visit is usually in the form of a chat. if you already have got pets, they want to see how you and the pet interact to get a feel of you as a pet owner and if you have kids, of how responsible a parent you are re. care of your guinea pigs and supervision.
- if rescues ask for changes or improvements to any plans or existing layouts/locations, please take these on board. There is usually a very good reason for them even if it may not obvious to you. Cooperation is generally the way forward. Not all rescues have the same requirements. Any more unusual ones are usually the result of a tragedy or a very bad experience.
- just be your normal self as much as possible. Do not pretend what you aren't and do not apologise for every fleck of dust. Ask any questions you have.

PS: you are hopefully aware that a single boar can live without problems next to sows and another boar, provided you make sure that he cannot get through the grids and at any sows. I would recommend to cable tie all grids in addition to the connectors if one of the boars is not neutered. But it would provide your old boy with plenty of stimulation and interaction to not suffer depression in the wake of his loss.

PS2: The Potteries have got a bonded neutered boar/sow trio coming into their rescue this week - perhaps a good start for you for a group? You could always add a pair of bonded younger sows at a later date; that will not upset the hierarchy and the two younger sows have each other for friends so you neatly avoid outsider problems. From 4-5 piggies you get group dynamics.

 

[the boys]

What rescues look out for:
- the guinea pig area must comply with minimal space recommendations for the number of guinea pigs you keep together. Our forum recommendations on housing and vare comply with and often surpass welfare recommendations. Cage Size Guide
- it must be safe from other pets (cats, dogs, ferrets, rats) and outdoors predators. Outdoors guinea pigs must either have an insulated, heatable shed with daylight or alternative accommodation where they are out of weather and frost during the winter months.
- your guinea pigs should be safe from any toddlers and small kids and any interaction should only be supervised.
- your house should not be the kind of dump pets are usually seized from, but it doesn't have to look like it could feature in a magazine. What rescues are looking for is a normal home with normal, caring people.
- the visit is usually in the form of a chat. if you already have got pets, they want to see how you and the pet interact to get a feel of you as a pet owner and if you have kids, of how responsible a parent you are re. care of your guinea pigs and supervision.
- if rescues ask for changes or improvements to any plans or existing layouts/locations, please take these on board. There is usually a very good reason for them even if it may not obvious to you. Cooperation is generally the way forward. Not all rescues have the same requirements. Any more unusual ones are usually the result of a tragedy or a very bad experience.
- just be your normal self as much as possible. Do not pretend what you aren't and do not apologise for every fleck of dust. Ask any questions you have.

PS: you are hopefully aware that a single boar can live without problems next to sows and another boar, provided you make sure that he cannot get through the grids and at any sows. I would recommend to cable tie all grids in addition to the connectors if one of the boars is not neutered. But it would provide your old boy with plenty of stimulation and interaction to not suffer depression in the wake of his loss.

PS2: The Potteries have got a bonded neutered boar/sow trio coming into their rescue this week - perhaps a good start for you for a group? You could always add a pair of bonded younger sows at a later date; that will not upset the hierarchy and the two younger sows have each other for friends so you neatly avoid outsider problems. From 4-5 piggies you get group dynamics.

Lovely I will look into all of these as my shed is not insulated but the boys always had copied and sooo much hay. They never felt cold or anything.
U fortunatly

 

[the boys]

Lovely I will look into all of these as my shed is not insulated but the boys always had copied and sooo much hay. They never felt cold or anything.
you fortunatly

Unfortunately at the moment I have not got the space for there to be 2 cages next to each other. Fudge has been inside with me since November as that's when his brother passed away. He eats and drinks well. He has put weight on and has remained stable and loves running round the lounge when I'm home

 

[Wiebke]

Unfortunately at the moment I have not got the space for there to be 2 cages next to each other. Fudge has been inside with me since November as that's when his brother passed away. He eats and drinks well. He has put weight on and has remained stable and loves running round the lounge when I'm home

Perhaps you might concentate on finding a younger rescue dated companion for Fudge now, which you could have neutered after Fudge's death and then start your group adventure with building up a group of sows around him? Giving Fudge company and stimulation should be your immediate aim.

I had to wait for 5 years until I culd realise my own dream after I'd started with piggies again as an adult. But it was not time wasted.

 

[the boys]

Perhaps you might concentate on finding a younger rescue dated companion for Fudge now, which you could have neutered after Fudge's death and then start your group adventure with building up a group of sows around him? Giving Fudge company and stimulation should be your immediate aim.

I had to wait for 5 years until I culd realise my own dream after I'd started with piggies again as an adult. But it was not time wasted.

I am not sure how accepting fudge is of other guinea pigs as he is a bruiser

 

[Wiebke]

I am not sure how accepting fudge is of other guinea pigs as he is a bruiser

That is what rescue dating is for...