Possible herd?

[LittleNuggets]

Hi, I’ve just recently got two sows (around 8 weeks old I’m guessing) and I will be adopting two boars at the weekend (4 weeks old on Friday). I was wondering if I got the two boars neutered could they live with my sows? I wasn’t sure if that herd would work. Thanks, LittleNuggets.

 

[Tara95]

Hi I'm sorry but it will be impossible to have two boars living with females they will fight. You could however have one nuetered male with any number of females. This is my herd of 7 and they get on really well (just one male). Best of luck! You need to think carefully about adding more ofc think about cage size, food, vet bills, character combatability. Xx

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m afraid two neutered boars cannot live together with sows. You could pair each up with sows in separate cages. The boars will have to wait until they are 4 months old before they can be neutered and then wait a further six weeks before they are “safe”
The overriding issue is vet bills, as the more piggies you have the higher potential your vet bills may be, especially when they get older all around the same time x

 

[LittleNuggets]

Thank you, your advice was really helpful! I’ve had guinea pigs over the years but only really sow siblings. I will keep the sows and boars in separate enclosures but in the same room. The sows are bonded sisters and the boars are bonded males. I already have two large enclosures with the dimensions of 164cm by 54cm I believe. Your piggies are just adorable! Thank you again, have a great day

 

[Tara95]

I really hope it works out but I have heard by experienced members of the forum that you can't keep males and females in the same room as the boars will smell the sows and this may cause them to fight and break their bond. The enclosure size sounds amazing! And thank you! Xx

 

[LittleNuggets]

Ah no! Could you direct me to one of those posts by any chance? I could be getting the piggies as early as tomorrow xx

 

[Tara95]

This is a screenshot of what @Piggies&buns quoted a while ago to someone in a similar situation and there is hope! I hope you don't mind me screenshotting.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It is recommended that boars are kept well away from sows. The smell of sows has the potential to cause problems for the bond between boars, particularly when they are hormonal teenagers (approx 16 weeks to 14 months of age) . The reaction is stronger if sows are introduced into a boars only room - which we would not recommend to do. However, while boars who grow up around sows tend to be less affected by sow pheromones, it’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to teen boars as you don’t know how they are going to react.

If they must be in the same room, then stacking the cages, with the sows at the bottom and boars at the top is advisable. This is so that the sow smells cannot drift towards the boars. If stacking is not an option then ensuring there is an opaque divider between the cages which is higher and wider than the cage so, again, the sow smells cannot so easily drift. It is also essential that you do everything for and handle the boar pair first, again , so you don’t transfer sow smells onto the boars.

The cage sizes you quote is ok for the sows but a little too small for a boar pair.
Two sows need 150x60cm.
The recommended cage size for two boars is 180x60cm.
But any more space you can give them is always advisable, particularly for boars. If boars are kept in too small of a cage, then it can also cause them problems. Boars are more territorial and need more space.

While more boar pairs make it together than not, do be aware that at four weeks old they have not yet any ideas of dominance - at that age, they simply want to belong. When the hormones hit at closer to 16 weeks of age, there is the chance that even brothers will not be compatible. It’s always wise to have a plan b for living arrangements when it comes to taking on young boars, just in case the worst happens and they end up not being compatible once the teens hit. If that were to happen a d the boars have to be separated then given you already have two sows, you would have the option to neuter both boars and then split the sows up putting one sow with each boar.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[LittleNuggets]

Thank you for the great information, it was really helpful! I’ve since looked into the cage stacking you’ve mentioned. What is the reason for the girls being bottom and boys being top cages? I know as you said it’s to lessen the smell but smell travels evenly in no particular pattern what would be the difference? x

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

I couldn't agree more with the advice you have had above. ideally stick to a boar pair, or a neutered boar and sows. If you do stack cages you will need to ensure piggies all have adequate space.

@Piggies&buns has given you excellent advice there.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sow pheromones, urine etc can fall downwards onto the piggies below and if it is the boys below, then it can cause big problems. You really do just need to do everything you can to minimise the risks of transfer - even compatible teen boars can be tricky at the best of times so having sows in the room can pose a complication


This guide is specific to boars and their behaviour and has a section on how to house them in the same room
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

 

[LittleNuggets]

Thank you so much, you’ve answered all of my questions. I’m going to have a read over everything and hopefully do what’s best for the piggies

 

[MissEvie]

Hi I'm sorry but it will be impossible to have two boars living with females they will fight. You could however have one nuetered male with any number of females. This is my herd of 7 and they get on really well (just one male). Best of luck! View attachment 175539 You need to think carefully about adding more ofc think about cage size, food, vet bills, character combatability. Xx

Hey can I ask how big your cage is for 7 ?

 

[Tara95]

Hey can I ask how big your cage is for 7 ?

Hi it's quite big this is it when it's clean! It's about 230cmx 230cm I think! Best of luck!

 

[Black piggies]

Ah no! Could you direct me to one of those posts by any chance? I could be getting the piggies as early as tomorrow xx

I had a boar in his own c and c cage waiting to go in with two sows after his castration and one morning we found him under the stairs. The sows were in a cage in the same room. He was a very big piggy. Assume he was trying to get to the sows, when he lived with the sows he never escaped again.

 

[Swissgreys]

I had a boar in his own c and c cage waiting to go in with two sows after his castration and one morning we found him under the stairs. The sows were in a cage in the same room. He was a very big piggy. Assume he was trying to get to the sows, when he lived with the sows he never escaped again.

That is a good point and another thing to be VERY aware of.
Males can be extremely determined and agile when it comes to finding a lady friend.
You would need a set up that means there really is no chance at all that one of the boys could get into the girls cage, which would obviously be a disaster (well not for the boar, but..).