Separated Boars and Neutering Risk

[Parsnip]

We’ve had our guinea pig brothers since Easter and they are coming up to 6 months old.
After a couple of weeks they started fighting and seemed very unhappy together. We split the cage so they have about 6sq feet and a 2 x 2 loft each.

The rumble-strut along the fence but bubble away at each other too. After a bad fight when trying to reintroduce them they’ve been worse. I’m wondering if putting them on different levels would be better. They can still talk but won’t see each other and need to rumble-strut along the boarder. It would also make cleaning easier to have two 3x2 cages and take up less space.

Longer term I’d like them to have cage mates and would consider neutering so they can have female companions. I’ve seen information that suggests neutering has other benefits but I’m worried about the risk from the procedure. Is it worth it? Is there any unbiased information on the risks and pros and cons?

 

[Piggies&buns]

If they have had a full on fight then reintroduction is not possible. A full on fight means they do not like each other so any reintroduction will also fail.

Piggies who are single cannot live on different levels as it removes their ability to interact fully. They must live side by side so they can fully interact with each other through the bars - through sight, sound and smell. Rumbling along the divider doesn’t matter.

Upper levels of the cage dont count towards the cage size, it’s only the bottom level which can be counted and I’m afraid 6sq ft is too small And doesn’t meet welfare requirements. They need 8sq ft on a single level as a minimum.

A 3x2 C&c cage, makes around 9 square feet, so technically does meet minimum requirements but if you are going to neuter a d bond each one with a sow, then the recommended size is each pair having their own 2x4 cage. Once they are bonded with a new piggy each, then the cages can be stacked one on top of the other.

Neutering guinea pigs does not have any benefits other than stopping pregnancy. It doesn’t change guinea pig behaviour.

If you are going to neuter them, then the will need to remain living side by side for the six weeks post surgery to become infertile. After that you can bond them with a sow each and then stack their cages to save floor space

Unfortunately bonding them with another boar each is likely to be problematic now they are in their teens. Neutering and bonding with a sow would be the recommended route (or keeping them single but they must then live side by side permanently)

 

[Parsnip]

I’m hoping to move in the next year and have the space for two decent sized piggie palaces. So we won’t get cage mates until then. They may be out of their teens by that point. Would that make bonding with other boars easier? And if not how risky is neutering? Is it worth it?

Unfortunately they can only have a bigger space each if they are split level. We didn’t account for them not getting along. It’s a total pain as they can’t have floor time or play in the garden together. We have to split the floor and buy another run or take turns. However they seem happy enough. But I know I’d hate having an aggressive neighbour shouting at me for walking in my house so wondered what was worse.

Or a temporary solution could be separate cages that we place next to each other most of the time but can move to a table when we need access.

 

[Siikibam]

They really do need constant companionship even if through the bars. So moving for access I’m afraid won’t be ideal either. Could you make an L shape cage?

 

[Parsnip]

We don’t have room for anything bigger on one level. It’s a decent size if they were sharing. Bigger than the minimum so we we did everything right.

They don’t have constant companionship as they can’t have floor time together. So it would be a similar situation and timescale for moving one cage for access. One is often alone in the cage because they take turns, up to an hour at a time.

The only option otherwise is to return them to the rescue.

 

[Siikibam]

Could you neuter them and (after 6 weeks) get them a sow each? If you did that, you could stack the cages. Each pair would need minimum 2x4…

 

[Parsnip]

We don’t have the space for more pigs really. The plan is to get more once we move and have them in a large room, ideally kitchen diner or an office/bedroom.

I don’t know if the risk of neutering is worth it even then. Are there any stats? I think there is a boar matching rescue in reasonable distance as another option. I’d love to have them paired up and interacting together.

The housing market is very slow here, not much to choose from, otherwise we’d be in the process of moving by now. We’ll definitely have the pigs in mind when we are house hunting.

 

[Piggies&buns]

If their cages are side by side then they do have constant companionship. if they are out for floor time in the same room as their cages are kept, then they will still be able to see/hear/smell each other, with one being in the cage and one being out having floor time.

Yes neutering is worth it because it opens up their options for finding a friend going forward but also bonding teen boars with another boar is harder. No stats will be available because it is an individual situation but with an experienced vet neutering is one of the quicker, safe ops. You would have to ask your vet for their stats and experience on neutering to enable you to make a decision on whether they are the right vet to carry out the surgery. personally I’ve had many animals neutered and spayed (ive kept small animals for 30 years) and I have a very experienced and competent vet and never had complications from a neutering.

To bond them with another boar, you are right in the hardest time to try to do so, so if you are only wanting boar pairs, then they are possibly going to have to stay alone (side by side) for at least a year - some rescues would risk bonding boads until 18 months of age and will recommend neutering so they can have a new friend quicker. I understand you don’t have the space to give them each bigger cages now. So this is another reason why neutering and bonding with a sow each now would be ideal if possible, due to the fact that a sow/boar pair have slightly smaller cage size requirements than a boar/boar pair do.

When they are neutered, and bonded with a sow each then you can stack their cages so you can have two separate pairs each in a 2x4 cage but it’ll only take up the floor space of one 2x4 C&c. Do you have the space for that now (well, obviously once after they’re neutered and post op safe)? A boar pair need a 2x5 so to have two separate boar pairs, even stacked cages, takes that little more floor space.