Cute_Guineapigs
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi
I have 3 boars, a pair and a single. Charlie and Harry have been bonded for 2 years, although they have never been close. They will eat side by side, but Charlie will push Harry out of his sleeping areas and away from food bowls. They have two of everything and a large cage so Harry gets enough food and plenty of sleeping options. They will sleep close by but with one in a hammock and one on the floor, or one in a litter tray and one in a house. There's never been any bites. Scruffy lost his partner a few months ago. He's 5 years old. Because he's on his own, I've been doing little playdates with Harry separated by bars so Scruffy can still interact with another guinea pig.
It seems like they have bonded, Scruffy will wash Harry's face through the bars, and Harry tries to get through and move the bars. When I tried a trial separation of Charlie and Harry, Harry didn't try to get through the bars, and when Charlie put his nose through the bars, Harry jumped back. He would never let Charlie wash his face. There was also a bit of chattering from Harry too. However, when Charlie is taken out of the cage for lap time, Harry then calls for him and Charlie responds.
Should I separate Charlie and Harry and bond Harry to Scruffy? Or should I leave Charlie and Harry together and get another for Scruffy? We currently have two cages, and ideally in the future I would like to have just one pair and one cage, but happiness of piggies ultimately comes first.
Is it fair to separate Harry and then he potentially only has a year or even less with Scruffy and then have to suffer his loss? I have a lot of conflicting emotions, please help.
I have 3 boars, a pair and a single. Charlie and Harry have been bonded for 2 years, although they have never been close. They will eat side by side, but Charlie will push Harry out of his sleeping areas and away from food bowls. They have two of everything and a large cage so Harry gets enough food and plenty of sleeping options. They will sleep close by but with one in a hammock and one on the floor, or one in a litter tray and one in a house. There's never been any bites. Scruffy lost his partner a few months ago. He's 5 years old. Because he's on his own, I've been doing little playdates with Harry separated by bars so Scruffy can still interact with another guinea pig.
It seems like they have bonded, Scruffy will wash Harry's face through the bars, and Harry tries to get through and move the bars. When I tried a trial separation of Charlie and Harry, Harry didn't try to get through the bars, and when Charlie put his nose through the bars, Harry jumped back. He would never let Charlie wash his face. There was also a bit of chattering from Harry too. However, when Charlie is taken out of the cage for lap time, Harry then calls for him and Charlie responds.
Should I separate Charlie and Harry and bond Harry to Scruffy? Or should I leave Charlie and Harry together and get another for Scruffy? We currently have two cages, and ideally in the future I would like to have just one pair and one cage, but happiness of piggies ultimately comes first.
Is it fair to separate Harry and then he potentially only has a year or even less with Scruffy and then have to suffer his loss? I have a lot of conflicting emotions, please help.
