Should I get a playmate for Poppy

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clair26

clair26

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I have got 3 little piggies (just like the nursery rhyme...always makes me smile!)
Two are sisters whom I have had since they were around 8 wks old and live together happily.
I have since adopted another sow, named Poppy(who lived with another sow in her previous home). After many weeks of gradual introduction I have come to realise that the 3 of them just do not like each other. So Poppy has her own cage (4'x2'), I have the 2 cages side by side, and Poppy often peeps over at her neighbours like she is lonely(?)
So what I am wondering is, should I get another sow to be a cage mate for Poppy? because I cannot help wondering if it is just because my other two piggies are sisters and have a bond that Poppy cannot be nice to them. After all she did live with one other sow at her previous home.
I feel so guilty about Poppy being alone in her cage and worry that she is lonely.
Any thoughts please?
 
It would be good if Poppy could have her own mate again; yes, she is lonely and feels excluded. Introducing a third piggy to a tightly bonded pair is the most difficult bonding.

I have found that the best way to find a matching companion for a lonely piggy is to ring around all rescues within your reach and find one where you can take Poppy to let her make her own choice. Thankfully, with sows, age and gender (neutered boar or sow) is not a concern - personal liking and "chemistry" right from the start will guarantee you a happy partnership!

My bereft 3 year old sow was adopted by a another "widowed" sow of exactly the same age (and it was not the other way round!). I have also bonded a 3 1/2 year old sow with a 12 month old boar. Both pairings were exceptionally loving and stable.

You may not come back with the piggy you yourself would have chosen; but you will end up with two very happy guinea pigs if you keep an open mind!

Here is a list of reputable guinea pig rescues:
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp
 
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Wiebke said:
It would be good if Poppy could have her own mate again; yes, she is lonely and feels excluded. Introducing a third piggy to a tightly bonded pair is the most difficult bonding.

I have found that the best way to find a matching companion for a lonely piggy is to ring around all rescues within your reach and find one where you can take Poppy to let her make her own choice. Thankfully, with sows, age and gender (neutered boar or sow) is not a concern - personal liking and "chemistry" right from the start will guarantee you a happy partnership!

My bereft 3 year old sow was adopted by a another "widowed" sow of exactly the same age (and it was not the other way round!). I have also bonded a 3 1/2 year old sow with a 12 month old boar. Both pairings were exceptionally loving and stable.

You may not come back with the piggy you yourself would have chosen; but you will end up with two very happy guinea pigs if you keep an open mind!

Here is a list of reputable guinea pig rescues:
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp
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Thank you for that. I have contacted (and await their reply) the only rehoming centre on the list you supplied which is vaguely near where I live to see if they have any guinea pigs (it is the rainbow rabbit rescue), but I suspect they only have rabbits.

I could always approach the breeder where I got my 2 sister sows from if no joy with that rescue centre... do you think I should go for a baby or older sow? I am very happy for Poppy to pick her cage mate herself because I just want her to be happy.
 
Where are you? Some rescues active on this forum are rehoming further afield provided that a "piggy train" (transport) can be organised and you have passed a homecheck.

They can contact you if you post in the "rescue - wanted" section if they have a piggy that might be suitable. Please state your area.
 
Wiebke said:
Where are you? Some rescues active on this forum are rehoming further afield provided that a "piggy train" (transport) can be organised and you have passed a homecheck.

They can contact you if you post in the "rescue - wanted" section if they have a piggy that might be suitable. Please state your area.
Click to expand...


I live in Essex/bordering with London. Nearest town is Ilford,Essex :)
 
You could also get Poppy a boar (either on that's already neutered or that you take to the vet yourself ). Mixed couples are very stable and there's even a pretty big chance you could have all four piggies together. A boar is usually a peacekeeper, holding the heard together. It'll be more fun for you too, seing four piggies do stuff together is (believe it or not!) double the fun from two :)
 
skrikopanik said:
You could also get Poppy a boar (either on that's already neutered or that you take to the vet yourself ). Mixed couples are very stable and there's even a pretty big chance you could have all four piggies together. A boar is usually a peacekeeper, holding the heard together. It'll be more fun for you too, seing four piggies do stuff together is (believe it or not!) double the fun from two :)
Click to expand...

Oooh that's something for me to think about. I wouldn't put all four together though...that means a whole giant cage rethink! But giving Poppy a 'boyfriend' is defo food for thought. Thanks
 
clair26 said:
I live in Essex/bordering with London. Nearest town is Ilford,Essex :)
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Same here. I couldn't find a rescue with pigs nearby. The rabbit rescue listed only had rabbits.

I hope you find one. You sometimes see piggies on gumtree 'free to a good home' when their owners no longer feel able to care for them. There is a section on this site where people sometimes add references to the adds.
 
You don't necessarily need a new cage to keep them together.. :) We have a member on here (can't remember who!) who had joined two pet store cages with a PVC pipe and her piggies love it :)

A boyfriend is an especially good idea if Poppy has issues with girls, but they may still be able to have floortime together all four, depending on their personalities.

good luck!
 
caviaporcellus said:
Same here. I couldn't find a rescue with pigs nearby. The rabbit rescue listed only had rabbits.

I hope you find one. You sometimes see piggies on gumtree 'free to a good home' when their owners no longer feel able to care for them. There is section on this site where people sometimes add references to the adds.
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Thank you.
I think from previous advice though I need to find somewhere with more than one piggy up for adoption so that Poppy can choose her cage mate, I suspect places like gumtree will be single piggies. I am terrified that I would get a piggy that she didn't like then have the heartache of having to get it rehomed/take it back.
I have just called starlight rabbit rescue (don't know why I called it rainbow rescue before!) And they don't have any guinea pigs at the moment. So it is looking likely that I will need to revisit the breeder where I got my first 2 girls from.
 
skrikopanik said:
You don't necessarily need a new cage to keep them together.. :) We have a member on here (can't remember who!) who had joined two pet store cages with a PVC pipe and her piggies love it :)

A boyfriend is an especially good idea if Poppy has issues with girls, but they may still be able to have floortime together all four, depending on their personalities.

good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks...adjoining cages is something for me to consider if I get a boar.
I had wonderful visions of 3 little piggies twaddling (as my daughter calls it) around on the floor together, just such a shame that it never worked out that way and I had to break up a fight instead sadly.

Exploring all options here....would Poppy accept a baby sow do you think?
 
I was thinking more in the lines of visiting the piggy in the add with your piggy to see if your piggy likes her. Gumtree is not like ebay. You can just go and look and say no thanks and give the owner advice about taking it to a rescue.
 
caviaporcellus said:
I was thinking more in the lines of visiting the piggy in the add with your piggy to see if your piggy likes her. Gumtree is not like ebay. You can just go and look and say no thanks and give the owner advice about taking it to a rescue.
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Ah I see ok, will look into that as a possible too. I've not had much in the way of experience with gumtree...sold a tv on there once!
 
have posted on your other thread but i am happy to do a piggie train if needs be, may be coming up to essex in one of the next 2 weekends.
 
skrikopanik said:
You don't necessarily need a new cage to keep them together.. :) We have a member on here (can't remember who!) who had joined two pet store cages with a PVC pipe and her piggies love it :)

A boyfriend is an especially good idea if Poppy has issues with girls, but they may still be able to have floortime together all four, depending on their personalities.

good luck!
Click to expand...

The member is redfrock :) She has done it twice, once connecting 2x 140 cages together which I think she houses four in, and then again with 2x 120 cages which she houses 2 in.
 
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