Hi everyone. As you guys always have piggy welfare at heart I wanted to enlist your advice on whether to get my lone male boar a companion or not. I adopted Poe about 6 months ago and I was told he was about 2 years old. I am a student with limited space so he has a 100cmx50cm cage but has free range of my room most of the time. It's not an ideal set up but I have him out of his cage and on my lap for a fuss so often that I'm hoping that somewhat makes up for it.
Lately I have been thinking about getting him a companion because I know that piggies are usually happier with others of their kind, but considering my circumstances I wondered if this was really a good idea. The reason Poe was given away was because his previous owner could not get him to bond with any of her other male piggies, so I'm concerned that if I bring a male home and he doesn't bond to it that I will have to rehome it again, causing a lot of stress to the poor newcomer piggy. With a male, the limited space also concerns me because I've heard that this could cause them to fight.
Alternatively, I could have Poe neutered and get him a female companion, but I am concerned that he will just try to mount her constantly and in the small space she may not be able to get any respite from it.
I also thought about trying to find a younger male companion for Poe, but again there is the risk that he will bully it or that it will grow up and fight.
Finally, I can just leave him as a lone piggy. He seems quite content this way generally; he has become quite active and explorative. I should mention that his hamster brother's cage is right next to his, so he can both hear and see another animal, and I mostly work from home so I am here with almost all of the time.
My main concern is just bringing another piggy home, there being fights and it getting injured, and then me having to rehome the poor thing. I imagine that would be so stressful and confusing for it.
I have looked at shelters nearby and none of them seem to offer bonding services anymore, unfortunately.
Any thoughts or suggestions on what would be best are appreciated. I just want to do what is right for the animals. Thank you
Lately I have been thinking about getting him a companion because I know that piggies are usually happier with others of their kind, but considering my circumstances I wondered if this was really a good idea. The reason Poe was given away was because his previous owner could not get him to bond with any of her other male piggies, so I'm concerned that if I bring a male home and he doesn't bond to it that I will have to rehome it again, causing a lot of stress to the poor newcomer piggy. With a male, the limited space also concerns me because I've heard that this could cause them to fight.
Alternatively, I could have Poe neutered and get him a female companion, but I am concerned that he will just try to mount her constantly and in the small space she may not be able to get any respite from it.
I also thought about trying to find a younger male companion for Poe, but again there is the risk that he will bully it or that it will grow up and fight.
Finally, I can just leave him as a lone piggy. He seems quite content this way generally; he has become quite active and explorative. I should mention that his hamster brother's cage is right next to his, so he can both hear and see another animal, and I mostly work from home so I am here with almost all of the time.
My main concern is just bringing another piggy home, there being fights and it getting injured, and then me having to rehome the poor thing. I imagine that would be so stressful and confusing for it.
I have looked at shelters nearby and none of them seem to offer bonding services anymore, unfortunately.
Any thoughts or suggestions on what would be best are appreciated. I just want to do what is right for the animals. Thank you
