GimmeGuinea
New Born Pup
As a first time guinea pig owner and after reading a lot about them, I decided to have just two female guinea pigs who were about 2,5 months old when I got them. I was told they had been together since birth so they got along very well. I built them a 6 x 2,1 C&C cage. They had lots of space and were indeed the best of friends.
About six months ago now, one of my guinea pigs gave birth to a boar and a sow. This was an unplanned and unexpected pregnancy where thankfully all went well. It was an unforgettable experience. During the first night I double gridded the cage immediately since I had learned to do this when you have babies.
I noticed tension between the other female and the babies from the first moment they met. More towards the baby boar than the sow. She did not seem to be happy that they arrived, which is understandable. The little innocent boar had only just learned how to walk, and while exploring the large cage with his sister, he had already made an enemy. No fighting as such, yet I could tell they did not like each other.
I separated the other female - who was the dominant one of the two - shortly after birth to one end of the cage with a double C&C cage divider in between to reduce the stress the mother would otherwise have and to protect the babies. I was given this golden advice form a woman at the local pet store. There were no issues during the set up like this. The mother and babies stayed in the side where they were born, and they have been raised in peace.
After 2,5 weeks I have had the youngsters sexed by a veterinarian. Although I could already guess based on behavior who was a boar and sow. The boar is dominant and the sow is submissive. That became clear from a very young age, where the boar started rumble strutting even as baby, maybe at 1,5 week or so. The mother is dominant as well towards the daughter after she had raised her, and rumble struts towards her several times a day. The daughter seems to enjoy it as well. Sometimes I see the daughter being dominant against the mother which the mother accepts but this is very infrequent. She has likely taught her how to do it.
At about 2 weeks I already saw the boar hump the mother or sister sometimes. So when I got home from the vet, I separated the boar from his mother and sister and made the divider extra high at a later stage to be even more safe. The other female got the play area all for herself while she waited to be re-homed. She no longer got along with the now mother. Which is an understatement, since she started teeth chattering and fighting as soon I put them together. Then the mother was submissive toward the other female and did not even put up a fight. While it is often advised to let them fight it out, I decided to not do this to prevent any injuries. Something that the mother does not need while raising her babies.
The boar is very often biting the cage grid divider to try and get through it. He seems very determined to get through while he is at it. Maybe it is a habit at this stage and certainly good for his teeth. His mother and sister bite the grid sometimes too, but only briefly. His mother more often at the start of separation than as of late. Although, I have seen his sister doing it a few days ago for a short moment. The boar goes then on rumble strutting in front of her and they touch noses. The play area also has a double gridded divider where they can see each other much better, and his behavior is the same there. Maybe a little less biting when he is there I must say.
I have been told by the vet that he can be neutered at six months old, which is now at this point. I do not want to rush and give it about two more weeks or so. I also believe that he is still growing at this stage. I am also intending to keep him in his section for at least one more week after he has been neutered to recover and based on the vet’s advice. However, I have already learned that I should wait at least six weeks after surgery.
My concern is how and where to introduce them to each other and to make sure no fighting occurs. Especially between the mother and husboar I expect maybe tension since they are both dominant. However, he must still realise that she is his mother and she should know that it is her son right? The mother does not show dominant behavior across from him in the cage or play area which is a good sign. He however always does.
Would I introduce them in their play area where they already spent time in - not daily at he moment - or should it be freshly cleaned first? Then lifting the divider suddenly, or shall I just lift the divider in their not freshly cleaned cage at some point where their territory is already scent marked and they know who lives where which would prevent the new hierarchy sort-out? I think the husboar would be over the moon for that to finally happen, and likely the girls would be as well. I will definitely do this when he is biting the bars again.
The girls have four hideys including a large wooden home (3 exits), and the boar has two hideys.
Would they just explore each other's territories, and then go back to where they usually spent their time, or do you think the boar would try and claim the wooden home even though it is scent marked by the females? The layout has been pretty much kept the same at the females section where he grew up, but then the wooden home was in the section where the other female was kept during the first 2,5 weeks. Regardless of the wooden home being there or when he enters their space, it must feel like homecoming for him.
What suggestions do you have, and how would you as a more experienced guinea pig owner initiate the introduction?
About six months ago now, one of my guinea pigs gave birth to a boar and a sow. This was an unplanned and unexpected pregnancy where thankfully all went well. It was an unforgettable experience. During the first night I double gridded the cage immediately since I had learned to do this when you have babies.
I noticed tension between the other female and the babies from the first moment they met. More towards the baby boar than the sow. She did not seem to be happy that they arrived, which is understandable. The little innocent boar had only just learned how to walk, and while exploring the large cage with his sister, he had already made an enemy. No fighting as such, yet I could tell they did not like each other.
I separated the other female - who was the dominant one of the two - shortly after birth to one end of the cage with a double C&C cage divider in between to reduce the stress the mother would otherwise have and to protect the babies. I was given this golden advice form a woman at the local pet store. There were no issues during the set up like this. The mother and babies stayed in the side where they were born, and they have been raised in peace.
After 2,5 weeks I have had the youngsters sexed by a veterinarian. Although I could already guess based on behavior who was a boar and sow. The boar is dominant and the sow is submissive. That became clear from a very young age, where the boar started rumble strutting even as baby, maybe at 1,5 week or so. The mother is dominant as well towards the daughter after she had raised her, and rumble struts towards her several times a day. The daughter seems to enjoy it as well. Sometimes I see the daughter being dominant against the mother which the mother accepts but this is very infrequent. She has likely taught her how to do it.
At about 2 weeks I already saw the boar hump the mother or sister sometimes. So when I got home from the vet, I separated the boar from his mother and sister and made the divider extra high at a later stage to be even more safe. The other female got the play area all for herself while she waited to be re-homed. She no longer got along with the now mother. Which is an understatement, since she started teeth chattering and fighting as soon I put them together. Then the mother was submissive toward the other female and did not even put up a fight. While it is often advised to let them fight it out, I decided to not do this to prevent any injuries. Something that the mother does not need while raising her babies.
The boar is very often biting the cage grid divider to try and get through it. He seems very determined to get through while he is at it. Maybe it is a habit at this stage and certainly good for his teeth. His mother and sister bite the grid sometimes too, but only briefly. His mother more often at the start of separation than as of late. Although, I have seen his sister doing it a few days ago for a short moment. The boar goes then on rumble strutting in front of her and they touch noses. The play area also has a double gridded divider where they can see each other much better, and his behavior is the same there. Maybe a little less biting when he is there I must say.
I have been told by the vet that he can be neutered at six months old, which is now at this point. I do not want to rush and give it about two more weeks or so. I also believe that he is still growing at this stage. I am also intending to keep him in his section for at least one more week after he has been neutered to recover and based on the vet’s advice. However, I have already learned that I should wait at least six weeks after surgery.
My concern is how and where to introduce them to each other and to make sure no fighting occurs. Especially between the mother and husboar I expect maybe tension since they are both dominant. However, he must still realise that she is his mother and she should know that it is her son right? The mother does not show dominant behavior across from him in the cage or play area which is a good sign. He however always does.
Would I introduce them in their play area where they already spent time in - not daily at he moment - or should it be freshly cleaned first? Then lifting the divider suddenly, or shall I just lift the divider in their not freshly cleaned cage at some point where their territory is already scent marked and they know who lives where which would prevent the new hierarchy sort-out? I think the husboar would be over the moon for that to finally happen, and likely the girls would be as well. I will definitely do this when he is biting the bars again.
The girls have four hideys including a large wooden home (3 exits), and the boar has two hideys.
Would they just explore each other's territories, and then go back to where they usually spent their time, or do you think the boar would try and claim the wooden home even though it is scent marked by the females? The layout has been pretty much kept the same at the females section where he grew up, but then the wooden home was in the section where the other female was kept during the first 2,5 weeks. Regardless of the wooden home being there or when he enters their space, it must feel like homecoming for him.
What suggestions do you have, and how would you as a more experienced guinea pig owner initiate the introduction?
