Sow In Room With Two Entire Boars

[Cute_Guineapigs]

Hi

I'm planning on neutering my single boar so he can bonded with a sow. I also have two entire boars in a separate cage from my single boar. Their cages are stacked, the single boar is in the top cage, the pair in the bottom. The floor of the room is shared between all the guinea pigs, but obviously let out at separate times.

My questions are:

1. Should I move the pair of boars to the top cage and have the sow in the bottom cage? Would this be sufficient to prevent her scent from upsetting the boys?

2. For floor time, would the scent of the sow still be around when the boys go out for their time, even after a day? How should I prevent her scent staying around? Would different throws on the floor help?

I want to help my single boar get a friend but I don't want to upset the happy bond of my two boys.

 

[Lilly]

Not sure about your 1st question. I would have thought the sow should stay on top as her scent would not drift down, rather up. I'm sure others who have these sorts of arrangements will come along to help.

As to the 2nd, I would put the bonded boys out for floor time first. I would then change everything that is on the floor to a fresh & clean set for the sow & boar. I have 2 sets of bonded boys & I do this for each to prevent fights as they can certainly smell other boars.

 

[PiggySmitten]

I agree with Lilly about blankets and order out on the floor.

Am interested to see what others say on the cage order as I had it in my head that the pheromones (or whatever they are!) did drift down rather than up, but my memory is not reliable so don't go on me saying that.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I'm planning on neutering my single boar so he can bonded with a sow. I also have two entire boars in a separate cage from my single boar. Their cages are stacked, the single boar is in the top cage, the pair in the bottom. The floor of the room is shared between all the guinea pigs, but obviously let out at separate times.

My questions are:

1. Should I move the pair of boars to the top cage and have the sow in the bottom cage? Would this be sufficient to prevent her scent from upsetting the boys?

2. For floor time, would the scent of the sow still be around when the boys go out for their time, even after a day? How should I prevent her scent staying around? Would different throws on the floor help?

I want to help my single boar get a friend but I don't want to upset the happy bond of my two boys.

Please move your bonded boar pair to the top because of the sow pheromones when they are in season. If your boys are used to living with sows in the room, then it is much less of a problem that introducing sows into a boars only household. Older boars are also much less affected than pre-adolsecents or young adults whose testosterone is nost active.

Use different throws for roaming and always serve, groom, roam and clean the boars before any sows or mixed pairs.