HannahMarie517
Junior Guinea Pig
So I currently have two bonded boars (about 8 months and 2 months), and would like to add another guinea pig. Is this safe to do? If so, any advice on what age, gender, etc. My cage is 16 square feet if that helps.
Wanting to add a new piggy
- Thread starter HannahMarie517
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Adding a 3rd boar would likely destabilise their bond, especially as one at 8 months is a teenager, boars are best in pairs. Definitely dont add a sow, as even if spayed the boars will fight to win her over.
If you want more piggies, and i dont blame you! another boar pair would be the best in their own cage.
If you want more piggies, and i dont blame you! another boar pair would be the best in their own cage.
You cannot add any other piggies into the same cage as a pair of boars. This will cause fights, broken bonds and single piggies. Boars need to be kept in pairs only.
Even if your boys were neutered and the pregnancy risk was not there, you still cannot keep two boars with a sow(s) as the boys would fight. It is one neutered boar to any number of sows only.
If you want more piggies, you will need to have an entirely separate pairs of boars in a separate cage, and they must never have physical contact (ie separate runs, separate free roaming floor times etc)
I would not be tempted to even get a separate pair of sows if they are to live in the same room as your boars, particularly given one of your boys is a teenager and one is still yet to enter his teens.
Adding sows into the same room (but separate cage) will cause a strong reaction in your boys and potentially still cause them to fight with each other.
If you were to have a separate pair of sows and they must be in the same room, then they would need to be in stacked cages with the sows at the bottom, so the risk of the boys smelling them is reduced and you must never handle the sows before handling the boars (always boars first so you dont risk transferring smells). This isn’t a guarantee though, it would simply be safer for the sake of your boys relationship to have a separate boar pair.
The guide below explains further
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Even if your boys were neutered and the pregnancy risk was not there, you still cannot keep two boars with a sow(s) as the boys would fight. It is one neutered boar to any number of sows only.
If you want more piggies, you will need to have an entirely separate pairs of boars in a separate cage, and they must never have physical contact (ie separate runs, separate free roaming floor times etc)
I would not be tempted to even get a separate pair of sows if they are to live in the same room as your boars, particularly given one of your boys is a teenager and one is still yet to enter his teens.
Adding sows into the same room (but separate cage) will cause a strong reaction in your boys and potentially still cause them to fight with each other.
If you were to have a separate pair of sows and they must be in the same room, then they would need to be in stacked cages with the sows at the bottom, so the risk of the boys smelling them is reduced and you must never handle the sows before handling the boars (always boars first so you dont risk transferring smells). This isn’t a guarantee though, it would simply be safer for the sake of your boys relationship to have a separate boar pair.
The guide below explains further
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
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I agree with the other posters.
Please do not attempt to add any further piggies to your current boar pair.
It will simply lead to fall outs and possible injuries.
If you have space for another large cage then a separate pair would be your best bet, but failing that just enjoy the pair you currently have.
Please do not attempt to add any further piggies to your current boar pair.
It will simply lead to fall outs and possible injuries.
If you have space for another large cage then a separate pair would be your best bet, but failing that just enjoy the pair you currently have.
HannahMarie517
Junior Guinea Pig
I might get another cage when I move out, but until then I’ll stick with my two
Hi!
Your boys are currently in the middle or coming up to teenage; I would most strongly recommend to wait until they are both out of the most difficult time of their life and still together. Then you can think about another cage for another separate boar pair.
Or - in the case of a fall-out in your current pair - you can find each boy a new boarmate or have them live with their own sow each, provided that one gender is safely de-sexed.
Boar trios and quartets about the most unstable of all boar combos and a surefire recipe for disaster. Trios have around a 90% fall-out rate if they are all sub-adult (with a certain risk of ending up with three singles). The fail rate is even higher in quartets; with boar quartets you are most likely ending up with one functional pair and two singles but we have seen cases with 4 boys where none would go with any of the other three.
More detailed information in these links here:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?