What Age For A New Buddy

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salembinx

salembinx

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Following the loss of my beautiful Jack , Murray needs a little buddy. I read on the potteries website, that it's easier to bond a older boar, murrays 18 months now, with a baby boar or is Murray not classed as older . Any experience you guys have had would help me with my descsion . Thankyou xx
 
Shirley said:
Following the loss of my beautiful Jack , Murray needs a little buddy. I read on the potteries website, that it's easier to bond a older boar, murrays 18 months now, with a baby boar or is Murray not classed as older . Any experience you guys have had would help me with my descsion . Thankyou xx
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Murray is a post-hormonal adult now and should be easier to bond now; he's at an age where he can go with either a youngster or another congenial adult boar - the key is character compatibility and mutual liking rather than age (which is more an issue with subadult boars). The Potteries usually neuter their single boars these days, but if you can go either as far as Barnsley or Keighley, BARC or Milhaven rescues both offer boar dating for single/bereaved at their rescue under expert supervision, so you come home only with a new friend of Murray's liking and won't have to worry about ending up with two boars that won't get on. They are your two closest recommendable boar dating rescues, and forum members have used either successfully with single or bereaved boars of theirs.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Milhaven-Guinea-Pig-Rescue/242212542587095 or http://www.milhaven-rescue.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BARCrescue or http://barnsleyanimalrescue.org.uk/
 
I personally would go for an older more sedate boar if you can find one that he likes. This is what I have always done in the past and I wish that I had been able to find an older boar that Jack liked as I have had a big problem this weekend with Jack and Hector - they got on amazingly well at for months, lots of snuggling and lying down together, (and Hector at 8 weeks old was literally the only piggy out of loads that Jack would tolerate, I even tried other babies that he did not like) but suddenly, out of nowhere, Hector and Jack had a really scary fight on Saturday.

It has been followed by lots of chasing by Hector of Jack, and Hector humping Jack constantly which Jack absolutely does not appreciate and he has retaliated with minor nips. There has been lots of raising up on back legs, yawning and teeth chattering. It is always instigated by Hector.

They are currently side by side with a divider as I cannot risk a major fight escalating whilst I am out today.

Jack is 16 months old and Hector is 6 months old (so Jack is quite mellow now, whereas Hector is at the peak of his hormonal surges)

I'm hopeful that it is not the end of a beautiful relationship for these two ;) but I wish that I had been able to find an older boar as I do feel that would have been a more stable bond for Jack, without the risk of teenage hormones causing problems later down the line!

Good luck
Cassandra
 
Goth Mummy said:
I personally would go for an older more sedate boar if you can find one that he likes. This is what I have always done in the past and I wish that I had been able to find an older boar that Jack liked as I have had a big problem this weekend with Jack and Hector - they got on amazingly well at for months, lots of snuggling and lying down together, (and Hector at 8 weeks old was literally the only piggy out of loads that Jack would tolerate, I even tried other babies that he did not like) but suddenly, out of nowhere, Hector and Jack had a really scary fight on Saturday.

It has been followed by lots of chasing by Hector of Jack, and Hector humping Jack constantly which Jack absolutely does not appreciate and he has retaliated with minor nips. There has been lots of raising up on back legs, yawning and teeth chattering. It is always instigated by Hector.

They are currently side by side with a divider as I cannot risk a major fight escalating whilst I am out today.

Jack is 16 months old and Hector is 6 months old (so Jack is quite mellow now, whereas Hector is at the peak of his hormonal surges)

I'm hopeful that it is not the end of a beautiful relationship for these two ;) but I wish that I had been able to find an older boar as I do feel that would have been a more stable bond for Jack, without the risk of teenage hormones causing problems later down the line!

Good luck
Cassandra
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Thankyou Cassandra for the info. I hope your boys get back together, I did have a few problems bonding Murray with Jack but it did work out in the end. But with Andy who Murray had been with since a baby just stopped suddenly getting on, and poor Andy suffered a number of bites and drawn blood. They never got back just lived side by side until Andy died. I'll have to look around. Wiebke suggesting boar dating but it's in kieghley or Barnsley a bit far for me . Needs a great deal of thought xx
 
Wiebke said:
Murray is a post-hormonal adult now and should be easier to bond now; he's at an age where he can go with either a youngster or another congenial adult boar - the key is character compatibility and mutual liking rather than age (which is more an issue with subadult boars). The Potteries usually neuter their single boars these days, but if you can go either as far as Barnsley or Keighley, BARC or Milhaven rescues both offer boar dating for single/bereaved at their rescue under expert supervision, so you come home only with a new friend of Murray's liking and won't have to worry about ending up with two boars that won't get on. They are your two closest recommendable boar dating rescues, and forum members have used either successfully with single or bereaved boars of theirs.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Milhaven-Guinea-Pig-Rescue/242212542587095 or http://www.milhaven-rescue.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BARCrescue or http://barnsleyanimalrescue.org.uk/
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Thankyou for the info I would love to do boar dating for Murray but it is a little far for me to travel, and I wouldn't want to leave him there. I'll ahave to think carefully for Murray , he's looking rather lost at the moment keeps pushing jacks cuddle cups over with his nose. Poor fella x
 
Shirley said:
Thankyou Cassandra for the info. I hope your boys get back together, I did have a few problems bonding Murray with Jack but it did work out in the end. But with Andy who Murray had been with since a baby just stopped suddenly getting on, and poor Andy suffered a number of bites and drawn blood. They never got back just lived side by side until Andy died. I'll have to look around. Wiebke suggesting boar dating but it's in kieghley or Barnsley a bit far for me . Needs a great deal of thought xx
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If you can make it a day out, it will be well worth the extra effort! I have been up to Keighley by train from Coventry on August bank holiday last year to see the rescue for myself and pick up Pili Pala and Papi (who I had to wait 4 months for because of an ongoing skin issue); talk about a nearly 4 hour journey... but it was well worth it! ;)
 
Wiebke said:
If you can make it a day out, it will be well worth the extra effort! I have been up to Keighley by train from Coventry on August bank holiday last year to see the rescue for myself and pick up Pili Pala and Papi (who I had to wait 4 months for because of an ongoing skin issue); talk about a nearly 4 hour journey... but it was well worth it! ;)
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I'll look where it is may be able to travel depends on how my illness goes, blight of my life, I will do what's best for Murray thankyou xx
 
Shirley said:
I'll look where it is may be able to travel depends on how my illness goes, blight of my life, I will do what's best for Murray thankyou xx
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Sorry, I had forgotten about your illness! perhaps you can speak to Helen at the Potteries whether she can help you?
 
I really feel for you. I am just starting to think about Ripple aka Willow needing a friend. Sadly she has taken the loss of her sister very hard and I thought I might loose her over the weekend - she stopped eating. She has perked up this morning. Its so hard to have to think about new guinea pigs when the loss of your dear one is so raw.

I really feel for you, its not easy to organise things like boar dating or even vets visits when you have a long term chronic illness or have limited mobility. Sadly you are a way away from me, but if you speak to a rescue and explain the situation maybe some forum members could help you out with a piggy train? You can always ask, it does not hurt x
 
Goth Mummy said:
I really feel for you. I am just starting to think about Ripple aka Willow needing a friend. Sadly she has taken the loss of her sister very hard and I thought I might loose her over the weekend - she stopped eating. She has perked up this morning. Its so hard to have to think about new guinea pigs when the loss of your dear one is so raw.

I really feel for you, its not easy to organise things like boar dating or even vets visits when you have a long term chronic illness or have limited mobility. Sadly you are a way away from me, but if you speak to a rescue and explain the situation maybe some forum members could help you out with a piggy train? You can always ask, it does not hurt x
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Oh you are so loveley I wouldn't dream putting on anybody at all I can get about ok it's just I have a mental illness and some days I'm fine then I'm not for weeks on end, my piggies are my little friends when I'm having bad days. Thankyou so much for caring. Poor willow I hope she will be ok. I wonder if any of our forum members heed relieving of any guinea pigs lol x you are so sweet xx
 
If you need help, please do ask! A mental illness is still an illness which can be just as debilitating as a physical illness. The human race is designed to support each other and there is no shame in accepting help that is freely offered. We all have our different circumstances. I have had help from my friends with my animals when I was unwell with post natal depression after my first son was born - one of my friends looked after my horse in return for me doing all her washing and ironing and another dear friend fostered my piggies. That way all I had to focus on was myself and my baby and getting well again.

Fingers crossed that you will find an easy solution for your lonely boar (and thanks for your good wishes for Ripple) x
 
Hi Shirley, If you did need help with transport we could help you out within a 50 to 60 mile radius. With bonding it often means dropping your piggy off for a few days so the rescue can find a good companion for him & get them bonded. I would definitely get in touch with Helen at The Potteries GPR first & explain the situation & she may be able to help. If you do need a help with transport please send me a pm & I'll get something arranged x
 
T
Stewybus said:
Hi Shirley, If you did need help with transport we could help you out within a 50 to 60 mile radius. With bonding it often means dropping your piggy off for a few days so the rescue can find a good companion for him & get them bonded. I would definitely get in touch with Helen at The Potteries GPR first & explain the situation & she may be able to help. If you do need a help with transport please send me a pm & I'll get something arranged x
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hankyou will bare it mind x
 
Goth Mummy said:
If you need help, please do ask! A mental illness is still an illness which can be just as debilitating as a physical illness. The human race is designed to support each other and there is no shame in accepting help that is freely offered. We all have our different circumstances. I have had help from my friends with my animals when I was unwell with post natal depression after my first son was born - one of my friends looked after my horse in return for me doing all her washing and ironing and another dear friend fostered my piggies. That way all I had to focus on was myself and my baby and getting well again.

Fingers crossed that you will find an easy solution for your lonely boar (and thanks for your good wishes for Ripple) x
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You are more than welcome I'm sure you will sort ripple out, nice to hear your views on mental health lots of people think you have something catching or you're a series killer ! Honestly it's really awful. You have loveley friends , my daughter in law struggled after having her second child, it can be really awful I know. Glad your better now. Hugs xx
 
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