What to do with lone sow?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Alicia

Alicia

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Messages
1,286
Reaction score
27
Points
445
Location
Surrey
I've had a horrible past 2 days. 2 of my sows have died, leaving one alone. I now have 3 boars and 1 sow all in seperate hutches because the boars don't get along. My mum said we can get a friend for Spicy, the lone sow but she wants to wait until the weather warms up a bit because she doesn't think its fair on a young baby to go straight out in this weather. I agree with her because I know guinea-pigs can grow a winter coat and it's difficult for a baby guinea-pig to keep warm in this weather. She said that in April we can get another guinea-pig but that would mean Spicy being alone for the next 2 months. What can I do until then? There is a boar that lives in a hutch opposite her but her hutch is higher than his so they can't really see each other. I've got half term next week so I can spend loads more time with her but I still don't think it will be enough and when I go back to school I'm worried she'll get lonely. I've tried asking Mum if we could get a friend for Spicy sooner but I'm torn because I don't think it would be fair in this weather for them but it's not fair on Spicy to be lonely for 2 months.
 
What about neutering one of your boars and bonding him with her means she gets a new friend and so does he. Also means one less hutch.
 
That sounds like a plan. Is it something you could do?

I agree with your mum about the baby outside in this weather. It's so very cold right now.
 
Sorry to hear you lost two of your piggies :(

If you can afford the op, neutering like Joanne suggested could be a solution. Since you are off next week, could you have a play about and see whether you can move (or adapt) the hutches so that they can see each other? Or do you have a shed or garage that a hutch can be moved into for the next few months so that you can pair her up with a new friend sooner?

I don't keep my piggies outside so I don't know anything about the body temperatures etc, but I'm sure someone will come along that can give you some advice on babies and the winter months.
 
Thank you very much for the quick replies. I've considered neutering one of the boys before but I am worried it's just too risky. I'd feel so guilty if any of them died, also I don't know if they're too old, one of them is 5, the other is 3and I don't know how old the other boar is. I'm going to try and rearrange the hutches so they can see each other. 2 of the hutches are in the shed and the other 2 are outside with covers. Spicy's hutch is on top of the run with a ramp and I might put it on the floor so her hutch is at the same height as Roys so they can see each other.
 
I wouldn't risk the operation either.
I did this, and lost my boar, Scout. Since then I've aquired a neutered boar, but he came from a rescue this way, so it wasn't my chance to take. I wouldn't ever be able to take the risk with my boars, but I'd happily get boars who were already neutered.
I would advise you to get a new baby sow. Many guinea pig babies are already outside and so are accustomed to the weather already. I have fourteen pigs outside, including an eight week old baby. I also have babies in a shed which is not insulated. You can use hay in the cage as bedding and cover the hutch over with fleece or a hutch hugger. Really, keeping a baby outside isn't so different to keeping an adult outside, as they will snuggle up together to keep warm. You could also think about getting an adult, neutered boar or even another adult sow if you didn't want a baby.
 
Tracyxx said:
I wouldn't risk the operation either.
I did this, and lost my boar, Scout. Since then I've aquired a neutered boar, but he came from a rescue this way, so it wasn't my chance to take. I wouldn't ever be able to take the risk with my boars, but I'd happily get boars who were already neutered.
I would advise you to get a new baby sow. Many guinea pig babies are already outside and so are accustomed to the weather already. I have fourteen pigs outside, including an eight week old baby. I also have babies in a shed which is not insulated. You can use hay in the cage as bedding and cover the hutch over with fleece or a hutch hugger. Really, keeping a baby outside isn't so different to keeping an adult outside, as they will snuggle up together to keep warm. You could also think about getting an adult, neutered boar or even another adult sow if you didn't want a baby.
Click to expand...

I checked on Spicy this morning and she was ok but looked a bit sad and she was just walking around and not really doing anything. I would get an older sow but Spicy can be a bit dominant so I think it would be best to get a baby so there's less chance of them fighting. The hutch they live in has a layer of woodshavings and then I just fill it up with hay and they have a hutch hugger so I think they'll be warm enough. Thanks for the help, I'm not sure if my Mum will let me get a friend for Spicy soon because she wanted to wait until April when the weather will have warmed up but I'll talk to her and see if we can get one any sooner.
 
popcorn paradise said:
What about adopting an older guinea from a rescue?

There are so many unwanted piggys dumped on rescue's doorsteps daily.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea - there are usually lots of adult pigs in rescue needing homes with company. Most rescues are happy for you to take your girl along so that she could choose her own friend.

Teresa x
 
If you could arrange with a rescue to take Spice and let her choose her own new friend, that would be best. Sadly, not all rescues will allow that.

I have bonded two three year old sows that way; although it was more like Dizzy adopting Minx and me, but we were all happy! I have also let a three year old sow choose her new mate among three likely candidates that way!

With sows, age is not as relevant as with with boars; personal liking however makes things a lot easier! I have just rehomed a four year old sow who has lost her sister on New Year and she is such a delight to have!

You never know what you will be coming home with - but you will come home with a happy Spice!

Here is a list of rescues: http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp
(the website seems to be down at the moment, though,; best try again later)
 
My mum says I still have to wait until April to get Spicy a friend but she has said we can go to a rescue rather than a pet shop to get the new guinea-pig. Thank you for the link Wiebke, I've found some rescues near me and hopefully in a little while Spicy will have a new friend. I feel so much happier going to a rescue, we went to look round one on Tuesday (there's one not too far from me that lets people walk round and look at the animals even if we're not rehoming any) and we weren't allowed to go in and see the guinea-pigs unless we were rehoming (they were in a stable in hutches) but I looked over the stable door and felt so bad seeing all the hutches stacked up with guinea-pigs in them :( ) Even if I can just rehome one, it means they can help one more guinea-pig. I'm so excited now, I can't wait until April :))
 
Dear Alicia, Just to let you know I am in West Sussex near Gatwick, I have 3 lone sows at the moment, all adults, if you came and yours liked one that was here i would be happy for her to go outside if the hutch was in the shed. let me know if I can help.
Regards
Jenny and the Crawley piggies.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top