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Tips on introducing Guinea pigs please!

7 replies

BonkeyMollocks · 11/05/2012 20:37

We are off to look at some pigs tomorrow to keep our 15wk old boar.

Any tips would be gratefully received!

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fridayfreedom · 11/05/2012 20:40

find a local rescue who may be able to help with introductions

BonkeyMollocks · 11/05/2012 20:55

We aren't close to any rescues. The nearest on is about a 3/4 hour drive away. Its just too far.
We are going to see a small breeder who I know will be helpful but I want to be prepared beforehand and know what I'm looking for ish :)

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BonkeyMollocks · 11/05/2012 20:55

*....keep our boar company Blush

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BonkeyMollocks · 11/05/2012 20:57

...and what to look out for when we get home.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/05/2012 21:26

Bonkey - I'm assuming you are looking for a baby boar? (Your currant boar isn't neutered I'm guessing.I know you got him recently).

Make sure your breeder double checks that your new pig is a boy. Otherwise 60+ days down the line you'll have your own pig family. It happened to me with my first GP .2 girls, one turned out to be male = piglets.

There's a website called barmy4Boars that has got lots of advice about bonding 2 boys.

Introduce them on neutral territory.
Wash the baby to get the smell of his mum off him.
Have a look online about the signs of aggression and know what is 'normal' and what isn't.

I've got 2 adult boars (brothers) that I got from rescue when they were a year old. I've never had a pair of boars so this is a learning curve for us. (I've had 12 previous but only one adult boar)

Ours have little snipes at each other, their heads go up.They circle each other. Our big boar is the dominant one.He goes into a clean box and does a pee to mark.
But the little guy was the instigator of their 'Big Fight'.
They need room,lots of room.
And hidey spaces. 1 each + 1 spare. (We give cardboard boxes with a big enough doorway cut so that they can't trap each other)
We make sure there is space between their food,water and salad bowl so that one doesn't trap the other.

Male GPs go through their puberty (some websites say 4 months ,some 6 months) I missed this Grin. But you'll be going through 2 stages of Pig Puberty with the different ages.


You are doing the best thing getting a cagemate for your boy. Your breeder will be able to match-up a boar going by your boys personality and the pigs they have.
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/05/2012 23:32

I googled in "Introducing 2 male guinea-pigs" and JackiesGuinea-Pigs ,Guinea-Pig Companionship was first up. (And lots of youtube videos)
They recommend lavender oil or Vicks Menthol to disguise the smell of the new boar.
And advice on quarentine for the newbie .Do you have a seperate cage to allow them to have side-by-side contact?
Again your breeder can advice how long they should be quarentined.
Check if your new pig has been treated for mites.Some treatments aren't suitable for baby pigs (I've just treated mine with a lice/mite/tick/roundworm drop-behind-the-ears treatment, IIRC they'd been treated when I got them).

Very Envy baby pigs.

BonkeyMollocks · 12/05/2012 08:32

Thanks 70.
I will have a look at those websites, and i will be telling them to triple check its a boy.....cute as they are, i do not want baby pigs! :)
The cage we have for ours is a good size, although it will need a shift about for two, and they have a mahoosive run in the living room much to dh's disgust .

Gah! Bloody animals! :)

Im just praying that this works and goes smoothly, it would break my heart having to take baby pig back because they don't get on...and then starting again...

We have a spare cage. i wouldn't like to use it for to long due to size but it will do.

Im trying not to get excited ...Grin

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