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newly adopted Piggies

62 replies

pinkoneblueone · 29/03/2015 18:52

Please can you give me some advice on guinea pigs as we have just adopted 3 male (brothers) today and i've never had any before. They are 6 months old. I will have to get them neutered asap as they squabble and one has now gone blind in one eye due to this. They share a Hutch in the garden and have a blanket and plastic sheet that goes over the hutch to keep them warm and dry. They were bathed and had their nails clipped before the previous owner has brought them to us. She has brought them a few hrs ago we have handled them and made sure they are happy and well in the hutch and are letting them settle in. So i'm looking for advice on care for them as a book will only tell me so much, please help!?

newly adopted Piggies
OP posts:
millimat · 31/03/2015 23:00

It may just be a case of trial and error. Has the other one (teddy?) got any signs of injury too? How does he act with spike around?

pinkoneblueone · 31/03/2015 23:02

teddy is the injured one but i've not had them long but i have seen spike being awful to bear tonight and pulled a big chunk of fur out, and poor bear has been constantly bothered tonight. its awful to witness. i honestly don't know what is best to do.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 31/03/2015 23:58

Sad sounds like Spike is the aggressor, Teddy is the picked on one and Bear is stuck in the middle.

It is a question of the safety of all the pigs.
My original boars (brothers) had a fight after they ate too much coriander (some herbs are like crack cocaine. Ours could eat parsley fine, but not coriander)

But even with their worst behaviour which involved the little boar getting his teeth into the brothers shoulderblades we side-by-sided them at night and put them out in the Pighouse by day (this was in their first winter with us )

They had space to get away from each other and tended to sleep seperate.

With the older boy and the younger cagemate, they dominance bonked rather than fight.

You could trial letting them socialise under supervision but read up on the signs of boar aggression (i'll try and find a link)

Otherwise if Teddy and Bear are happy together and not fighting, you might need to move Spike.
Most boar squabbles can be managed in pairs, but you've got three different personalities and their pecking order is probably unsettled.

But if they aren't happy together then removing one but making sure they can all interact vocally is at least keeping them safe.

Boars don't tend to cuddle up. Boars in groups is not a natural state for them but it's a system that can work if managed.
I've kept a neutered boy and 2 sows which worked well (no squabbling but he did try it on with them Smile ). They'd much prefer 1 boar + lots of sows

fortifiedwithtea · 01/04/2015 07:38

Trios rarely work Sad I would separate Spike. Could you bear to give Spike to a rescue where hopefully he find a friend he does like and a forever home.

Seems to me the clue is in the name. I think previous owner knew Spike was aggressive.

It would be a lot for you to take on another piglet to match with Spike bringing your total to 4 guineas. I wouldn't recommend getting him a wifey as with the other boars living so close, if they smell a sow they will fight.

sanfairyanne · 01/04/2015 09:37
Sad

you have really landed right in the thick of guinea pig world here!

teddy + bear sounds a nice natural twosome
removing spike might be a better way forward
or you could try a very very large run and a cage with several different bedding areas

my trio were free rangers which is probably why we never had problems. they were also brothers. these might not even have been litter mates if you dont know their past history. spike could be a later addition (just thinking of the way the names match/dont match)

Bonkey · 01/04/2015 12:34

I actually think giving spike to a rescue would be a brilliant idea if you can do it!

One hutch for you and two happy to be together pigs and hopefully they will be able to match Spike with a new buddy and rehome so he will be happy too?

Something to consider?

pinkoneblueone · 01/04/2015 18:53

i put spike in a separate cage last night as he was being awful to his brothers mainly bear. his hair is a little spikey which is why they called him spike, he's my sons favourite so i don't know if i could re-home him i don't want to risk getting another one incase he attacks them too. I will keep him in the separate hutch for now and then see how he gets on. i will post a pic of the set up in a wee while as i'm not long in from work.

OP posts:
pinkoneblueone · 01/04/2015 18:57

the garden is being taken over with hutches...teddy and bear in the left and spike in the right for now. The hutch on the right is just a temp option for now.

newly adopted Piggies
OP posts:
millimat · 01/04/2015 19:46

Your large hutch couldn't be separated into one larger area for bear and teddy and a smaller one for spike could it?
It would be nice for bear and teddy to be together by the sounds of it.

millimat · 01/04/2015 19:48

Was going to suggest giving spike to a rescue. It might seem harsh now but in the long run he may be happier and find a buddy rather than you having to take on yet another boar.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/04/2015 20:24

If you put the hutches facing each other or a 90 degree angle then the pigs can still 'chat' . Spike will still have company but the other two will be safe from him.
Guinea-pigs are sociable animals but boars do like their own space ( my boars would sleep in opposite corners of the haybox or even one in the haybox, one in the hedgehog house. They could still see and hear each other which is important)

If you did feel that you needed to rehome Spike, explain his situation.He came to you with bonding issues and has attacked the other two boars. . He might be one of the boars that won't get on with other boars so they may well neuter him which opens up more options for him.

I think even if you keep a 2+1 situation he's better placed than a solitary guinea-pig who has no piggy company (Gumtree I'm looking at you) .

Though if your son has taken to him then you might not have a choice Smile

millimat · 01/05/2015 19:56

op how are your boys doing?

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