Advice on bonding a New Guinea

[BlueberriesFloatingOutThere]

We very sadly lost one of our beloved boars recently. I know we're going to need to get our remaining piggy a companion.

I've been researching a bit online but has anyone got any firsthand advice around this? I know we'll need to introduce them very gradually.

Our piggy lives in a hutch outside with access to a large run in the day. We have a spare run we could use but will probably need a borrow a hutch to temporarily house the newcomer.

Your best bet is to go to a local rescue centre, if they have small animals they usually offer a piggy dating service!

oh and sorry for you loss, it’s hard losing them isn’t it, how old is your current boar? They are usually easier to bond the older they are as they are less hormonal!

Thank you both.

Our remaining piggy is 3 years old, so hopefully has a long life ahead of him.

Yes he has! Definitely contact your local rescues, they should be able to help or point u in the right direction!

@BlueberriesFloatingOutThere we're in the same situation. Unfortunately though, this boar fought with his cagemate even though they bonded while he was a baby. The older one died and we got him a baby boar as a buddy. The happy relationship lasted about 3 months. They then fought daily until the younger one died earlier this month.
So although I feel sorry for one on his own, I really can't see him bonding with another. He's 4.

We went to a guinea pig rescue yesterday and here's our new member of the family!

Our original piggy is bossing him round a bit but we're keeping a close eye on them. Hopefully they'll settle into their relationship soon.

I was going to say before I saw your update that you might be better off getting him neutered and putting him with a girl as that tends to work better unless they grow up together (we have 4 - I’ve had Guinea pigs all my life). I hope your pairing works out. Make sure they have their own food bowls and water bottles and hides to minimise the fighting as they settle in together.

I'm sure the rescue you went to have given you plenty of advice, but just wanted to say that you mustn't let them bond gradually, as in putting together and then separating them, then putting back together etc, as every time you do that, the bonding process starts from scratch. And like a pp said, have two of everything available, like hides, water bottles and food bowls. And make sure all hides have two exits so they can't corner each other. Good luck 🙂

Thanks both.

Yes, we've kept them both together from the get go as advised by the rescue. But that does seem to contradict most of the information I've seen online so I'm reassured to see your post @Jokat

^ came here to say all of this! 😁

@NCTDN definitely worth speaking to a rescue. It's usually better to try and match up another adult boar with a compatible personality, as babies tend to bond well initially but when they hit puberty then you can have issues if they are both dominant characters.

What a beautiful pig

Hope they get on

Miss our GPS so much