Question about boars getting along and babysitting other pigs.

[xenacrocker]

Hi,
I'm a newbie here and have some questions. If this isn't the right forum please let me know.
We're adopting two young boars (around 2 months old) soon. I'm in the process of getting the materials to build their cages and make cozies etc.
Will they get along better if they are neutered?
Also, we bring home the guinea pig from my daughter's class. It is young (4 months or less) and I think a bit lonely. Is there a way for the visiting pig to safely play with our 2 pigs? E.g.during floor time? Would the visiting pig benefit from having his cage near the other two piggies? Is there anything else I should be concerned about when bringing a different piggy into our house 1 or 2 weekends a month?
Should I give my two new piggies Ivermectin even if they don't look like they have mites?

Thanks!

[clotho]

Ok let's see. Neutering will not change the boar's personalities, so no they won't get along any better or worse if they are neutered. Any surgery is risky so if it's not necessary, I wouldn't do it!

http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm

As for bringing home the class guinea pig, it's very sad that the piggie is in a classroom in the first place. It's not a good environment for a guinea pig. I'm sure it is lonely too.

Can you guarantee the health of the classroom piggie?? If not, keep it far away from your other piggies - in a whole other room. You don't want your piggies getting sick. Actually, until you have had the two piggies you are adopting, for at least 3 weeks, you can't guarantee that your piggies won't pass on an illness to the classroom piggie either. So at the very least, wait until you've had your piggies a few weeks and know they aren't sick.

If you know the piggie is healthy, then perhaps having it in the same room so they can hear and see each other would be ok - but I personally wonder if it would make the piggie even more lonely once it went back to the classroom alone.

Are you positive of the sex of the piggies you are adopting? What is the sex of the classroom piggie?? Obviously you can't let unaltered males and females together for even a second. If they are all the same sex, and healthy, I guess you could try letting them be together - but males are very territorial and they might fight.

I'd watch the piggies when you bring them home and see if they are scratching a lot. Many people treat with ivermectin just in case.

We would love to see pictures of your new boys once you adopt them!!! I'm so glad you are adopting rather than buying from a pet store!!!

[Ly&Pigs]

If the classroom pig is only going to be in your home now and then, you don't want to subject that pig to the other pigs. Putting pigs together and taking them apart can cause quite a bit of stress. To ensure your own two getting along, I wouldn't advise throwing a 3rd pig into the mix on a part time basis. If the classroom pig is a female, keep her far away so as not to end up with pups.

[xenacrocker]

Thanks! That was extremely helpful.