putting my new boar in with my two females

[wenton5]

Hi, both my girls are alpha prima donnas, so is my new boar. My two questions are how do you think it will go and MAINLY when I put them all in the cage together who do I put in first and last?
Thanks for the help!

Lara, More mores, Skunky boo and Romeo Choo Choo Anderson

[pinky]

Is your male neutered?

[wenton5]

Hi, he will be neutered this week, then ill wait 6 weeks, then il just put him in to say hello to them when I am cleaning their cages. I have a large area I put them in to exercise. I do know that everything needs to be changed around. He sees them once a week now through a grid when I clean their cages. Im just not sur wo to put in first and last when I put them all together. I have read all the info on guinea lynx and cavy spirit but couldn't find anything on placement order. lara and the gang

[pinky]

Once he's neutered and you can introduce them, I'd bring them out in a neutral area outside the cages and slowly introduce them. Once you know they get along, you have to completely disinfect the cage so there's no scent in the cage from any of the guinea pigs. Don't put him in there and take him out. Each time you do that, it would be like a new introduction and would get them agitated. The move should be permanent. It doesn't matter what order you put them in.

[bpatters]

Ditto @pinky . You're just asking for trouble if you just put him in with them.

Read Guinea Pigs Social Life -- the introductions section is about halfway down.

[wenton5]

Thanks, so you don't think I should just start out putting him in the play pin once a week? You think I should just put him in the cage when he is ready and that's that? The gang. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wenton5]

Sorry, I wasn't clear, I would definently put him in the play pen with all new boxs, etc. And of course once I put him in the cage I would have everything new as well. ***Should I have new fleece also or can I just wash it? *** So what I am deducting is just put him in once and not do the 4 week, once a week trial during playtime. And, of course, make sure everything is washed and new, the fleece though? thanks soo much!

[pinky]

Thanks, so you don't think I should just start out putting him in the play pin once a week? You think I should just put him in the cage when he is ready and that's that? The gang. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, you don't just put him in the cage. You have to slowly introduce them somewhere other than the cage. The play pin is fine if it doesn't have their scent. You put them together once you're confident that the introductions have gone well. Then, you still need to watch to make sure there's no fighting. They will probably chase and mount but as long as there's no bloodshed, you let them be. How big is the cage where you plan to house them all?

[wenton5]

Hi pinky, thx, so what I am gathering is one introduction, playpin ok as long as there is no scent, and I am assuming if all goes well then just one inttroduction and then put him a clean cage with all new stuff. My cage is 5 grids by 2 and we r planning on putting an upstairs unit on top with a ramp, that area will either 3 by 3 grids or 1 by 5. Thx again for the help. I do appreciate it alot. The gang.

[wenton5]

Sorry, I wasn't clear, I would definently put him in the play pen with all new boxs, etc. And of course once I put him in the cage I would have everything new as well. ***Should I have new fleece also or can I just wash it? *** So what I am deducting is just put him in once and not do the 4 week, once a week trial during playtime. And, of course, make sure everything is washed and new, the fleece though? thanks soo much!

[jacqueline]

also make sure that the "new" cage you put them i after introductions has 4 hideys - one for each of the pigs, plus one extra - and that each hidey has more than one entrance/exit so no one can get "trapped." you should have 3 water bottles, three food dishes/veggie bowls, and separate places for them to get hay.

with boys i know that narrow spaces can sometimes be problematic, so for boys anyway, a 3x5 is better than a 2x5. the bigger the space you have the ore chance of successful living together.

[wenton5]

Thank you so much! I have been trying to figure out the design of the upstairs, the rest I have covered. So u think an upstairs in a square or rectangular shape wud be better than an upstairs consisting of 2 across (grid)and then 5 down and 1 across, like an L or sqaure U shape? You are all so helpful, I really don't want any of my piggies traumatized, my skunky is at least 4yrs old, my more mores has always been a prima donna but senstive and my choochi is the sweetest. My hope is to do this right so that it works out. If if doesn I do have plan b which is to pair romeo choochi w a female. I wuf like to get another boar but they wud have to be right above the girls due to lack of apace, I wasn't planning on getting romeo but I found him in my yard and he was so neglected and then I fell in love with him. I cudnt give him to the two shelters here at this point. Thank u all so much, I can't tell u how much I appreciate your help! Best, lara and the squeek gang.