getting second boar soon

Hi, if you search quarantine here you will find lots of info. Basically 3 weeks in separate quarters, meaning a separate room. Wear a smock or large shirt when you handle your pig and take it off before you go into the room with the other pig. This it meant to keep from transporting mites, etc. I did a vet check for my new additions, just to make sure of the sex and health of the new pigs.

But, be aware this is an anti-breeding site and the members here believe in rescuing the many unwanted guinea pigs out there, rather than breeding to add more animals to a world where unwanted animals die each day. My own local rescue has 15 unwanted animals. Lovely animals the owners grew tired of. The rescue owner puts lots of money into their care, neutering the males and feeding quality food, only hoping they'll find good homes. Many guinea pigs are not so lucky and we see stories each week of guinea pigs let loose to die in the wild or found dead in masses in breeder mills. That said, you seem like you are giving your animals a good life, so please read and read the posts on this forum. Sticky posts at the top of each category are good to read for nutritional info, etc. Many other members here bought their guinea pigs before they knew the reasons not to. They are good members and we all try to share info and ideas for the best interest of our guinea pigs. So, welcome to the forum and good luck with your guinea pigs !

This link has all the info you likely need on both quarantine and introductions: Guinea Pigs Social Life

For what it's worth, I'm among those who don't support buying of guinea pigs, and it makes even less sense when the pig you're buying is going to have to be transported a great distance, which is stressful for him. There's no shortage of guinea pigs in shelters and rescues who need homes. I hope you will read up on this site about how to find a guinea pig in need, and why it's important not to encourage breeding by purchasing from breeders.

I am not 100% against breeding yet I do not support it.
You are a person, an adult and can make your own choices and if you want to buy from a breeder, go ahead. But you really should consider adoption instead. Below are some links you can go to, they should be able to help you find some piggys for adoption.

Check here at Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on Petfinder that site will show you all of the available guinea pigs for adoption in your area. Just fill out the left side.

Also, craigslist: washington, DC classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events usually has guinea pigs needing homes from people rehoming them.

(broken link removed) also has guinea pigs that need homes. There are lots of breeders but there are also lots of people just needing homes for there guinea pigs. This site should be helpful too.

Petco and PetSmart get "turn in's" sometimes which are pets that people dont want but dont want to take the time to find homes for so they will just hand them off to the pet store and the pet store will look for them homes. SO you can also try calling a local pet store and asking them if they have any guinea pigs for ADOPTION, not for sale. Dont let them fool you with this one.

Try those and see if you can find any.

Good luck!

Welcome to the site
If you are in the US that link is useful to find a rescue : https://www.guinealynx.info/rescue_organizations.html
If outside US, the guinealynx also list for other countries.

For petstores be careful, some will call selling "adopting".

Quarantine. 3 weeks in a separate room, behind closed door. Change clothes, wash hands when going from a room to another. Check carefully the new comer for any sign of illness or mites. Important to have time with him too as to socialise him and to get him used to you.
I keep my quarantined pig in a 2x2 c&c cause I didnt had more space or grids.

Thank you for your information. I had no idea (naively, obviously) that there were guinea pigs to rescue. I will certainly look into it. I also didn't realize that commonality of the posters here. Thanks for pointing it out.

Not naive at all! I had no idea either until I found this site! You have one of your own that you clearly love very much, why would ANYONE not want their piggy anymore right? ha ha I can't figure out when there are piggies that need homes because they are all so sweet! Quarantine is super tough but don't skimp as there are a lot of illnesses and issues that could arise after a few weeks. Even if you get a clean bill of health from the vet don't break quarantine. I had this experience where after 2 and 1/2 weeks I put my new pig in with the existing ones. She had been seen by a vet and had the all clear. Turned out she had mites and the stress from introductions caused her case to be more severe and all the other pigs got them too! UHG!

Dont worry leahmarg, I didn't know better either for my first pig. He comes from a petshop. But my second is from rescue.
Even if the pig is older or had a hard time, it doesn't mean he won't be a good pig. My newest one was badly neglected and he's the sweetest little guy.

Wonderful breeder is an oxymoron. Please adopt from a rescue or shelter.

Quarantine https://www.guinealynx.info/quarantine.html

Rabbitsncavyluv,
I was just telling my husband that even though I obviously mistakenly posted on this site, the people here were very nice and understanding. Now, that is not true. I have had a hard day, and you really just made it worse. My hope for you is that you can find as much grace for newbies like me as you can your rescued cavies.

Leahmarg, I can understand you feeling sensitive, but rabbitsncavyluv didn't criticize you at all - just the breeder. Many people here bought guinea pigs not knowing that rescues exist, and that you can get beautiful, young, healthy pigs from them without encouraging breeding, which is dangerous for the mothers. I've never heard of someone being criticized here for that. It's when people DO know that there is an alternative, and buy pigs anyhow, that many people here are offended.

I realize that now that she wasn't directly criticizing me. I really had a bad day yesterday, and my sensitivity increased.

Rabbits ~ I'm sorry for the hasty comment :ashamed:, and thank you for the link. I will check it out.

Everyone else, thank you for your comments and links.

For what it's worth, the breeder I speak of is a very kind woman. She has kept up with us and helped us tremendously with the care of our beloved cavy. She has helped us arrange getting the second boar, and is picking him up herself. She also steered us away from a very bad breeder, who is known to sell sickly guinea pigs for a high price (YUCK!!!).

I would like to gain more info and knowledge on the care of my cavies from this site. I'm wondering if I'll still be welcome. I'm guessing yes from many of your comments.

Oh, one more thing, I looked at the links for the rescue animals, and the closest cavy (one available) is 1.5 hours away at a Humane Society and he is too old (IMO) to mix with my young boar. You probably have ideas on how to mix older animals with younger ones. I really don't want them to fight. I know there's even a chance that the one I'm getting, though a good 2 mos. younger than our Sprinkles, will fight with him, too.

Again, thank you for the info on quarantine. So, do you think we should spend the money on a vet check? We really don't have the money for that, though.

Thanks.

My second boar is 2 years old and will be introduced tomorrow to my 4 months old. Since once already passed his puberty, I'm hoping it might be calmer.
But fight is to expect. They have to set dominancy.
I didnt see a vet either, tight on money too, but I've checked both very carefully and read a lot on https://www.guinealynx.info/ . There not the least sign of illness. Else I would have gone or put the intro to later.
I've waited a long time for the shelter to get a boar, here cavies aren't that popular or people just have them put to sleep I guess. I was thinking about driving 3 hours to get one from another town. I'm happy I saved that one. He was in a very bad shape, but now is as healthy as my young one.
Some people might be hard on you if you get your second boar still from a breeder. Be prepared. But please go over this if it happens and still take advices on care here.
I'm not encouraging breeders either, and I agree it would be better to rescue one. I know for myself I would never go to a breeder or petshop anymore. But every pig deserves good nutrition and care.
Good luck with your boys.

You're better off introducing different aged cavies then cavies of the same age especially if they haven't hit puberty.

Peggysu, do you consider 2.5 months and 4 months "different ages" or not far enough apart?

Nope - those are both adolescents. We do not recommend putting two young boars together usually - they hit puberty and you usually have to separate or have lots of squabbles.

Dealing with that one right now

They hit puberty around 3 to 4 months then that lasts til they are 8 or 9 months. I'd find an adult boar. They are usually more laid back and love babies.