What's the best way to cheer a lone male piggy?

[vera_]

A little background: I got two female pigs, who turned out to both be pregnant. One had one baby (female), the other had four (3 females, 1 male). Yesterday was his 3 week birthday, and according to most of what I had read online, was the time that he needed to be separated from his mother and sisters to avoid having more babies (7 guinea pigs is enough thank you very much!).

Anyway, he's in his new bachelor pad now, and he doesn't seem very happy. He is just sitting in his hidey hole pretty much all day, no popcorning, no noise. He will eat veggies but usually not if I'm looking.

So what's the best way to cheer him up? Is it better for him to be where he can see his sisters or will that be too much torment once all the ladies start getting "hormonal"? Should he have toys or anything? I put in a little stuffed cat toy for him to cuddle up with. I really feel bad for him because he seems sad, but I don't know what my other options are because I don't want any more babies!

I know I could have him neutered but IMO it's too expensive and too risky. But I don't want Hamlet to die of loneliness, either.

 

[MetallichicA]

Is getting a second male piggy an option for you?

I don't know what else to suggest... I've only ever had female piggies and they've usually been kept separate but nearby.

 

[vera_]

Is getting a second male piggy an option for you?

No, only because I already have seven pigs and my living room is already taken over by them, LOL. I currently have one 2x4 C&C cage, one 2x3 C&C cage, and one store bought deal with Hamlet, all in my living room. My husband is tolerant but we both would draw the line at any more pigs, LOL.

(BTW their names are Avon and her daughter Desdemona, and Portia and her 3 daughters Viola, Sebastian and Othello, and her son Hamlet)

 

[cavylover]

The new male wont feel forfilled unless you get him a new cagemate.well intime he'll feel better but not for a couple months or even a year.The Best thing to do is give him a new friend.:s.If thats not possible get him a piggy blowup doll RRRRRROOOOOOOOOW lol.Not blowup but teddybear guinea pig.Might like it .

 

[mncavylover]

You really should get another male piggie. Like you said, you have many pigs. One more will really be beneficial to this lonely pig. Since you have many, it shouldn't be any real change. Hope this helps! =)

 

[vera_]

Well, since the recommendation seems to be unanimous for the one thing I am not willing to do (get another pig) then I will have to think of something else. Thanks anyway.

 

[Katie]

Well, since the recommendation seems to be unanimous for the one thing I am not willing to do (get another pig) then I will have to think of something else. Thanks anyway.

He should be fine by himself, but maybe when he is old enough, would it be possible to get him neutered by an experienced vet and then have him live with the sows?

 

[vera_]

He should be fine by himself, but maybe when he is old enough, would it be possible to get him neutered by an experienced vet and then have him live with the sows?

I don't know if there is anyone in my small town who would be experienced in such a thing, but it's worth a call to my vet. I just don't want to spend big bucks on surgery, mainly.

 

[vera_]

Just called the vet--only one doctor who has done it before but not at this hospital, and it would cost $210. So that's a no-go.

 

[mncavylover]

Well, I'm sorry that I couldn't help you more. Maybe there's a reason this idea is unanimous though. Question: You have seven, why not make that eight? You were willing to keep the sows' offspring, so you clearly love your cavies dearly. I just don't get your reasoning. I don't mean any offense, please just regard this as a simple question. Thanks! =)

 

[vera_]

There are several reasons. Keeping seven pigs is pricey. Would one more pig add to that total? Probably not a huge amount, but yes, there would be some additional cost.

Another reason is I don't know where I would get another male pig. I'm kind of mad at the pet shop that sold me two pregnant pigs in the first place so I don't want to go back there. There are no rescues in my area and the animal shelter thought it was a funny question when I called and asked if they had any guinea pigs (when I was looking into getting my original 2 pigs in March).

Probably the most significant reason is space. I already have a 2x4 C&C cage (with 4 pigs) and a 2x3 C&C cage (with 2 pigs) in my living room. Hamlet is currently in a small store cage while I decide what to do. If I were to get another male I would need at least another 2x3 cage since the more territorial males need as much space as they can get. My living room already looks like a guinea pig zoo as it is and I don't know if I want to add another large cage to the collection.

There isn't any room in the family room for a cage, and I might be able to squeeze one into my DD's room but having them all in the same general area makes tending them easier (one glance can tell me if anyone needs food/water/hay).

My original idea was to put the 2x3 cage on top of the 2x4 cage, thus making a two story cage and freeing up a little floor space. Unfortunately, once I got the thing together I realized that the top cage blocked off most of the light to the bottom cage and it also made it so that I couldn't really reach any of the pigs in the bottom cage. So I had to separate them.

Maybe this makes me a bad animal parent, but to tell you the truth I'm a little embarrassed about having all these pigs in my house in the first place. DH is sympathetic but pretty much everyone else doesn't understand why I just don't sell them back to the pet shop or advertise in the paper to sell them/give them away. I'm kind of in over my head with all these pigs but I don't see any other feasible options. I talked to my SIL this evening and they actually seem like they might want Hamlet so that may relieve some of my burden. We'll keep our fingers crossed. *sigh*

 

[mncavylover]

Yeah, I see what you mean. It's great of you not to sell your piggies. I'm glad all but one was female. That way, you can house most, if not all, of your pigs together. Luckily you didn't have a bunch of males, so all you seed to worry about is this one. Thanks a bunch for telling me why, I get it now. Sorry I can't be of any more help. I'm wishing the best of luck for you and your piggies (esp. Hamlet!)

 

[lipglossartist]

I would have to agree also. A cagemate is the way to go, hands down. If you are uncomfortable with soo many pigs, adopting out could also be another consideration. Either adopt out two of your beloved females, or spend about a month or so pairing Hamlet with another male and adopt them out as a pair to a good home! Then everyone could rest easy.

Buy the way $210 regardless of where you live, is a pretty unreasonable quote for gp surgery. Ive gotten all of my males neutred for $91 each.
I would keep shopping around if the adoption thing is not an option for your either.

Where is his cage placed in relation to the other piggs? Can he hear them? See them even? This could help, although it could be stressful for him at first to realize that he's separated, knowing that they are there and not being able to see them or anything is much more frusterating.

 

[tashagurl]

If he is in the same room the girls maby even right next to their cage he will not feel as lonly.Trust me on this. For years this is haow my boys lived. They are happier now that they are fixed, but they wernt like deprived or anything. They were actually much happier this way than if they were alone in the room. They can still talk to each other this way. Living alone is not like sentencing himto death or anything. If you keep him close to the girls than he will walk up and down the side of the cage rumbling to them. The girls like the atention too.Mine would sit as close as posible to my guys and soak up all the attention. I swear their egos were so big by the time i got the boys fixed. I have five pigs atthe moment so i can understand your delemma. Good luck with all your pigs.

 

[LiciaMommycott]

Buy the way $210 regardless of where you live, is a pretty unreasonable quote for gp surgery. Ive gotten all of my males neutred for $91 each.

Maybe vets are cheaper in Canada. I looked into getting pigs fixed and it was $150 for the male and $180 for the female. That's why we decided to get two males because I couldn't justify that expense.

 

[vera_]

I am also in California, liciamommycott. I'm not sure I would want to go to the $210 vet anyway since apparently it had been quite a while since she had neutered a guinea pig.

I'm going to go ahead and make a 2x2 cage for him, and try to rearrange the room so that he can see his sisters. Thanks again for the input.

 

[Mulengro]

vera where are you located? i have one boar and he's very lonely, i've been searching around for another boar in need of a good home. i'm working on building a bigger cage to house this new addition, but if you'd like to discuss this, that'd be great


-mulengro

 

[vera_]

vera where are you located?

I'm in Southern California--a bit far for Hamlet to travel!

He is doing a little better now that he is in a cage where he can see his siblings. He likes making that rumbling noise to show them that he's all man, LOL!