Rusty & Sammy my boys!

[Liz]

Hi Susie,

I posted an update on my boys on Kazzys Cavies forum but thought you might appreciate a separate post here as you seemed quite interested in how my boys were getting on.

Rusty & Sammy are my two baby boars aged 11 & 7 weeks old. I introduced them the other day & they seemed to get on ok & had a lovely time together out in the run.

Put them out again last night & they seemed to be fine...Rusty was still chasing Sammy round trying to mount him but as usual Sammy was just running away & ignoring all the purring. Sammy did get a bit bolder & started trying to jump onto Rusty's head, so both of them were running in circles trying to mount each other!

Not sure if these boys will continue to get on with each other as once they caught a whiff of the ladies they wern't so friendly with each other! Although they're not living together at the moment, they will be soon as I've ordered them a large indoor cage - sadly not a c&c cage though since I might be moving house & need to save room although some extra floor time can make up for this.

If they do continue to get on & my girls also continue to get on I can avoid getting the lads neutered which would be preferable, but then who knows how it might turn out!

Also, you wanted to see a pic of the boys together & I might just be able to do this, as I'm borrowing a digital camera tonight & have a photobucket account all ready.

Will keep you updated..

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Hi Liz... most certainly am interested. My favorite kind of new this! Is there any possibility of keeping the boys away from the smell of the girls? This would dramatically increase their chances of getting on for good. Sows coupled with their age... you will need to watch them closely! Fingers and toes crossed for you.

I think its great you are trying to pair them up before resorting to surgery to put them with the sows. Not the easiest option for you there, but I'm really pleased you are giving it a try, and of course if it doesn't work out you will still have the option of nuetering and seperating to each live with a sow there.

I would really love it if you would consider writing a bit about this for my site a few months dwn the line, however it works out (if they stay friends or need nuetering). With a couple of photos. It would be good for owners going through a similar thing and trying to decode what to do. What do you think?

Anyway... many thanks for the update. Enjoyed it thouroughly. Look forward to the next installment. ;D

[Liz]

Hi Susie,

Yes, I'd love to write about it for your site however it finally turns out! I'm a newcomer to introductions & am just using my common sense really & your advice on the various options of course!

I managed to take some pictures last night but I don't know when I'll be able to get them onto my photobucket account - soon I hope. The boys sat nicely together so there are some really cute pics, but the girls wouldn't even sit near each other without starting a fight but I managed to get some good pics of them nontheless!

Rusty & Sammy are continuing to get on okish. Sammy loves Rusty & follows him around but Rusty seems quite quiet when they're together - although I don't know if this is because hes feeling a little under the weather with his upset tummy (& mardy because hes getting no veg!). I think baby Sammy is emerging as top pig out of the two! Despite being so tiny hes very confident, since he has been living indoors & nothing really scares him anymore!

Hopefully the big move in will happen next week so I'll be back in touch soon!

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Thats great Liz. I really look forwards to the pics and hearing all about the big move in. Hope it goes well!

[Liz]

Well, the boys have now been living together for about 2 weeks now possibly more (keep losing track of time!).

They continue to get on ok eventhough the girls are living in the same room. Rusty has started being slightly more hostile towards little Sammy & purrs at him to stay away when hes in one of the grassy hutches. Sammy takes it quite well & usually just skips away, but I think hes becoming a bit bolder...hes starting to become more cheeky which usually ends up with Rusty chasing him away, although I think Sammy believes its just a game!

Don't quite know what will happen in the next few weeks as Sammy has grown to be the same weight & almost the same size as Rusty eventhough hes a month younger. I don't think Sammy seems like the sort of pig to start fights, he seems quite laid back & not too bothered about being the underpig.

I'll just have to wait & see, but fingers crossed they continue to get on. Heres a couple of pics of them together:





Sammy has grown a lot since these were taken!

Liz

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Gorgeous photos and stunning pics. Sounds like they are getting on really well. This is great news! Long may it continue.

[michelle]

hi Liz the pics of the boys are adorable, so cute, just a quick pointer I thought of dont forget to wash your hands if you tend to the girls before the boys as they will be able to smell girls on your hands, I'm lucky that my boys and girls are in separate sheds but i always do the boys first, so they dont get stroppy with the whiff of a lady,
and I'm a great believer of using your common sense and , instincts thats how my lot get along you learn their ways and who is to be trusted etc,
I was surprised to hear your girls argue and fight, I have 21 girls of different ages and breeds and they get along 100% in fact if one is off colour she gets totally pampered by the others, with washes and snuggles, they are all in one hugh long c and g run 3/4 the size of the shed,
also another thing I do, gained from my own experience is if one of the boys is ill or recovering from an op, I put them in the girls shed in a hugh plastic hutch, it seems to perk them up a lot quicker,
boys will always have the dominant one just make sure the less dominant one is not bullied or being put off from eating etc

[Liz]

Yes, I do try to be careful with keeping the boys away from the smell of the girls. Their cages are only a short distance away from each other but the boys seem ok, its just when I clean the girls or pick them up that they get a whiff & start purring at each other & wheeking. Usually they'll purr & run round trying to jump on each other but it usually goes no further than that & they soon settle down & carry on as usual.

I would keep them well away from each other but I don't have much space & at some point in the near future they will all have to live in the same shed together so I need them to get used to at least having a small amount of female aroma around. I do really want them to get on otherwise they may both have to have the snip & live with a girl each...I'm really reluctant to put them through operations & I'd never forgive myself if something happened to them as a result, so their friendship really needs to work!!

Rusty seems more dominant & will chase Sammy away but luckily Sammy is fairly relaxed & doesn't seem to mind Rusty being boss pig. Sammy will often steal food from under Rusty's nose & he doesn't seem to mind...both boys are so greedy I don't think either would be bullied into not eating!

Still, is early days yet....thanks for the advice michelle.

Liz

[Liz]

I'm afraid to have to report that my boys had a fight the other night & Sammy ended up being injured. Because of this I've had to split them up I don't think I'll be trying to reintroduce them since Sammys wounds show that Rusty really meant business & wasn't just trying to warn him off.

I'm very reluctant to have them neutered but I'm doing some research & Gina Hayes has recommended her vet, so I've been asking lots of questions.

I'll have to let you know what I decide & how it all turns out. Its a real shame about the boys, they made such a cute couple

Liz

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Having them nuetered will not help. If they have fought they need to be seperate for good. Did Gina recommend you get them neutered?

[Liz]

The boys are separated & I know neutering won't help...I won't be attempting to reintroduce them. I'd actually be having them neutered so they can live with a girlie each. Both boys are happy living next to each other but I want them to be able to have proper contact with other guinea pigs & be able to interact properly. They're such friendly boys & I'd hate to see them be lonely which I feel they are slightly at the moment.

Gina has recommended her vet, Ken Robinson to me & I've also heard good things about him from other people. He is actually going to ring me at some point so we can discuss it properly before any neuters take place. I did speak to Gina about neutering when I took my piggies for health checks, she basically said there shouldn't be a problem, but any underlying health problems that would usually be ok could cause problems under anaesthetic. I've also seen a guinea pig neuter for myself & I know its over & done with very quickly.

I've done a fair bit of research on this & am not entering into it lightly. As I'm sure I said before I'd be absolutely devastated if anything happened to my boys. I think in the long run it will improve their quality of life as it means they will be able to live properly with female piggies & have companions instead of being separated from other piggies & only being able to see & smell them.

Liz

[gracielace]

i dont think i could ever split my boys up.. paco gets sad when i take ollie out for a brushing ;D