Young males

Question
We acquired 2 lovely young female guinea pigs a couple of months ago, who both turned out to be pregnant.  We now have 7 pets.   The first 2 babies are now 4 week-old boys, have been separated from their mother and have hit puberty in a big way, strutting, rattling and mounting each other.  It all seems to be good-humoured, but I have read on a couple of websites that boys need to be not only physically separated from girls but also out of scent range, or they will fight and ultimately have to be separated. It would be difficult to achieve this, but we would if possible like to keep the boys.  Should we find them a girl-free home asap, or do you think they can cope with the odd whiff of  mum or auntie?

Thank you very much.  

Answer
Hello Lynne,

Congratulations on your new babies! I and many of my friends have males and females all living in the same room and have no trouble. Males sometimes, as they mature, become incompatible. There's not alot that can be done about this and it has little, if anything, to do with being around females. Just sometimes they are both dominant pigs and can't settle their hierarchy. Typically if they are raised together, they will be ok. Right now they are young and just playing really, but in their play they should slowly establish dominance and though their will likely be a few short scuffles in their lives, there likely will never be any real fights. However, if any of the second litter are male, it's best not to join them with the first 2. Males typically live ok in pairs but if you add a third (or even more) male(s) as cagemates, there is usually constant fighting and then even if the new pig is removed, the original pair may not get along. Sometimes, but very very rarely will 3 live in peace in the same cage. I would keep them. If you have space, time, and desire to have them as part of your family, that's the best for them and they should be fine, at least as far as being near the girls go. Good luck and enjoy the new members of your family.

-kkat
www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs