3 boars, opinions needed please

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Vida

Vida

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Hi! It's been a while since I last posted as things have been going well here. The five sows are living in a 2 by 8 C&C and seem happy enough.

The question I wanted to ask is about the 3 boars. (Dad 1 year old and his two sons aged 5 months).

They are living in a 2 by 6 C&C and although they are not fighting, they don't seem to like each other too much.

Rudy (dad) and Arwyn seem ok together, but Vashtian is the outsider. They don't fight or squabble, but can't be close together or Vashtian nips Arwyn or runs away seemingly terrified. The cage is big and they have 3 big boxes and hideout and plenty of hay and blankets, to run in and out and over and hide. I put down 2 plates of food so that they have enough to eat and don't have to be close together. However I am wondering if this is the best for them.

The options are:

1. Leave them as they are (for now, or until they get violent).
2. Place grids and let Vashtian live in a 2 x 2 and the other two in 2 x 4.
3. Let Rudy and Arwyn have the C&C and put Vashtian in a big cage I have, where he could be on his own. The cage could be close to the others or by himself, whichever worked better.

I am only thinking in their well being. For me, it really makes no difference one way or another. I can not get any other guinea pigs, so if I move Vashtian out, this will mean he will live the rest of his life by his own. Is this better than hiding from the other two every day? I am not sure.

Thank you in advance for your opinions.
 
Unfortunatly neither of the options are ideal for any piggies. Is there a reason you cant get another piggy so Vashtian can have a friend? Piggies really do need friends but boar trios rarely work.

I would suggest you pop him in his own cage for now so hes not unhappy, but seriously consider trying to find him his own friend.
 
Unfortunately getting another guinea pig is not an option. I have 18 animals, a full time job, a family and a chronic illness. I look after the guinea pigs myself and the only help I get is when I have to clean the cages out (from my son). I have 8 because the vet sexed one of them wrongly. (The story is around on the forum somewhere.) I only wanted 2, but I am responsible and will look after all of them.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.
 
Are the sows in sight or smell of the boars? I know they're not fighting at the moment but it may cause problems in the future.

I personally found having two boars together side by side with a single that they do not get on with actually caused myself and my pigs a lot of headaches and heartaches. The boys all constantly rumble strutted, teeth chatted and the two bonded boars were at breaking point with the single boar beside them. It took three months for the bonded pair to get back on track and the constant humping, teeth chattering has now calmed and they have gone back to snuggling up. However that said every boar is different so you might find this option works for you.

Have you also considered looking into the option of neutering so Vashtian could live if possible with your sows? It might be an option worth looking into .


And finally have you considered giving Vashtian to a rescue? Where he could help be an older boars new friend? I know you don't want to give your piggies up, but this could be the kindest option to Vashtian as he'll have a chance to spend the rest of his days interacting, playing, snuggling and popcorning with another pig.

Laura x
 
Thanks for the advice. I have thought of having him neutered and getting one of his sisters to be a companion, but with the results I have had with the vet, it is a bit too risky.
 
It's a shame you live in Spain, well I don't mean its a shame, Spain is a lovely country to live in, what I meant was if you were in the UK we would be able to help you more.

Laura said what I was gonna say in a nutshell, some boars can live side by side, but I also have found some pairs can fall out themself if they are beside another piggy male or female. It all comes down to personality.
Last year I had 3 rescue boars come in, Father and 2 sons about 4 months old, I realised that the threesome was very unlikey to stay together, sure enough one was a bit of a trouble causer so I housed him in his own cage, the rescue I foster for got him neutered. In the mean time the other 2 seemed OK at first but I noticed that one of the pigs didnt like it when another piggie (all boars here) came close to their cage and I think this contributed to them falling out too. Obviously the bond between father and sons wern't a good one anyway and personalities clashed but this just rocked the boat even more.

Anyway I think it would be quite sad if Vashtian were to spend the rest of his life on his own. And its a real shame that the vet isnt competant in neutering as being a neuteed male he could be housed in with all 5 of the girls, if they accepted him.
Its a difficult one
 
I agree that Vashtian living by himself is not ideal, that is why I wanted to hear your opinions. I guess I will have to wait a bit more and see.
 
I have my single male in a cage next to his brothers and he jumps on top of his little house and talks to his brothers and vice versa. They seem perfectly happy although I will try to introduce him to my girls. Please don't beat yourself up. I sometimes think we are our own worst enemy when it comes to complicating our lives. We would all like to be the perfect owner and give our animals the best but sometimes circumstance gets in the way. Your little one is loved,cared for and clean and healthy that is a lot more than some could even dream of. You are doing your best.
 
Having read the other on-going thread in this forum, about fighting, I was wondering if I should wait until there is a fight or blood or should I step in sooner?
 
i had three boars together, who did decide to push out one, like yours. Two were babies, and one 4year old, who happily lives with one youngster, and the other youngster is on hie own part of the c7c cage, but only a grid parting them, he seems quite happy, knowing the others are close, i cant get him a friend, as if i am left with the two youngsters when the older one goes (obviously i hope this is nt yet, but i have to be realistic ) then i am hoping too re bond the youngsters, so i think as long as your lone boy can see and hear the others, that should be fine, it is not like he is completely alone x
 
Perhaps you could have Vashtian neutered then he could have one of your sows for company?
 
I want to thank the rescues for putting such quick replies on here once they recieved the secret santa gifts, and for taking the time to put on such lovely photos and writing such lovely things about the gifts, it has been such a pleasure taking part in this x
 
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Have finally decided to get Vashtian neutered. His operation is on Thursday. Please keep your fingers crossed and send healing thoughts his way.
 
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