I have three girls that happily live together and I would like to adopt a boar. How much space should I provide and is there any risk they might fall out or can the dynamic of the group change at all? I don't want to bring in a boar if they might fall out as I won't be able to separate them.
Hi and welcome
The big hurdle with sow bonding is initial acceptance and then the rest of the two weeks group setting up bonding process. If you can find a rescue within your reach that offer dating, then acceptance will happen at the rescue; it is never a guarantee - generally the less the older the sows. Age is less important than mutual liking. Once in, fall-outs with husboars are extremely rare; we haven't soon more than a handful at the most in the 15 years of our forum existence with literally thousands of piggies and tens of thousands of enquiries.
If you have a rather dominant top sow or a sow with major fear-aggression issues, then a submissive younger boar will be your best bet - but you can never tell whether what is a perfect match on paper with actually work when face to face in the bonding pen...
I've successfully bonded boars between 5 months (about as young as they get past their 6 weeks post-op safety wait) and 5-6 years of age and anything in between. It is the personality match that carries the day. I have also a number of boar-proof sows and sow groups - and not for lack of trying.
You will need a
minimum of 2x6 feet one floor space in a traditional cage or hutch or 2x6 or 3x4 C&C grids; but ideally more. Please be aware that any extra space on another level doesn't count.
When contacting rescues, please be patient if necessary try again. They are all run on a volunteering base (including the RSPCA and the Blue Cross as well as any private home-run rescues) and usually on top of a day job. Emergencies and life saving care of of ill piggies always takes precendence to any admin work. As all rescues are full to max (but not necessarily with piggies yet ready for adoption), things are usually hectic.
Here is more in-depth information on particular aspects, which you may find helpful:
- More about rescue dating:
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
- Our list of carefully vetted and recommended guinea pig rescues:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/
- The information in the mixed pairs chapter also applies to groups with a neutered boar:
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
- Our detailed bonding guide, which also covers the 2 weeks post-intro group establishment dominance phase:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
- There will be lots of new/different behaviours and dynamics:
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
- Here is the access link to our full information resource on a wide range of topics where all the above guides are part of. You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need:
Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection
All the best! A group with a 'husboar' is a thing of joy. I am a total fan and have/have had a string of them; my first very own piggy 40 years ago was one and I have come back to them as an adult.
