Hi, can anyone help we got a trio of boars last week they are 11 weeks old. They have been fine until last night and this moring two of them are fighting. One seems to be left out on his own in the cage whole the other two are in hideaways ect.. but the same one his own is the one who chatters his teeth and wags his bum while making a rumbling sound! Will this resolve? Shall we split them up? Help!
3 New Guinea Pigs, 2 Started Fighting
- Thread starter Lizwill
- Start date
Hi and welcome!
I am very sorry that you have become yet another victim of human greed and ignorance!
Please split your boys up. Baby boar trios have a fall-out of around 90% before they are reach a more settled adulthood, and even then more trios fail than work out. Boars are best kept in pairs. If dominance is rough right at the start, then it is going to flare up again badly as soon your boys' testicles start descending and testosterone output is at an all time high!
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
More important and helpful information for new owners via this link here in order to avoid any more costly mistakes: New Owners' Online Starter " Booklet" For Really Helpful Advice
Please do your research re. cage sizes etc. and character based pairing up before you make any further arrangements. Please also do not just hand the single boar back to where you got him because it is not his fault and he should not be made to pay the price for human greed and ignorance by ending up being sentenced to a life in isolation from his own kind.
If at all possible, please contact a good standard rescue that offers boar dating/bonding under expert supervision in order to find a character compatible mate for the long run or consider having your boy neutered once he is old enough provided you have access to a good and can keep a mixed pair well away from the other two boys. You also have to factor in a full 6 weeks post-op wait before a boar is 100% safe to go with any sows.
You can find links to recommended vets and rescues in several countries either in our fall-out guide or in the new owners' guide collection.
How bad is the fighting? If you separate, please keep the cages next to each other for ongoing interaction/stimulation and insurance and keep the two boys together that are getting on best in the hope that you have at least one working pair with a good chance of making it to adulthood together.