4 boars and i'm struggling!

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WoodyHudds

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Previously had two boars who lived a happy life in a single hutch expanding to a double floor cage throughout their life. When both boars passed we decided to get some new guinea pigs. After having guinea pigs as a child and then these two as an adult I was keen to get some more for the kids. We bought 4 boars from pets at home and I asked whether boars would be harder to keep than sows - I was assured this was not the case. Abridging what's gone on over the last two months has been fights, bites and constant falling out between them. I built a 6ft by 4ft floor cage in one of our rooms (with a 3rd of that having a low second floor they can jump on) as a last throw of dice, four of everything where required and zoned out as best I could but after sending time re-bonding them following the great advice on here the fall outs and some bites have continued. The tricky thing is I have only actually observed two physical altercations so I know two pairs that don't work. Pets at Home have offered to adopt them back but my kids are emotionally invested in them and I really want to make it work if I can and feel like I've made a commitment to the pigs but equally I don't want to be condemning them to a single side by side life.

If I manage to bond a pair (which I accept may not happen!) is it advisable to then put the other two separate ones in a side by side setup on their own (as a two) or build a three cage side by side combination. My only concern is if I have a functioning pair would then the near presence of the other two possibly then cause tension and break that bond?

Any other advice welcome!

How I wished I'd found this forum before purchase!
 
Sadly as you’ve found out, boars are best in pairs. Its very difficult to get the character combinations right with more than two, and giving more space often doesn’t help.
If you can split them up into two pairs, then they will be fine alongside each other. If you can make a pair and then two singles, they can still all be next to each other and in fact in that scenario where you have single piggies, then it is essential that their cages are next to each other to ensure they can continue to have interaction through the bars to prevent loneliness.
 
I'm so sorry about your situation. I have no experience of boar pairs. But I do feel you. Many people would just give them back because its the easiest option. I hope you find a solution.
 
Thanks for the reply. If with the two singles and there bond is dysfunctional (they bite each other if combined) would they still sit side by side but have a slight gap between them so no biting can occur or will the presence near each other wind them up?
 
WoodyHudds said:
Thanks for the reply. If with the two singles and there bond is dysfunctional (they bite each other if combined) would they still sit side by side but have a slight gap between them so no biting can occur or will the presence near each other wind them up?
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Yes they still need to be side by side. They may not be able to live physically together, but they still must live next to each other to prevent them from getting lonely. They may at first lock like they are trying to get back together but they will be fine and will calm down.
 
I had 4boars at one time. 2 loved happily as a pair and the other 2 side by side.
The 2singles had interaction only through the bars or mesh that separated them.
They loved to see and talk to each other, they just didn't like living in the same space.
They all lived in the same room in their cages and happily wheeled at each other.
Hope this makes sense and helps at little.xx
 
WoodyHudds said:
Thanks for the reply. If with the two singles and there bond is dysfunctional (they bite each other if combined) would they still sit side by side but have a slight gap between them so no biting can occur or will the presence near each other wind them up?
Click to expand...
WoodyHudds said:
Thanks for the reply. If with the two singles and there bond is dysfunctional (they bite each other if combined) would they still sit side by side but have a slight gap between them so no biting can occur or will the presence near each other wind them up?
Click to expand...

Your dysfunctional pair will be fine right next to each other or - if your C&C cage allows it with a grid divider in the cage (if necessary cable tied for added stability so they can continue to be friends through the bar but without any disputes. They won't bite each other through the bars. ;)
 
I’m so sorry to read that you were so irresponsibly sold a quad of juvenile boars. It makes me so upset as you’ve clearly been doing your very best for them, and none of this was of your making. I’m not going to add to the advice above, other than to say please do stick around and let us know how you get on. And can we see some photos?
 
Thank you for the support and advice I'm hugely frustrated that Pets at Home do not warn buyers about the very high probability that 4 boars will not bond. Autumn and Lightning are now placed side by side and that has got Autumn moving about a lot more again. I went through the bonding routine with Summer and Thunder today and they fell asleep with each other which was a good positive sign. Since moving to the new cage from a neutral area (I've attached a photo to show the setup in case anyone has any suggestions/improvements 6ft y 4ft) Thunder has barbed Summer a couple of times with fur in his mouth but no blood yet. I unfortunately don't hold out much hope though. Interestingly when they were a four initially Summer was the dominant one humping Thunder repeatedly but in this bonding they have swapped with Thunder chasing and dominating at the moment.
 

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Yes it is so frustrating that not all pet shops are aware of the problems that can occur.

It will take a while for summer and thunder to settle and form their own new hierarchy (about two weeks). The key thing with a pair of boars is space - a cage of at least 150cm x 60cm, recommending 180cm x 60cm - and two of every item, with plenty of hides and ensure you always handle the dominant piggy first (it is the dominant pig’s right to be first in everything).

Good luck. I hope thunder and summer can work things out and remain a happy couple. Keep us posted
 
Thunder and Summer are beginning to work each other out and today has been their calmest day, although I'm not counting chickens. I'm looking at building their final cage setup and going to look at create something which gives them all side by side contact but just wondered whether doing this may break up my current pair?
Thunder was very obsessed by Autumn when they were together as a four but Autumn ended up biting his paw when I tried them as a pair first.
My worry is if I create a four single cages in a quad setup face to face or three cages with option to seperate into four if Thunder and Summer don't get on over the long term could Thunder reject Summer if he has continual site of Autumn?
I think they will be more lively and have variety if they can all see each other (with dividers between them) but just worry whether I'm comprising a pair because of this?
 
There is generally no problem caused to a boar pair when in the presence of other boars.
Their problems as a four do not mean that there will necessarily be problems between them as a pair provided summer and thunder are compatible. And if they do have problems it won’t be because he can see autumn - any problems between summer and thunder will be because they aren’t compatible with each other. It would be wise to have a plan a way to separate thunder and summer should things turn sour between them though but otherwise leave them together
 
Thanks I'll be designing it around having 4 seperate cages with a couple of ways I can take dividers out to start as a pair with two seperates but will still be side by side.
 
I don't have any other practical advice to offer, but couldn't leave without saying what a wonderful job you are doing after being mis-sold an impossible group.

You are also setting an invaluable example to your kids about responsibility and the value of the life of an animal.
We need more owners like you (and the owners that your kids will be in the future).
 
It's not been an easy time and thanks for the message it means a lot. Today has been the first day we haven't had an event and the piggies seem much happier at the moment. Looking forward to getting them into the final setup so they can live happily. This forum has been invaluable!
 
Just thought i'd send an update and some more advice if possible. Not surprised but unfortunately the possible successful boar pair have had to be separated due to finding a bite on one of their backs so Summer and Thunder and now housed side by side. I've spent the last month and a half building a shed to house them in due to the space requirements of 4 separate piggies. I'm currently in design mode and ideally want to let all 4 pigs interact with each other (through dividers!) to keep them active. Does anyone have any pictures of their setups or suggestions to coordinate 4 boars so they all have their own cages but have different side by side opportunities with different piggies. Any suggestions welcome plus any advice/top tips of keeping guineas in a built cage within a shed more than welcome!
 
Wow, that would be quite an undertaking. I'm trying to think what way you could set up the cages but the only thing I can think of is them all meeting in the middle...Hopefully someone else can help you. I don't know anyone who has four singles on here though. Sorry the bond didn't work out.
 
Gosh, that does feel like very bad luck to have four boars and not even be able to make one pair out of them! I suppose that it may be possible to try again when they are a little older and over their various hormone surges (I'm not sure you said their age, but I think pet shop piggies are generally fairly young).

In terms of set up, I do not have an example but I would say work with what you've got to give them each a good space, and make sure it's user friendly for you to access and clean. It's not going to be critical that each pig can interact with each other pig, provided that they all have at least one other that they can see, smell and hear. You could always allow them to see a different pig if you are doing lawn time or something to increase the variety.
 
Do you have C&C? If space is not a problem, and you really want them all to see each other, then the easiest way is to have the biggest square you can put up and divide it by four. Like what @Siikibam said, they all can meet in the middle.
 
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