A Tale of 3 Boars

[Wynd]

So, as anyone who has read my other posts, I've been adopted by 3 guinea pigs within a month I love them all, and had hopes of being able to habitate them together.

Patrick and Jacob came together 3 weeks ago. After less than a week, my hubby put them together and thus broke quarantine. I was worried, but kept them apart for the remainder of the week until I had them all vet checked and a fecal done. All was clear, and the vet suggested I keep the cages within view of each other, to help them get used to each other's sounds.

So, Tommy had his cage and the other boys had theirs. This past Friday, I needed to do heavy cage cleaning, so I set up a huge play pen which is 7 cubes by 3 cubes (cubes are 14" or 35.5 cm). I put a large plate of salad down, and added the boys. There was enough room for them to move and avoid each other, plus I was right there with towels if needed.

Patrick proceeded to be a jerk and snark at both Tommy and Jacob. There was nipping, teeth chattering, rumblestrutting, etc. No actual bites though. Once their homes were clean, I put everyone back.

Patrick spent the next 2 days bullying Jacob to no end. They had always had a leadership debate, lol. Jacob always challenged Patrick after being pushed around and nipped (I think this is why they were sold, since they did not get along perfectly).

I saw Jacob started kicking Patrick and Patrick wouldn't let Jacob eat. Since I don't have a spare cage, I wasn't sure what to do. Tommy and Jacob had gotten along while being fed, and when we had lap time, both had no problems with each other. So, I switched Tommy and Patrick (and sat here for 8 hours watching everyone).

Patrick is now single and a happy boar! He doesn't teeth chatter at anyone, he's more ready to be cuddled and I was able to clip his nails yesterday. Jacob and Tommy have only teeth chattered once, but otherwise sleep together in their hut, eat, snooze, etc. No problems with them. They are still getting used to each other, but Tommy is submissive to Jacob.

Now there is no yips, squeals or sounds from them unless it's meal time They are all eating a large variety of foods, no fighting and just peace! They are still side by side, so they see each other and can communicate, but there is no longer this male bullying going on I am so happy, as we were thinking we'd have to rehome Patrick if this didn't work (only because no extra cage).

We're still planning on building a large outdoor pen, and I will have it divided as well (so they can be supervised outside, or if I can get a true hutch and build a proper outdoor home for them). Either way, things are going very well! I am happy that there is no longer that stressful feeling they had going on, and that they are getting along. Tommy is very passive, and Jacob, though smaller, is happy being top pig :p

 

[Connie]

Just so you are aware, There is every chance it wont work. It is very rare for a trio of boys to get along together in the long term.

To have any kind of chance, you will need
A massive amount of space, 13square feet +
3 of everything, So 3 food bowls 3 water bottles 3 toys, 3 hay areas, and 3 hideys (each with 2 exists so nobody can be backed into a corner)

You currently have them in two seperate cages? If these cages wer big enough, another option would be to boar date patric to find him a new friend

 

[Wynd]

Just so you are aware, There is every chance it wont work. It is very rare for a trio of boys to get along together in the long term.

To have any kind of chance, you will need
A massive amount of space, 13square feet +
3 of everything, So 3 food bowls 3 water bottles 3 toys, 3 hay areas, and 3 hideys (each with 2 exists so nobody can be backed into a corner)

You currently have them in two seperate cages? If these cages wer big enough, another option would be to boar date patric to find him a new friend

Oh, I honestly don't expect it to work out with the three Tommy and Jacob are happy, and Patrick still has company, just no way to harm each other. Once I get the bigger hutch and stuff built, I will look into boar dating. I know no one here does it, but I may be able to find someone with a younger male or spayed female that would let me do that Ultimately, I would love to have a companion for Patrick, so I hope he will find someone he loves :rose

 

[karalianne]

I hope Patrick ends up with a good friend! My three are split up currently, as well. I have a 3x5 C&C cage and it wasn't big enough for them, so I have two in a 3x3 section and my lone boar in a 2x3 section. I'm going to give that lone fellow a few more months to age out of his adolescence, and then I'm going to try them ONE MORE TIME. If it doesn't work at the end of the summer, I'll be finding him a friend and I'll have two pairs!

 

[Wiebke]

Best of luck for your plans! I wouldn't reintroduce Jacob back into the picture, but you may be successful dating him with a younger piggy. Hopefully, you two others will make it well through the first year; it sounds pretty par for the course!

Often, an age difference can help with a boar bond, especially when it means that only one boy at a time is going through the stroppy months.

 

[Wynd]

Thank you I am hoping that Patrick will eventually find a friend and will be happy and content. I did have a young male that I was going to adopt, but he died suddenly So, we're going to wait a bit, get the outdoor homes built first and see what we can do that way first