Add a third pig? Skinny or not?

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tayboonexx

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi guys,
I have yet another question. I keep turning to real people giving real advice because usually that is better than Google anyway. This will be a two part deal..

Part 1- I have one very dominant boy pig, and one very submissive pig, living together very well. The only issue is that I don't feel like they are 'bonded' as many pairs are. I feel like they just exist in semi peaceful environments. Theo, the dominant one, kind of bullies Ollie, the less dominant one, not physically, but just kicks him out of the hay box or scoots him away from the food or out of a house occasionally. They were raised together (I had Theo four days before I had Ollie, that is the extent of their separation) so I don't feel right (or the need, really) to separate them just because of the occasional squabble. THE POINT- Would it be terrible of me to add another male guinea pig to their cage to hopefully create a middle ground for their two personalities? I KNOW that trios of male's don't often work out, but I am hoping to see if there is any more advice or ideas from people who have dealt with this issue of two extremely different pigs to find a great and happy medium ground where everyone is happy, because I dont feel like my Ollie bear is to his happiest.

Part 2 finally,- I am looking into getting another pig, obviously. I want to get a skinny pig. I have read mixed reviews as to the skinnies and the guineas living together peacefully in the same cage. If I have to get a separate cage, I would like to possibly get girls (if adding a boy is not going to work and fix my issue). Would that change the temperament of my non-neutered boys in A SEPARATE CAGE just by the smell of the girls? If I don't have to get the sep cage, I want to add the BOY skinny into my cage of two existing boys.

wow, I am so sorry for being long winded and I hope this works.
 
Don't under any circumstances add another boy to your existing ones. They will def fall out big time if you do that. How long have you had them for? If it is over a month then it sounds as if they are bonded if under they are still working it through.

If you get girls you will need to keep them in another room and well away from any unneutered boys cos when a sow is in season a boy piggie can be VERY determined to get to her. The pheremones alone will drive them crazy.
 
Betsy said:
Don't under any circumstances add another boy to your existing ones. They will def fall out big time if you do that. How long have you had them for? If it is over a month then it sounds as if they are bonded if under they are still working it through.

If you get girls you will need to keep them in another room and well away from any unneutered boys cos when a sow is in season a boy piggie can be VERY determined to get to her. The pheremones alone will drive them crazy.
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I have had them since September of 2018. They have been together since they were 8 weeks old.
 
If your boys are not fighting bad, then I would leave them as they are. If you plan to get females, you could neuter the boys and put them each with a girl in separate cages. Both of the skinny pigs I have had have been very dominant and defensive piggies. I had to put my most submissive piggie with my current skinny, Jasmine. Luckily Jasmine and Anna are best buds now. I’m not sure if all skinny pigs would be dominant but I know they all have big personalities!
 
tayboonexx said:
I have had them since September of 2018. They have been together since they were 8 weeks old.
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Well in that case I would def not add another in. They are happy enough as they are and are rubbing along quite nicely. They know the rules of piggy interaction and even if you think that your underboar could be happier he is OK with the arrangement as it is. Some piggies just do their own thing and are never really close. My lot take time out from each other quite regularly.
 
tayboonexx said:
Hi guys,
I have yet another question. I keep turning to real people giving real advice because usually that is better than Google anyway. This will be a two part deal..

Part 1- I have one very dominant boy pig, and one very submissive pig, living together very well. The only issue is that I don't feel like they are 'bonded' as many pairs are. I feel like they just exist in semi peaceful environments. Theo, the dominant one, kind of bullies Ollie, the less dominant one, not physically, but just kicks him out of the hay box or scoots him away from the food or out of a house occasionally. They were raised together (I had Theo four days before I had Ollie, that is the extent of their separation) so I don't feel right (or the need, really) to separate them just because of the occasional squabble. THE POINT- Would it be terrible of me to add another male guinea pig to their cage to hopefully create a middle ground for their two personalities? I KNOW that trios of male's don't often work out, but I am hoping to see if there is any more advice or ideas from people who have dealt with this issue of two extremely different pigs to find a great and happy medium ground where everyone is happy, because I dont feel like my Ollie bear is to his happiest.

Part 2 finally,- I am looking into getting another pig, obviously. I want to get a skinny pig. I have read mixed reviews as to the skinnies and the guineas living together peacefully in the same cage. If I have to get a separate cage, I would like to possibly get girls (if adding a boy is not going to work and fix my issue). Would that change the temperament of my non-neutered boys in A SEPARATE CAGE just by the smell of the girls? If I don't have to get the sep cage, I want to add the BOY skinny into my cage of two existing boys.

wow, I am so sorry for being long winded and I hope this works.
Click to expand...

While my boar was in a separate c and c cage to the 2 girls, waiting for the recommended time period after his op before joining them, he managed to escape his cage! Found him squeaking under the stairs. And he's not the most athletic of piggies. He's never done it since as he's happy with his harem I guess.
 
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