Advice Needed

[Julu]

Hi.
We found our 3 year old male dead in his cage earlier. This was completely sudden as he hadn't shown any signs of being unwell. We have 3 more boys, 2 live in an indoor cage together and Shadow is now on his own in his cage. When outside they get on okay altogether. Should we try putting all 3 together or leave one by himself? Any advice welcome. We are all devastated at the moment and don't really know what to do.

 

[artcasper]

Sorry for your sudden loss, not nice for you... I can't offer advice on bonding though as have no experience of boars... Someone else will be along soon..

 

[Pigwhisperer]

All I know is that 3 boars don't generally get on and you would endanger the bond of your existing pair. Sorry for your loss, what an awful thing to happen.

 

[Nassala]

You could try putting them together but you would have to be aware that a possible outcome is all three refusing to live with each other, and then you are left with three separate lonely pigs. The most likely outcome is that they get along for a bit until tensions form and one is bullied and/or eventually attacked.
Trios of boars have the most chance of working if there I'd a big age difference. I have had it work before, but one of the boars was my very placid elderly pig Bob, from about 7 - 9. He was with an adult and baby and mostly ignored them.
If the lonely pig is not inside then bring him in to interact more with you, and if he can see and hear the other boars through the bars that will still be company without territory disputes. Give him and you enough time to grieve before making any long term decisions. The best option for him might be a new friend from a rescue that does boar dating, but obviously that will be a future decision.
Very sorry for your loss, my vet nurse said once that piggies seem to always go dramatically, they seldom get to old age. Even with the best care they can be fine one minute and gone the next especially if there was a genetic condition like a weak heart. But it is the quality, not quantity that counts for piggies so be comforted that you gave him a great life.

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry for your sudden loss. I would not suggest you put the three together, unless you don’t mind risking injury or all three having to live separately. In which case the next step would be to get them each a friend, or have them living in cages next to each other. A trio would also need a large amount of space, if their personalities even matched.

As mentioned above, you can put the lone pig in a cage next to the pair so he can still have that interaction through the bars for now. Then you can find him a friend once lockdown is over.