Boar trio problem!

[Pickles]

Hello everyone! I think I'm having a bullying problem with my three boars! Pickles and Kug were living together hapilly when i got another boar from a rescue (Pepper). Pepper is older and very shy so I figured there would be no problem.
Pickles is dominating the group, no questions about that.

However, recently, tensions started building up between Pepper and Kug. Kug attacks Pepper without any reason (Kug is getting through his teenage months so it could be just that!). I noticed that Pepper is always in a corner being real scared because of Kug and just 2 days ago I discovered a bite mark on Pepper's back ( ! Pepper doesn't reply to Kug's attacks, he is just the victim here and I think he might be bullied! Kug tries to dominate Pickles from time to time but it just cools down when Pickles shows him who's boss. Pepper and Pickles do not attack each other.

When I saw the bite mark, I separated Pepper from the other twos, afraid that he might get seriously injured. Should I have put Kug alone, considering he is the bully?

I don't know what to do now. Do you think there is a chance at reintroducing them since Kug already bit Pepper? I tried a bonding bath in the past and apparently helped a little but not so much since I'm now at this point.

I dont' have enough room to keep two cages so I might have to find a new home for Pepper. I really want to keep him though and I'm in need of advice, anything will help!
Thanks in advance !

 

[dylansmummy]

naughty boars i am so sorry to hear i dont really know what to say about keeping your 3 together but my boys had been fighting and i know how stressfull it is mine really hurt each other and its not nice.

I hope someone comes along really soon to advise you.

 

[liquorice allsorts]

Hello everyone! I think I'm having a bullying problem with my three boars! Pickles and Kug were living together hapilly when i got another boar from a rescue (Pepper). Pepper is older and very shy so I figured there would be no problem.
Pickles is dominating the group, no questions about that.

However, recently, tensions started building up between Pepper and Kug. Kug attacks Pepper without any reason (Kug is getting through his teenage months so it could be just that!). I noticed that Pepper is always in a corner being real scared because of Kug and just 2 days ago I discovered a bite mark on Pepper's back ( ! Pepper doesn't reply to Kug's attacks, he is just the victim here and I think he might be bullied! Kug tries to dominate Pickles from time to time but it just cools down when Pickles shows him who's boss. Pepper and Pickles do not attack each other.

When I saw the bite mark, I separated Pepper from the other twos, afraid that he might get seriously injured. Should I have put Kug alone, considering he is the bully?

I don't know what to do now. Do you think there is a chance at reintroducing them since Kug already bit Pepper? I tried a bonding bath in the past and apparently helped a little but not so much since I'm now at this point.

I dont' have enough room to keep two cages so I might have to find a new home for Pepper. I really want to keep him though and I'm in need of advice, anything will help!
Thanks in advance !

seems i am having a similar problem to you, although no one has been bitten yet, my thread is on here also, hope we both get some help soon

 

[Pickles]

Yes I saw your thread! I hope no one gets injured in your trio! Let's hope someone will come along to help us!

 

[Wiebke]

You can give it one last try if you really wish to (towel at the readyso you don't get bitten yourself and see link for tips), but generally, after there have been bloody bites and fights, boars sadly won't go back together - ever.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562
http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/optionsmenu.htm

It might be useful if you considered other long term options for Kug.
You can boar date him at a rescue, so he can find a friend he gets on with at no risk for you for ending up with yet another fall out or you can have Kug neutered and live with a girl eventually - an option I would personally only recommend if Kug can't be bonded otherwise. You can have him living next to the other two as a single, but he will be missing companionship at his young age.

 

[Connie]

I am afraid to say after blood is drawn it is VERY hard to reintroduce piggies. Boar trios very rarely work anyway. You can try a bonding bath. All reintroductions should be done on neuteral teratory with no hideys and plenty of hay. They should be left (never without supervision) to hump away for idealy about 8 hours, before being put in their cage. The cage MUST be cleaned out and disinfected thoughroly (including any toys and hideys) all food must be changed so the cage ALL smells neuteral. If that is not succesfull you may have to face the fact that they cannot be reintroduced. I'm sorry, i know argueing boars can be a nightmare.


For future reference (anyone who may be looking at this tread trying to decide whether to have a trio) It should only be attempted by people who have much experience in bonding, or those who have plenty of space to house 3 lone boars, as this can often be the result of a failed trio.