Bonding 2 boars

Thebubbypiggies

Thebubbypiggies

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Hi! I need some advice as this is my first time bonding myself.

recently I lost 2 of my boars so now I have 2 alone boars, one lived with one of those who passed and the other onewas neighbour with both the pair and another one that passed because they didn’t work together but next to each other.

i have 1 skinny boar and one teddy boar and I’m going to try to bond them in a 2x5 c&c cage.
Any tips on bonding boars?
 
This guide will help you with the process of bonding. Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics. You need to have a neutral space (so not one of their current cages) to carry out the bonding. The guide explains how to do it and the behaviours and warning signs to watch out for.
Be aware that establishing a relationship goes beyond the actual bonding sessions and lasts for a few weeks afterwards so you will need to keep an eye and monitor behaviour for a while .
The key is a successful bond is character compatibility and mutual liking.
I will add in further guides below

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
Hi!

I am ever so sorry for your loss!

I can't add to what @Piggies&buns has said, apart from encouraging to really take the time to read the very helpful links. They have taken me days to write to make sure that they are precise and comprehensive. The illustrated bonding guide will guide you through all stages in detail with pictures and videos of key behaviours and dynamics at every stage, including the post-introduction dominance phase which lasts for a few weeks.

Any successful piggy bond relies on character compatibility and mutual liking. Age or gender come a far second. Breed is irrelevant although a skinny is more likely to end up with scratches from dominance behaviours that rely on being buffered by a fur coat.
When this basis of mutual linking/personality balance not there, any bonding or bond will fail. Always make sure that you have a plan B you can implement there and then when bonding at home.
 
Ok, just to answer some of this. The boys are 1 year apart. One is turning 3 and the other one is turning 4. One has always been the dominant in the other relationship while the other one was not. They do stand next to each other atm and they like to sleep and be next to each other between the walk / c &c grid. They don’t chatter at each other but I took one of them to actually try to lick and wash the other one through the grids and the other one didn’t care. He actually seemed to like it as he didn’t try to move just ate his hay. ive Had them on the floor together for a bit and they just stood cozy up to each other and again the other was washing the piggie. No chattering just being there.
What I’m wondering is if I should have some floor times with them and them just on my lap over time and then introduce or just jump into the introduction?
 
With boars you set up a proper neutral bonding area away from the cages and free of all scent. You do one bonding session and you have to see it through to the end whether that is a success or a failure. Please don’t try several brief introductions. Please read the guides fully, and make sure you have the time and space to do it properly from start to finish.
good luck, by the way.
 
VickiA said:
With boars you set up a proper neutral bonding area away from the cages and free of all scent. You do one bonding session and you have to see it through to the end whether that is a success or a failure. Please don’t try several brief introductions. Please read the guides fully, and make sure you have the time and space to do it properly from start to finish.
good luck, by the way.
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I’m considering doing it in my bathroom. As it is just a big room and pretty open. They’ve been there before but that is over a year ago now and it’s been cleaned?
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
I’m considering doing it in my bathroom. As it is just a big room and pretty open. They’ve been there before but that is over a year ago now and it’s been cleaned?
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sounds perfect. Just make sure there’s nowhere any pig can get trapped if things turn out not to be a success.
 
VickiA said:
sounds perfect. Just make sure there’s nowhere any pig can get trapped if things turn out not to be a success.
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No, all furnitures are open in my bathroom too and I’ve tried it there before with other piggies. They didn’t work, but wasn’t because of the room:) will do it in a weekend. They giving me some positive signs as when they are next to each other (in c&c cages) they always drink together at the same time. So when one is out drinking the other one run up to drink together. They sleep together on each side of the fence sometimes and they never chatter at each other just eating hay and one trying to wash the other through the cage. Is that positive?
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
No, all furnitures are open in my bathroom too and I’ve tried it there before with other piggies. They didn’t work, but wasn’t because of the room:) will do it in a weekend. They giving me some positive signs as when they are next to each other (in c&c cages) they always drink together at the same time. So when one is out drinking the other one run up to drink together. They sleep together on each side of the fence sometimes and they never chatter at each other just eating hay and one trying to wash the other through the cage. Is that positive?
Click to expand...

I try not to read too much into side by side behaviour as I have learned to my cost that sometimes only the presence of the barrier keeps the peace. Sometimes the lying side by side is each pig marking their own territory like a guard pig!
 
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