Bonding a male trio

[Candour]

Hi, I have always had my guinea pigs in two pairs and they have got along fine like that. However, last week one of my guinea pigs, Bobby, sadly passed away leaving Bernie on his own. I’ve set up their new c and c cages with a divider so that Bernie can see the other two guinea pigs and won’t feel as lonely until I can bond them.
Anyways, I was hoping for some advice as I know it can be a lot harder to bond males together than females.
Also, if bonding then doesn’t work then I will happily get Bernie a new cage mate, I just wanted to try this first.

 

[Swissgreys]

Firstly I am sorry for the loss of Bobby.
It is great that you have set up the cages so that Bernie still has interaction through the bars with your other boys.

However I would strongly advise that you do not try to bond them.
Male trios have almost 100% fall out rate, and are most likely to result in a fight that leaves you with 3 single pigs who can never go back together.
I would not risk the bind between your other pair and try and locate a new friend for Bernie.

You might find some of the guides below helpful.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

 

[Betsy]

 

[Piggies&buns]

I am sorry for your loss.

It would not be worth the risk in trying to bond them as a trio. The risk of it being a complete failure is almost certain, fights, injuries and broken bonds wouldn’t be worth it. It would be better to just find a new friend for Bernie.

 

[Candour]

Firstly I am sorry for the loss of Bobby.
It is great that you have set up the cages so that Bernie still has interaction through the bars with your other boys.

However I would strongly advise that you do not try to bond them.
Male trios have almost 100% fall out rate, and are most likely to result in a fight that leaves you with 3 single pigs who can never go back together.
I would not risk the bind between your other pair and try and locate a new friend for Bernie.

You might find some of the guides below helpful.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

Thank you! I have just been reading through the guides you have sent me and see that male trips are more likely to work if they are older. They are all past their teenage years now so are a lot more laidback, aswell as this none of the pigs have much of a dominant personality. They have been sniffing at each other through the bars and don’t seem bothered by each other which is why I thought they might work well as a trio.
However, I definitely don’t want to disrupt the bond my current pair has so I will look into getting another pig for Bernie.
Any more advice would be appreciated, thanks again.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you! I have just been reading through the guides you have sent me and see that male trips are more likely to work if they are older. They are all past their teenage years now so are a lot more laidback, aswell as this none of the pigs have much of a dominant personality. They have been sniffing at each other through the bars and don’t seem bothered by each other which is why I thought they might work well as a trio.
However, I definitely don’t want to disrupt the bond my current pair has so I will look into getting another pig for Bernie.
Any more advice would be appreciated, thanks again.

There is absolutely no guarantee that being older will make it more likely to work - it’s about character compatibility and you never know what will happen when they were actually together. They may not appear to have dominant personalities because they are in a character compatible and suitable pairing, but put three together and dominance could well come out. Also, the cage size required to even attempt would be huge (at least one square metre per piggy). Their reaction through the bars is not a good gauge of how well things would go if they were physically put together. It is definitely a safer decision to not risk trying it.

 

[artcasper]

Sorry for your loss and good luck with finding Bernie a new friend when the time is right x

 

[Swissgreys]

On several occasions I have had piggies that get on well through the bars (including laying next ot the bars together), and was lulled into a false sense of security about their compatibility (I am thinking about the delightful Ruby who lived quite happily next to sweet Eddi for weeks, and then tried to eat his face the minute they were introduced for those of you who remember that delightful bonding saga ).
As boars can be quite tricky to pair up I still wouldn't be willing to risk the nice bond your otehr pair clearly have.
Also as Piggies&buns has already mentioned the size required for a boar trio would be huge.
Depending on where you are based in the UK you may have a rescue nearby that will allow you to take Bernie along to meet some other boars and pick his own companion.

 

[Candour]

Thanks for all your advice, it is appreciated
Here’s Bernie, he’s just woken up

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry you lost Bobby. Hope you find Bernie a new friend x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I have just been reading through the guides you have sent me and see that male trips are more likely to work if they are older. They are all past their teenage years now so are a lot more laidback, aswell as this none of the pigs have much of a dominant personality. They have been sniffing at each other through the bars and don’t seem bothered by each other which is why I thought they might work well as a trio.
However, I definitely don’t want to disrupt the bond my current pair has so I will look into getting another pig for Bernie.
Any more advice would be appreciated, thanks again.

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss.

I would strongly recommend to let your boys live alongside for a few weeks so they can make friends through the bars and your chance of acceptance is much improved. In order to end up with working stable adult boar trio, they have to all want to be together and the newbie has to be invited in by the two others. It is not something that you can force - the more you push your boys to get on to suit your own wishes, the more likely things are going to fail.
Keep in mind that more piggy trios fail than work out at whichever age or cominbation; older boars over 4-5 years excepted, as their testosterone has fizzled out and the comfort companionship becomes more important in their old age. Younger adults are still on the tricky side unless their personalities really balance and there is a base of mutual liking as well as the right mix of dominance/ambition and submission. But I would never count on it, whatever it says on paper - I have seen to many theoretically perfect matches founder very quickly as you can never predict the interpersonal dynamics when the piggies actually meet. We can give you only trends, based on experience. As in any pairing you do at home, you need to have a plan B at the ready if things don't go to plan.

Please separate straight away if the top boar of the pair is feeling stressed and starts to turn on his mate and immediately stop any bonding attempt; it is never going to work out if that happens! If you don't, you can end up with three single boars if your couple won't make up again. We have seen this happen often enough - with adult boars and not just with babies or teenagers, too.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

PS: You have obviously never tried to bond older sows...

 

[Candour]

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss.

I would strongly recommend to let your boys live alongside for a few weeks so they can make friends through the bars and your chance of acceptance is much improved. In order to end up with working stable adult boar trio, they have to all want to be together and the newbie has to be invited in by the two others. It is not something that you can force - the more you push your boys to get on to suit your own wishes, the more likely things are going to fail.
Keep in mind that more piggy trios fail than work out at whichever age or cominbation; older boars over 4-5 years excepted, as their testosterone has fizzled out and the comfort companionship becomes more important in their old age. Younger adults are still on the tricky side unless their personalities really balance and there is a base of mutual liking as well as the right mix of dominance/ambition and submission. But I would never count on it, whatever it says on paper - I have seen to many theoretically perfect matches founder very quickly as you can never predict the interpersonal dynamics when the piggies actually meet. We can give you only trends, based on experience. As in any pairing you do at home, you need to have a plan B at the ready if things don't go to plan.

Please separate straight away if the top boar of the pair is feeling stressed and starts to turn on his mate and immediately stop any bonding attempt; it is never going to work out if that happens! If you don't, you can end up with three single boars if your couple won't make up again. We have seen this happen often enough - with adult boars and not just with babies or teenagers, too.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

PS: You have obviously never tried to bond older sows...

Thank you! I will definitely take your advice and it is very much appreciated. They are currently living along side each other and can see and smell each other through the bars so ill leave them like that for a couple of weeks.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
So sorry about the loss of Bobby.