Bonding sows done... now boars

[Vida]

After some time, I have finally bonded my five sows together in their C&C cage.

Now I am left with the two boys that live in this C&C cage and dad that lives in the top cage on the left. (The bottom cage is empty.)

I know some of you told me that bonding 3 boars is impossible, but I have read others that have managed. So my question is how do I start?

Dad really seems calmer and happier in a smaller cage. (He didn't like being in a C&C cage.) I have tried placing grids in the middle and they all go mad and bite at the grids.

Is it worth it?

Or should I just leave them as it is and leave dad alone?

 

[Wiebke]

I would try them on the lawn on neutral ground first; but with dad separated by a cage top. See how that goes. If there are signs of hositility, I would not bother to proceed.

In order to get a working trio, you need at least two laid back piggies; as soon as you get two dominant characters in the mix, you will run a very high risk of outsider problems and permanent fall outs. You chances of succeeding are less than 30%.

PS: I love the girls' cage; so great that they are getting on now! It is far easier to bond girls because they live like that and you have the piggy instincts on your side.

 

[guineapiglover96]

its harder to get males to bond after being with females it is possible but hard, it depends on your guinea pigs really and there nature to others, like the above post if you introduce them on grass it may distract them and it wont have the others scent all and see how that goes!

 

[Vida]

Thanks. Unfortunately I don't have a lawn or grass. What would be 'normal' behaviour upon introduction and where would be the limit when I would need to split them up, before outright fighting and blood I mean?

 

[Suzygpr]

Hi Vida

As your baby boys are still young I would just get on with it and pop the boys in with dad, no need to do all the neutral stuff as he needs to be the boss and they will accept that easier if they are on his territory - every day you delay is another step closer to their hormones. You have a higher chance of it working if your male adopts the babies, the problems will come when the boys get to around 12-16 weeks, hopefully by then the babies will have accepted dad as boss and there will be little conflict.

You have three males and you are well aware that it's likely not work in the long term. There is no guarantee that if you left them as a single and a pair that the brothers would get on long term - they will be going through the hormones together and that makes it more likely for fall outs. I find the baby boys are much more settled if they grow up with an adult male - as long as he adopts them and doesn't bully them.

I don't recommend adding a third male to an established pair or getting three young boys that will go through puberty together. If you are going to try a trio of boys, either 3 older boys that have the right personlity mix or an adult with youngsters is about the best way to achieve it. The only way you'll know if it will work is to try it.

The largest space you can give them is important, I don't have individual hideys but large bedrooms with an open front, platforms and tunnels so that no one can control the entrance. One extra large food bowl, and a couple of bottles. You may need to adapt the set up to suit your boys, see how they do and make the changes that you feel would make it better.

Be prepared for it not to work so you can separate them safely as soon as you feel they are getting too aggressive.

Best of luck, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Suzy x

 

[Vida]

Ok, have just done it, although slightly different. Have plonked dad in with the two boys. Rudy (dad) is smelling the boys bottoms, and Vashtian is trying to mount dad. Arwyn doesn't seem to happy about the whole situation, but is in a kind of 'as long as they leave me alone I don't care' attitude. They are stopping and eating hay, then running around again, lots of rumbling, then trying to mount, rubbing noses, then stopping and nibbling at the wooden house together, then running around again etc...

Does this seem ok or can it get violent later?

 

[Wiebke]

It seems OK.

Problems can flare up, but are less likely with youngsters. You need to watch them interact well over a day and see how they get on. Boars don't have a short acceptance phase right at the beginning like girls where you are mostly safe afterwards. Bonding can take days. Fall outs can happen at any time, especially once the hormones kick in with youngsters.

You have a list of danger signs in the boar behaviour sticky at the top of this section.