Bossiest Pig In A Trio

[GeorgesHuman]

I introduced a baby boar (Charlie) to my three year old boars (Elliot and Oscar) who had been bonded since they were little babies. Elliot has always been the boss pig and has done little bossy things like pushing the others heads out of the way when they tried to eat from his bowl or if they were drinking from the water bottle that he wanted a drink from.

I always try to avoid him being bossy to the others as much as I can by providing two of everything, and then three when Charlie moved in.

Now, Charlie is six months old and has lived with Oscar and Elliot for four months and I have noticed that Elliot is displaying more low-level bullying behaviour. If they are all eating hay from a huge pile, Elliot will go up to Charlie and push him away. It's rare that Charlie does move away but sometimes he will go and sit in his hut or on the top tier all alone. Other times I hear running in the hutch and I am afraid that Elliot is chasing Charlie. He doesn't hump him though.

Sometimes I will see Elliot and Charlie laid snuggly next to each other though.

Charlie seems a very happy piggy though and follows both Oscar and Elliot during free-range time and he popcorns a whole lot. He is showing excellent signs of progress, e.g. is a good weight and is becoming more and more tame.

Charlie, at the moment, seems rather a laid-back piggy and is happy enough to go with the flow, but if Elliot doesn't stem his bullish behaviour, will this result in a fight?

P.S. Elliot does show this behaviour to Oscar too, but usually Oscar will just walk away, or very ocasionally a 'mock' bite at Elliot.

 

[piggyfan]

Three boars should not live together. Boars are best kept in pairs. One needs to be dominant and one submissive and a trio does not allow that. I would separate Charlie and get him a friend of his own. I have heard many stories of trios fighting resulting in all three no longer able to live together.

 

[GeorgesHuman]

Hi piggyfan thanks for your reply. I was going to keep Charlie separate but posters on here said it was best to introduce Charlie to the others and keep them as a trio. I just would hate for them to fight. Its not got to that yet, just Elliot being a meany!

 

[piggyfan]

Oh really? Well I personally would never have three boars together but of course you must do what you feel is right.

 

[GeorgesHuman]

Oh really? Well I personally would never have three boars together but of course you must do what you feel is right.

Do you in your honest opinion think i should separate Charlie? There is no hint of aggression from Charlie. The last thing i want to do is have three single boys. Or huge vets bills.

 

[piggyfan]

For some people trios can work but it is not common. You could wait and see what happens. I read your old thread and saw people thought they may get on. You can try if you feel they are getting on well.

 

[Denziebear]

From my experience (three boars living together) it can began well.
My boys, King Julian was the dom male (he was older by a year), Jonah and Albert went along with this. As time went on and piggy puberty kicked in Albert was bullied by King Julian and soon Jonah began to join in to, Jonah being Julian's right hand piggy lol. Albert became withdrawn, depressed and totally tired. We had to separate him before the stress got to much. It did not come to fighting.
Having had two boars come to blows in the past I wanted to avoid it! It is very traumatic for both you and the piggies. I would personally find him a friend of his own. Hope this helps

 

[GeorgesHuman]

Thanks for your replies. I would hate for any of them to come to blows and just as i was saying there is never no aggression, well the past few days i have noticed that Elliot (boss pig) and Charlie (6 month old) have started squaring up to each other. They both stop dead when they're passing each other in the very spacious hutch and rumblestrutt and sometimes try to bite each other, although they never manage to actually do it. Its a great big cage so now i am wondering whether to seperate the top floor and keep Charlie up there and when he has passed his teenage stage get him on a boar date at a rescue. My partner and i work such long hours that i worry that if we are gne at work, there could be a nasty fight. I don't know what to do!

And now as i speak they're eating their hay rolls all calmly. Charlie also follows Elliot around while they're free ranging. Its so hard to decide what to do for the best!

 

[Rodentopia]

I have a group of eight males aswell as a trio so they can live together and I also know many others who have more then two males together. But it's down to personality. They do tussle over things from time to time but like humans they bound to bicker. They barge each other our the way if they want something but that's not fighting or bullying. How old are the oldest two? If all under two then hormones will be playing a huge part. Unless there is any sign of aggression I would leave them as they are for now. Has Charlie got any cuts on him? I would keep a close eye on them and provide as much space for them as you can. Do you have three bowls etc?

 

[GeorgesHuman]

Wow 8 boys together! That's amazing!

Oscar and Elliot are both almost 3 and Charlie is 8 months. There are definitely no injuries on any pig. They don't get violent with each other. I just worry that it may have the potential to. Oscar just does his own thing. Its really Charlie and El that i worry about. I don't think Charlie is properly into his hormonal time yet, its only rumbling a few times a day. They have three bowls and two bottles.