Hi, I recently rescued three male guinea pigs which have been neutered but their behaviour thus far has been rather territorial. Two of the piggies can't seem to be in the same vicinity as each other, with the third mixing fine with either. I have given them plenty of hidey holes and they seem to have taken one each, so no real problems with living together, and they have plenty of space. My question relates to a possible complication I am about to impose on them! I have offered to look after the school's female guineas at weekends and am wondering if this will be feasible, or whether it will make an already tense situation worse. They would all play in the garden together during the day (weather permitting) and be in separate hutches at night. Could this work, if I give the females their own hidey holes in the garden and hope that the boys behave? Thank you.
Boys behaving badly...
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piggyfan
Hello and welcome to the forum. The problem is boars should live in pairs and never any more. I would remove one as they may all fall out and have to live apart. I know this is very upsetting and it is not your fault but the place you got them from. They should never have allowed three boars to go together. All you can do is remove one and take them to a rescue were they can choose their own friend to avoid getting another boar and finding they do not get on.
PoppyandBillie
Junior Guinea Pig
I've heard people say that it's not advised to have more than 2 males together. May be you get get a female to make a male pair and a mixed pair. 
It would be best to let them sleep in the same hutches all the time if you were to put them altogether.
It would be best to let them sleep in the same hutches all the time if you were to put them altogether.
Hi PoppyandBillie, I had toyed with the idea of getting a female and doing exactly as you suggested, good to know someone else had the idea too! Not sure what advice I can get about the school's guinea pigs, as in my original post? Thanks.
SpinningNickel
Junior Guinea Pig
I will say I have no experience with larger herds, but from my understandings, this is what I would say with regards to your initial question:
Neutering makes little difference to boars' dominance behaviour. In other words, they become no less territorial, unlike some animals. (Someone can correct me on this; it's just what I've read.)
Putting females too close, where they can be seen or smelt, may increase their fighting. It provokes them to want to "get" the females for themselves, and establish as head of the herd more strongly.
I imagine they would probably be ok playing outside, if you have a large run with plenty of space for the boys to separate. Once they're shut into hutches, though, you may be better keeping the girls a distance away if possible. If this isn't easily done, you can see how it goes, but you will want to keep a close eye on the boars that don't get on.
Neutering makes little difference to boars' dominance behaviour. In other words, they become no less territorial, unlike some animals. (Someone can correct me on this; it's just what I've read.)
Putting females too close, where they can be seen or smelt, may increase their fighting. It provokes them to want to "get" the females for themselves, and establish as head of the herd more strongly.
I imagine they would probably be ok playing outside, if you have a large run with plenty of space for the boys to separate. Once they're shut into hutches, though, you may be better keeping the girls a distance away if possible. If this isn't easily done, you can see how it goes, but you will want to keep a close eye on the boars that don't get on.
Three boys together is not likely to work,perhaps you could take out the most dominant and then go boar dating with him so that you would have 2 pairs in seperate cages.
Having girls nearby will not help matters.Wishing you luck.
Having girls nearby will not help matters.Wishing you luck.
Boar trios rarely work in the long term. It's not unheard of but rare for it to work. I'm surprised the RSPCA allowed an unstable trio to go to be honest.
If it were me I'd watch them and see who seems to be the trouble causer then remove him and ten maybe take him dating for a wife.
As for you minding a girl on weekends if that trio get a whiff of a female things are likely to become even more unstable with them.
If it were me I'd watch them and see who seems to be the trouble causer then remove him and ten maybe take him dating for a wife.
As for you minding a girl on weekends if that trio get a whiff of a female things are likely to become even more unstable with them.
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