Disowned :(

[mrsoakavich]

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced the problem I am having with my 3 litter boars.

My 3 boars are about 4 months old and from the same litter, they are brothers and have always been together. One of them is slightly bigger than the rest and he used to seem t be the more dominent one, he and another one constantly battled for dominance.

He has since dropped down the ranking order although still likes to think he is boss. The other 2 havfe made a strong friendship and are inseparable they week when one is taken out and obviously become distressed if separated.

The other one lives in the upstairs section of the cage and sits at the top weeking for them but if they come up they chase him until he hides. He just rumbles at them if they come anywhere near him.

Is this normal? It's making us really sad...but don't know if he likes it this way?

 

[flintstones]

Your boys, are coming up to there hormonal teens, they need plenty of room but the chances are high they may fallout. As the hormones begin, trouble starts.

If blood is drawn they must be separated I wonder if you are aswell separating now, to give your two boys with a strong bond the chance of getting though the hormonals without falling out. Of course either way there is still a chance they will fallout. Working Trio's are very rare. It is advised to keep boys in pairs.

Perhaps take the third wheel to a rescue and let him pick a friend, although it is difficult age for all concerned. If that pairing would work either boys are so very complicated at times, although they are certainly better temperment than my girls.

If I had room, and worse case scenerio I could deal with 4 single boys I would take your third wheel to the rescue and let him choose a friend but be prepared both pairs could fallout, when they hit the hormones. Which is between 6 -12 months to a year. Don't get me wrong alot of boys don't fallout! xx

 

[Wiebke]

Trios are the hardest pairing of piggies to get to work as an outsider situation is the norm rather than the exception. Boars are best kept in pairs; anything above is a rather fragile combination and VERY prone to bloody fights and fall outs.

I would recommend separating your outsider and letting him choose his own friend at a reputable rescue; he is just on the cusp of where he can either go with an adult boar or a young baby, so that ideally only of the pair is hormonal.

With two boar pairs based on real sympathy/character compatibility, you have a good chance of making it through the stroppy hormonal time between 4-12 months.

Otherwise, you can think about having your lonely boy neutered once a vet declares him well enough developed and fit for on op and - after a wait of 4-6 weeks - paired up with a girl. But you would have to keep any girl firmly out of sight of other boars and you would do well to find a savvy vet with lots of practice in neutering piggies.

Here is a list of reputable rescues. You will have to ring around; not all offer a "boar dating" service.
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp

Here is a link about possible boar combinations:
http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/optionsmenu.htm

 

[All0about0the0animals]

Your boys, are coming up to there hormonal teens, they need plenty of room but the chances are high they may fallout. As the hormones begin, trouble starts.

If blood is drawn they must be separated I wonder if you are aswell separating now, to give your two boys with a strong bond the chance of getting though the hormonals without falling out. Of course either way there is still a chance they will fallout. Working Trio's are very rare. It is advised to keep boys in pairs.

Perhaps take the third wheel to a rescue and let him pick a friend, although it is difficult age for all concerned. If that pairing would work either boys are so very complicated at times, although they are certainly better temperment than my girls.

If I had room, and worse case scenerio I could deal with 4 single boys I would take your third wheel to the rescue and let him choose a friend but be prepared both pairs could fallout, when they hit the hormones. Which is between 6 -12 months to a year. Don't get me wrong alot of boys don't fallout! xx

Completely agree here, I run a rescue, and rarely find a trio works out long term. You generally find that even if they don't fight, one will be left out, and I am talking both male & female. I never attempt it with boys, although I do keep groups of 4 + until they get to an age where it possibly will be a problem.

Youd' be better off trying to get the left out one bonded with another, male, or if that doesn't work out, neutering him and getting a sow as company. You could try and find an already neutered sow but not many people neuter sows as it's a higher risk op, but there are rescues who do.

 

[Glynis]

Sorry to hear about your boar probs, they can be so tempremental
we had two brothers, we had to separate, they shared same house but had a divider, however we were able to let them have playtime and other times together
It does sound like they've paired off and let the other one by himself...... as everyone has kindly said to pair him with a new friend that he can choose would be better
Wishing you all the very best and for the boys xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[mrsoakavich]

Wow thank you for your support guys!

Thank you so much for your help really appreciate it, no blood has been drawn the one thats been segragated seems to get the hint and quickly goes back upstairs... We do separate as we are able to block off the ramp at the top with a board, The one thats one his own then seems quite happy although at points he does go looking and paces about on the board to find them. They don't communicate with him at all even when he calls out to them.. They have a big cage and an ourdoor run, even when he is out there thou they tend to chase him and he just stands still...

If I was to find a friend for him what would be the best way to do it?
I really don't want to give any of them away and I'm not sure how the lonely one would cope with a friend I worry he might bully them....
What would be the signs that he needed a friend? He seems happy to be made a fuss of by us although I fear that is not enough!

Thank you so much for your helpful advice

 

[All0about0the0animals]

If I was to find a friend for him what would be the best way to do it?
I really don't want to give any of them away and I'm not sure how the lonely one would cope with a friend I worry he might bully them....
What would be the signs that he needed a friend? He seems happy to be made a fuss of by us although I fear that is not enough!

Thank you so much for your helpful advice

The best way would be to go to a rescue, most rescues, like myself, offer a 'dating' service, where the rescue will try and will eventually bond your pig with another suitable one. This way, it's your pig making teh decision as to who they get along with, rather than you picking out out. Although sometimes, a rescue will have a couple in that would possibly match with yours, and therefore, I'd say you can choose the one I try first (although not saying all rescues do that).

ALL guinea pigs need company, they are herd animals, and a single pig is a lonely pig.