Hello, back in August we adopted 3 boars all seemed to be okay to start with but one piggie seemed much more introverted than the other two who seemed to be close. Recently two of them have been picking on the other with him freezing or trying to hid when he can hear them coming. They often will bite him or stop what he is doing like a toy he is playing with food( he weighs far less than other 2) and where he is sleeping. They all have one of each thing as I read that can help. Today i have notice several cuts and bites to the back of him and he was in pain when these areas are touched. We have decided to seperate them is this the right choice where do we go from here? Two get along best sleeping in same areas but with an occasional disagreement and the other sleeps alone and separate from the others.
Fighting 3 male piggies
- Thread starter Maddif
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Qualcast&Flymo
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Hi and welcome 
to the forum.
Sorry to hear that your boars aren't getting on well together. Unfortunately, trios of boars rarely work once they reach the "teens" (at approx 4 months). Boars should be in pairs or one boar with one or more sows; a good standard rescue should know this and not allow 3 boars to be adopted together.
So yes, it is best that your boys are separated. If the 2 bigger ones are bullying the smaller but get on OK with each other, then keep them as a pair with the smaller one in a separate cage next door. The smaller one should be happier like that, and be able to eat enough (if the others have been bullying him off the food). Being next door will give him the companionship he still needs, at least for the time being.
If the cuts or bites look bad or deep, it would be a good idea to take him to a vet to get them checked - you don't want them getting infected. You could wipe them with saline solution yourself in the meantime.
to the forum.Sorry to hear that your boars aren't getting on well together. Unfortunately, trios of boars rarely work once they reach the "teens" (at approx 4 months). Boars should be in pairs or one boar with one or more sows; a good standard rescue should know this and not allow 3 boars to be adopted together.
So yes, it is best that your boys are separated. If the 2 bigger ones are bullying the smaller but get on OK with each other, then keep them as a pair with the smaller one in a separate cage next door. The smaller one should be happier like that, and be able to eat enough (if the others have been bullying him off the food). Being next door will give him the companionship he still needs, at least for the time being.
If the cuts or bites look bad or deep, it would be a good idea to take him to a vet to get them checked - you don't want them getting infected. You could wipe them with saline solution yourself in the meantime.
CTWC
Adult Guinea Pig
Morning as said above boars should not be in trios sadly you and your little guy have found out the hard way although at least you have separated them now. Check his cuts and weigh him daily for a while to make sure he is now putting his weight back on.
I’m so sorry to hear this.
I agree with the others - Sadly three boars together hardly ever works out long term as they find it very hard to form a functioning hierarchy through two being dominant or one being bullied/left out.
Also the cage size required to attempt a boar trio exceeds all other cage sizing requirements with a boar trio them needing 300x100cm of cage space as a minimum.
Were they from a rescue or purchased from
A shop/breeder?
We sadly see owners misinformed about boar trios and cage sizes all the time if purchasing from a pet shop/breeder, but a rescue should know not to rehome an adolescent boar trio.
(An older (4-5+ years old) boar trio who chose each other, who are all very mellow and/or are a carer group can sometimes work.)
You have done the right thing in separating them.
He will need to be kept in a separate cage but the cage must be beside the pair for constant side by side interaction to prevent loneliness (he cannot be kept above or below the others as all ability to interact is lost).
He can either be bonded with a new friend so you have two separate pairs (in which case cages can be stacked if nobody is living alone) or he can be kept single with the side by side arrangement permanently.
Ensure a boar pair has 180x60cm of cage space; and that the single has 120x60cm as a minimum (rising to 180x60cm again if he was to get a new friend).
If you choose for him to have a new friend, then do seek the help of a rescue centre to ensure he is compatible with his new friend and doesn’t risk a further failed bonding. We can advise further on this if you need us to.
As above, please ensure any wounds are seen by a vet and kept clean.
It’s a shame when this happens to a bond but he will be happier to be away from them.
One of my boar pairs failed ending in a fight but they were much happier to not have to share a space anymore. (I had two separate pairs at the time so it was a bit of a pain to rejig cages to fit a pair and two singles but it was worth it for their happiness).
I have added some guides below which will also help further
I agree with the others - Sadly three boars together hardly ever works out long term as they find it very hard to form a functioning hierarchy through two being dominant or one being bullied/left out.
Also the cage size required to attempt a boar trio exceeds all other cage sizing requirements with a boar trio them needing 300x100cm of cage space as a minimum.
Were they from a rescue or purchased from
A shop/breeder?
We sadly see owners misinformed about boar trios and cage sizes all the time if purchasing from a pet shop/breeder, but a rescue should know not to rehome an adolescent boar trio.
(An older (4-5+ years old) boar trio who chose each other, who are all very mellow and/or are a carer group can sometimes work.)
You have done the right thing in separating them.
He will need to be kept in a separate cage but the cage must be beside the pair for constant side by side interaction to prevent loneliness (he cannot be kept above or below the others as all ability to interact is lost).
He can either be bonded with a new friend so you have two separate pairs (in which case cages can be stacked if nobody is living alone) or he can be kept single with the side by side arrangement permanently.
Ensure a boar pair has 180x60cm of cage space; and that the single has 120x60cm as a minimum (rising to 180x60cm again if he was to get a new friend).
If you choose for him to have a new friend, then do seek the help of a rescue centre to ensure he is compatible with his new friend and doesn’t risk a further failed bonding. We can advise further on this if you need us to.
As above, please ensure any wounds are seen by a vet and kept clean.
It’s a shame when this happens to a bond but he will be happier to be away from them.
One of my boar pairs failed ending in a fight but they were much happier to not have to share a space anymore. (I had two separate pairs at the time so it was a bit of a pain to rejig cages to fit a pair and two singles but it was worth it for their happiness).
I have added some guides below which will also help further
fluffysal
Forum Donator 2024/25
Welcome to the forum, I'm sorry you have been given poor information regarding your boys. Thankfully you have been observant and proactive by separating instead of leaving them to get on with it. Advice on here is always consistent and non judgemental as most of us have made mistakes at first.
There are a lot of boar fans here, including me.
There are a lot of boar fans here, including me.
Unfortunately when we asked we were told that it would be okay and you always find a mixed about of information online. Anyway we are learning from the mistake ! They have been seperated for 24 hours now the little one is now living in a separate cage he is eating and drinking and seems more playful. Will be keeping a close eye on weight and the wounds. Thank you !Hi and welcome
Sorry to hear that your boars aren't getting on well together. Unfortunately, trios of boars rarely work once they reach the "teens" (at approx 4 months). Boars should be in pairs or one boar with one or more sows; a good standard rescue should know this and not allow 3 boars to be adopted together.
So yes, it is best that your boys are separated. If the 2 bigger ones are bullying the smaller but get on OK with each other, then keep them as a pair with the smaller one in a separate cage next door. The smaller one should be happier like that, and be able to eat enough (if the others have been bullying him off the food). Being next door will give him the companionship he still needs, at least for the time being.
If the cuts or bites look bad or deep, it would be a good idea to take him to a vet to get them checked - you don't want them getting infected. You could wipe them with saline solution yourself in the meantime.
Thank you for all your advice. He is currently living to the side of the pair, both with appropriate hutch sizes. Will allow him to recover and see how he gets on but if we do get another piggie it will definitely be from a rescue which has an understanding of what they need !I’m so sorry to hear this.
I agree with the others - Sadly three boars together hardly ever works out long term as they find it very hard to form a functioning hierarchy through two being dominant or one being bullied/left out.
Also the cage size required to attempt a boar trio exceeds all other cage sizing requirements with a boar trio them needing 300x100cm of cage space as a minimum.
Were they from a rescue or purchased from
A shop/breeder?
We sadly see owners misinformed about boar trios and cage sizes all the time if purchasing from a pet shop/breeder, but a rescue should know not to rehome an adolescent boar trio.
(An older (4-5+ years old) boar trio who chose each other, who are all very mellow and/or are a carer group can sometimes work.)
You have done the right thing in separating them.
He will need to be kept in a separate cage but the cage must be beside the pair for constant side by side interaction to prevent loneliness (he cannot be kept above or below the others as all ability to interact is lost).
He can either be bonded with a new friend so you have two separate pairs (in which case cages can be stacked if nobody is living alone) or he can be kept single with the side by side arrangement permanently.
Ensure a boar pair has 180x60cm of cage space; and that the single has 120x60cm as a minimum (rising to 180x60cm again if he was to get a new friend).
If you choose for him to have a new friend, then do seek the help of a rescue centre to ensure he is compatible with his new friend and doesn’t risk a further failed bonding. We can advise further on this if you need us to.
As above, please ensure any wounds are seen by a vet and kept clean.
It’s a shame when this happens to a bond but he will be happier to be away from them.
One of my boar pairs failed ending in a fight but they were much happier to not have to share a space anymore. (I had two separate pairs at the time so it was a bit of a pain to rejig cages to fit a pair and two singles but it was worth it for their happiness).
I have added some guides below which will also help further
CTWC
Adult Guinea Pig
Lovely keep us updated 
So sorry to hear you were given bad information but well done for separating them. That’s absolutely the right thing to do.