Help My Trio Is Ganging Up On One Of Its Members

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Cyndi Wood

Cyndi Wood

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Help please :) We have 3 young boars that have been housed together for about a month and a half (all from the pet store from the same cage). They have been great until recently. Now one of the males is clearly being picked on mostly by one of the others but sometimes by the third. It isn't too bad yet but they are doing the strutting, rumbling and yawning at each other. One (Fire) has launched at my piggy (Spark) a couple of times but hasn't done any damage. the third pig (Wood- my daughter named them) usually doesn't get involved. Do you think this will settle down or is it time to separate them? Also so do I separate. the meany? or the one that is getting picked on? I built a 3 story c and c cage hoping it was a space issue and during the switch over Spark and Wood were together and got along fine. Fire was on the top floor and couldn't figure out how to get down to Wood for a bit and he was freaking out and screaming. I felt bad for him. I don't mind getting a forth so that they live happily in pairs but who do I separate? how do I introduce a fourth? or do I just leave two together and the third guy alone but he can hear the others, and I might be able to figure a way that they can see each other too. I am feeling really bad for spark because he is always alone when Fire is around and he often stays on top of stuff away from Fire.
 
Hi and welcome! I am sorry for the mess you have been landed in. Sadly, it is not an uncommon issue.

I would separate, especially as the problems happen so early on. Your little boys have obviously hit the teenage hormones now. Sadly, pet shop stills sell baby boars trios despite only a very small minority making it to adulthood without separation. :(
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

The best way of finding a new companion is by dating at one of our recommended piggy savvy rescues that offer this service, so you can take character compatibility into account. A larger age difference can also additionally help towards stabilising the relationship, as only one of the boars is going through the hormonal spikes at any given time.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/ . We can also provide rescue contacts in some other countries than the UK.

If you'd rather prefer to split Fire, you could also consider having him neutered so he can live with a sow after a 6 weeks safety wait (I have the baby from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar, just to make that point). For neutering, having access to either a general vet who is very experienced with guinea pig neutering or a small animals specialist is crucial in order to keep the risk of especially post op complications low. The advantage of that is that after initial accpetance by the sow, cross gender bonds are the most stable of them all. Again, dating at a good rescue with quarantine and pregnancy watch is making sure that the piggies like each other and that you are not opening another can of worms.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

Please do your research and think about what way forward would suit you best. If you go for a sow, you will need to keep her above or well out of sight of any full boars.

With members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state or (for the UK) your county/city to your details, so we can always give you the best possible advice for your part of the world straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thanks!
 
thanks for your comment. I changed my location :) I am in canada actually. So there was a big fight a few minutes ago. they are in my office and I work from home so they are monitored closely. My daughter's theory (she just turned 6) is that the bully should be put in time out so i have moved Fire out and left Wood and Spark together. All seems fine except that Fire is crying a lot. Should I just leave them like this for a bit and see how it goes? If Wood picks on Spark then I will switch them up again. Should I try to put them back together later? Should I get a forth for the odd man out (after I figure out who is staying with who that is) I have a three story 2x3 c and c cage so there is lots of room. to separate if I need to. (actually I am currently building a loft on the top because I feel bad for Fire) So fire is on top and the other two have the middle and bottom sections.
The pigs are young. they were babies when we got them. The person at the pet store said they came in 2 days before, they were still in quarantine. I could hold all three in my hand when we got them. I don't normally buy from a pet store but my daughters 6 year old pig died a few months ago and she still crys about him (so do I actually, best pig ever. He spent the majory of his days chilling on my desk with me). All the pigs that we could adopt were older and I didn't want to go threw that again in a few years.Looking at it now it was probably a bad decision regardless. LOL I have done so many things wrong this time around.
 
If I were you, I would keep Fire separated. Spearation is tough on him because he has no idea what he did wrong, but even tougher if he has to go through it repeatedly. he should settle down after a day or day two. :(

You can try to re-introduce, but to be honest, it rarely works out unless the boys are settled adults that had a rare tiff and just need time out to cool down again.
If I were you, I'd rather see whether Wood and Spark as the two less dominant and more laid back boys will make it together. That will hopefully leave you with at least one stable pair. You are likely to see some dominance behaviour between the two as they readjust the hierarchy accordingly, but it will hopefully by on the mild side.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

I don't know whether you are within reach of one of these rescues? They operate all to a high standard and you would be in safe hands.
http://www.guinealynx.info/rescue_organizations_canada.html (with permission to share)
 
no we aren't near them but there are a few at the spca in moncton (i live in new brunswick) Wood and Fire get along fine, other than humping each other all the time. it is always Spark that got picked on. Wood has charged Spark once but other than that they seem fine. Though they are not cuddling together like Wood and Fire do... perhaps it would be better to have Spark on his own. my daughter is super excited that she might get a 4th pig LOL She asked for a forth for her birthday (she wants to name him newspaper) so now she has adjusted to asking for a 4th for christmas. Well we will see how today goes. if Wood and Spark don't seem to bond (cuddle etc) in the next day or so should I switch them? I am just thinking that if Fire (the mean one) gets on ok with Wood wouldn't it be easier to find a new mate for Spark since he seems to get beat up? Sorry for all the questions I just want to make sure i do the best for the little guys.
 
it would be best to leave the two boys together that get on. If Spark is a submissive boy, he is easier to bond with a more laid back adult boar than a more dominant youngster like Fire.

Your options depend very much on where you are and what your local possibilities are. There is not one solution that fits all.
 
thanks. I think I will put wood and fire back together and leave spark alone (poor spark extra cuddles from me I guess) and we will go one the hunt for the new member... to be named newspaper. I contacted the local spca to see if they would be interested in a foster to see if I could get a mate for my third so hopefully that will work out. thanks a bunch for your help.
 
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ok so my husband came home and doesn't think I should have separated them. he says I am overreacting. Here is what was happening. Fire and spark were rumblestrutting, chattering teeth, facing off with their heads high, yawning and Fire would chase spark up on top of stuff. I left that alone and watched. But fire started hunting Spark. No matter where spark ran Fire followed him, he would corner him bite at his butt as he was chasing him and then he lunged at him and spark let out a loud cry that was sustained (I intervened at that point). I took him out because Fire wouldn't stop or let him run away, even if he got on top of stuff fire would circle for a bit and then go right on top of whatever he was on after him. Is Spark standing his ground a bit is that why fire won't leave him alone since his is facing off and yawning etc? I was right to separate right?
 
Let's put it like that: whether you separate now or wait a few days more until there has been a bloody fight with deep bites to the rump or the mouth area, it is highly unlikely that those two boys are going to make it to adulthood together. Spark is obviously #2 in the hierarchy and won't put up with Fire winding him up forever during the next 10 months. Wood is the laid back underboy who will go along with any of them and try to keep out of the way of harm as much as possible.

Sooner or later you have to bite into the sour apple anyway, unfortunately. :( if the chasing is persistent, I would have separated the boys, too, especially for the night. You would have had to hang a pair of oven gloves next to the cage in case you'd have to separate a serious fight.
 
I too are with you I have 3boars iv had them 7wks n they had blood fight n stuff tho can say they all getting on again for now it is hard when they are fight n running after each other I keep my in living so they always me or sons around I hope your three can get on soon hugs to you x
 
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