Introducing A Third Boar To Two Bonded Boars?

[MelyH]

Hi all,

I recently adopted my big man Lionitus, he appears to be a cross between sheltie and aby but he is substantially larger and older (1 year and 3 months old) than my other two pigges Reptar and Maximus who are 6 and 7 months old. I also wonder if he has cuy in him because he is so large. He must be at least 4 or 5 pounds where as my other two piggies are 2.5 pounds each.

My first two piggies bonded really well when introduced, in fact I had them housed together within a week. They even do surprisingly well considering they are in their adolescence. Reptar is most dominant and they only chase each other occasionally. Lionitus is staying in a separate cage next to Reptar and Maximus' cage because Reptar is recovering from Ringworm and because of the recommended quarantine which I didn't do with Maximus when I brought him home.

I can already see the interaction through the cage and I can tell Lionitus and Reptar will be the most difficult to bond since Maximus is more relaxed and less aggressive. Maximus doesn't even go up to Lionitus through the bars where as Reptar will rumblestrut and smell Lionitus.

Has anybody ever experienced bonding a third piggy to two bonded boars? I know all the common tips and read the thread on bonding (which helped a lot with bonding Maximus and Reptar) but I can't find any threads on introducing a third. Also, how will Lionitus being significantly larger and older play a role in their bonding?

This is him on my thigh.. he's super big.

This is him after a haircut and a bath. You can see Maximus on the other side of the cage.

 

[Wiebke]

To be honest, I would not try, and certainly not at this time when your two younger boys are the most difficult stage of the teenage months. You could end up too easily with three single boys that won't go with any of the others. Boar trios have got a failure rate of over 50% - even more so when the majority of your boys is at the worst time for bonding experiments. Our forum tip is "don't break what is not broken" as far as functional boar bonds are concerned.

 

[MelyH]

To be honest, I would not try, and certainly not at this time when your two younger boys are the most difficult stage of the teenage months. You could end up too easily with three single boys that won't go with any of the others. Boar trios have got a failure rate of over 50% - even more so when the majority of your boys is at the worst time for bonding experiments. Our forum tip is "don't break what is not broken" as far as functional boar bonds are concerned.

Would you suggest I keep my Lionitus in a cage alone next to Reptar and Max and maybe try housing together once Reptar and Max are out of their teen years?

 

[Wiebke]

Would you suggest I keep my Lionitus in a cage alone next to Reptar and Max and maybe try housing together once Reptar and Max are out of their teen years?

I would keep him as a live-alongside boy for now and see whether Reptar and Max can make it to adulthood as pair; destabilising their relationship right now is the last thing you want to do!

Alternatively, you could consider finding a special character compatible friend for Lionitus. Boars work best in pairs. Trios are always very tricky, as they often end up with 2+1 outsider issue.
Would you be able to get to one of the listed guinea pig rescues, especially California Northern Cavy Rescue in Sacramento?
http://www.guinealynx.info/rescue_organizations.html#CA

 

[MelyH]

I would keep him as a live-alongside boy for now and see whether Reptar and Max can make it to adulthood as pair; destabilising their relationship right now is the last thing you want to do!

Alternatively, you could consider finding a special character compatible friend for Lionitus. Boars work best in pairs. Trios are always very tricky, as they often end up with 2+1 outsider issue.
Would you be able to get to one of the listed guinea pig rescues, especially California Northern Cavy Rescue in Sacramento?
http://www.guinealynx.info/rescue_organizations.html#CA

We wanted to go the trio route to have one huge live in playpen instead of two cages. On the list is Cavy house which my husband and I have wanted to go check out but there's actually another rescue called North Star Animal Rescue where we found out about Lionitus. Lionitus was originally supposed to be bonded with his brother (even though when we went to adopt them both they were living in separate cages). We brought them both home even though we felt a stronger connection with Lionitus and when we put them together they fought really viciously in a way we never even saw Max and Reptar fight when they were introduced as Non Litter mates! I felt really overwhelmed and chose to return Lionitus' brother before I got attached and it become even more difficult to say goodbye and especially considering they were obviously not bonded anymore. Maybe I need a little more time to get Lionitus comfortable and settled in before adding to the mix.

 

[Wiebke]

We wanted to go the trio route to have one huge live in playpen instead of two cages. On the list is Cavy house which my husband and I have wanted to go check out but there's actually another rescue called North Star Animal Rescue where we found out about Lionitus. Lionitus was originally supposed to be bonded with his brother (even though when we went to adopt them both they were living in separate cages). We brought them both home even though we felt a stronger connection with Lionitus and when we put them together they fought really viciously in a way we never even saw Max and Reptar fight when they were introduced as Non Litter mates! I felt really overwhelmed and chose to return Lionitus' brother before I got attached and it become even more difficult to say goodbye and especially considering they were obviously not bonded anymore. Maybe I need a little more time to get Lionitus comfortable and settled in before adding to the mix.

Bonding baby boars is much easier because the are not yet hormone driven. Boars between 4-14 months old are a completely different kettle of fish! By the way, it is one of the boars myths that they have to be litter mates to not fall out; dominant brothers clash exactly the same as unrelated boars whose personalities don't mesh.

 

[madguinealady]

As you have two boys with such a strong bond I wouldn't chance introducing another pig into the same cage, you could break the bond and end up with three singles.