Lonely Boys

[catcrunchies]

After having had three of our four boys attacking each other and some really nasty bites, we've ended up with one pair and two solo

Now, Fandango and Pooka are by themselves - we've taken the ramp out of their hutch and blocked off the gap so they have a kind of bunk bed thing going on. They've both been pining ever since we split them and it's absolutely killing me to hear them.

The question is: Should we attempt to reintroduce, keep them solo or give up and get them each a girlfriend?
The reason we split them was because I found some deep bites on both of them, one of them on Fandango's throat. When I noticed, it looked like the fight had happened a couple of days ago when they had be kept in because of the rain and they'd been living together quite peacefully since then. As a rule, I wouldn't want to put them back together after blood's been drawn, but they're just so lonely. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Swissgreys]

I think my first question would be what size is their main cage?
You mention that they fell out after being kept in for a few days, so maybe in this case space is the issue.
I think that the general approach is not to reintroduce once blood has been drawn, but if it was because of cramped conditions, then if you could offer them a bigger joint space maybe they would re-bond?
It does sound like they are lonely, so it may be worth trying again, but only if you can offer them a large space long term, which I know is not always possible.
Good luck - you sound like a really caring owner who just wants the best for her boys, so I hope you can work something out.

 

[Veggies Galore]

I'd be a bit concerned, if you got them girlfriends, how this would affect your 2 boars that are a pair. I know some people have intact boars and sows in the vicinity (separate cages of course ) but it's not something I would do.

Are there any rescues near you who could help you find compatible companions for your boars?

 

[catcrunchies]

I think my first question would be what size is their main cage?
You mention that they fell out after being kept in for a few days, so maybe in this case space is the issue.
I think that the general approach is not to reintroduce once blood has been drawn, but if it was because of cramped conditions, then if you could offer them a bigger joint space maybe they would re-bond?
It does sound like they are lonely, so it may be worth trying again, but only if you can offer them a large space long term, which I know is not always possible.
Good luck - you sound like a really caring owner who just wants the best for her boys, so I hope you can work something out.

They were sharing a two storey hutch that's 54" by I think 25" and then their run was maybe double that? I don't think they were short on space D: D:

 

[Veggies Galore]

I'd be a bit concerned, if you got them girlfriends, how this would affect your 2 boars that are a pair. I know some people have intact boars and sows in the vicinity (separate cages of course ) but it's not something I would do.

Are there any rescues near you who could help you find compatible companions for your boars?

We mentioned 2 West Sussex rescues in this thread...

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/wannabe-piggy-owner-sussex.150983/#post-2035389

 

[catcrunchies]

I'd be a bit concerned, if you got them girlfriends, how this would affect your 2 boars that are a pair. I know some people have intact boars and sows in the vicinity (separate cages of course ) but it's not something I would do.

Are there any rescues near you who could help you find compatible companions for your boars?

The rescue I wanted to go to has had spayed girls in before, so I was hoping that I'd be the luckiest human alive and find a couple who could fit in, but then I don't know if that would still possibly cause issues with the boys? The worry with getting more boars is that I'd have the same thing happen again and then end up either having to rehome some or just keep getting more until I have an army of them

 

[Veggies Galore]

The rescue I wanted to go to has had spayed girls in before, so I was hoping that I'd be the luckiest human alive and find a couple who could fit in, but then I don't know if that would still possibly cause issues with the boys? The worry with getting more boars is that I'd have the same thing happen again and then end up either having to rehome some or just keep getting more until I have an army of them

I understand entirely. I would be so easy to just keep adopting. The maximum I will ever have is 6 and the last boar I adopted was on agreement that if things didn't work out, he would return to the rescue.

 

[catcrunchies]

I understand entirely. I would be so easy to just keep adopting. The maximum I will ever have is 6 and the last boar I adopted was on agreement that if things didn't work out, he would return to the rescue.

We've already got four and it would be so, so easy to just keep going! I can't bring myself to rehome any of them, even though that would be the most sensible thing to do
At least one of our hutches is big enough to split in two so we won't have to buy another one if we do get more!

 

[Wiebke]

After having had three of our four boys attacking each other and some really nasty bites, we've ended up with one pair and two solo

Now, Fandango and Pooka are by themselves - we've taken the ramp out of their hutch and blocked off the gap so they have a kind of bunk bed thing going on. They've both been pining ever since we split them and it's absolutely killing me to hear them.

The question is: Should we attempt to reintroduce, keep them solo or give up and get them each a girlfriend?
The reason we split them was because I found some deep bites on both of them, one of them on Fandango's throat. When I noticed, it looked like the fight had happened a couple of days ago when they had be kept in because of the rain and they'd been living together quite peacefully since then. As a rule, I wouldn't want to put them back together after blood's been drawn, but they're just so lonely. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Have a read of this guide here and then decide; it is talking you through in depth through all the possible options. Generally boars will not go back together after serious bites have happened.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Sadly quartets are even less stable than baby boar trios and have a fall-out rate of near 100%. You have ended up with the most common outcome - one functional pair and two singles. It would be great if shops and breeders stopped selling baby boars in groups, but unfortunately that is not going to happen because it means loss of revenue for them.

 

[catcrunchies]

Have a read of this guide here and then decide; it is talking you through in depth through all the possible options. Generally boars will not go back together after serious bites have happened.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Sadly quartets are even less stable than baby boar trios and have a fall-out rate of near 100%. You have ended up with the most common outcome - one functional pair and two singles. It would be great if shops and breeders stopped selling baby boars in groups, but unfortunately that is not going to happen because it means loss of revenue for them.

The worst thing with our boys was that we weren't even trying to keep them as a foursome, even though they were weaned together We split them into two pairs and already had to swap them over once because of another fight. Unfortunately, three of the four are bossy as anything and just don't want to settle together

 

[Wiebke]

The worst thing with our boys was that we weren't even trying to keep them as a foursome, even though they were weaned together We split them into two pairs and already had to swap them over once because of another fight. Unfortunately, three of the four are bossy as anything and just don't want to settle together

The problem with baby boars is that you can never tell beforehand how it is going to work out, unfortunately... But glad that you have got at least one functional pair. We have had cases where none of four boys would go back with any of the others.

I would split the two warring boys ideally in a way that they can still interact for mutual stimulation and then do your research.
Worthing Rescue has orchestrated a large rescue action in Gosport in early summer, so they have still got a number of boars of all ages to try your fallen out boys with even though many have now left for rescues in other parts of the country. They offer residential bonding at the rescue - that means that the bonding happens under expert supervision and your boys come home with a new boarfriend only if the bond is working out. You also have the rescue to fall back on if there is trouble along the way.
Worthing Guinea Pig Rescue

 

[catcrunchies]

The problem with baby boars is that you can never tell beforehand how it is going to work out, unfortunately... But glad that you have got at least one functional pair. We have had cases where none of four boys would go back with any of the others.

I would split the two warring boys ideall in a way that they can still interact for mutual stimulation and then do your research.
Worthing Rescue has orchestrated a large rescue action in Gosport in early summer, so they have still got a number of boars of all ages to try your fallen out boys with even though many have now left for rescues in other parts of the country. They offer residential bonding at the rescue - that means that the bonding happens under expert supervision and your boys come home with a new boarfriend only if the bond is working out. You also have the rescue to fall back on if there is trouble along the way.

I'll definitely get in touch with them, thank you so much for the advice!