Nightmare Boar!

[verticordian]

Meet Bingo. He's a total doll, so gorgeous, very friendly and he loves cuddles. If you're human, chances are you're going to get along with Bingo.

Only he's an absolute nightmare when it comes to other pigs. Bingo is a total alpha male but has the misfortune of being very petite, meaning he'll start fights and usually end up getting himself hurt more than his opponent. We've had to take him to the vet for injuries sustained in fights (he had a huge abcess in his neck which was not pleasant! as well as a cut on his cheek that became infected before I even noticed it was there, sigh) and he's constantly hurting the other boars we have also. One of our boars is very nervous (possibly due to having been hurt before we got him as he has part of his ear missing) and screams whenever Bingo comes near although that hasn't stopped him from being hurt all over his back and on his already damaged ear! Obviously we have separated him (along with another of our boars to keep him company) but now Bingo is just trying it on with the other boars. On top of this, he never stops humping. I know that humping is normal behaviour for pigs, especially boars, but Bingo never stops and makes the other boys scream with fear until finally he has his wicked way with them which calms him - for maybe an hour!

Does anybody have any suggestions for what I can do about this adorable cuddle bundle with a vicious streak? I'd feel cruel separating him entirely from his adopted brothers but I don't know what to do for the best. He is a pest and I feel bad for both him and the other boars

 

[AbiS]

He is gorgeous!

Is it a possibility for you to have him neutered and find him wifepig?

 

[Stewybus]

Only suggestion I can make is have Bingo neutered & get him a wife. Maybe the same for the timid one too.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! I am sorry for your problems.

I have just started fostering a lookalike lady and her daughter for TEAS sanctuary - and she is turning out to be quite a handful, too!

How old is Bingo? Subadult trios rarely work out anyway, and even in trios with a variation of ages, it can be very difficult to find just the right balance of characters.

As blood has been drawn, I would not try to rebond; it doesn't sound like the others want him back, anyway!

You have basically three options:
- keep him alongside the others. Not entirely satisfying, as you have found out.

- boar date him under expert supervision with suitable rescue piggies at one of our recommended good rescues. However, it may probably not be your first option in view of his personality!
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/

- have him neutered by a vet with a good track record in piggy neutering (cuts down enormously on operation and post op complications risks), so he can live with a very laid back, non-dominant sow that will accept him after a 6 weeks post op wait to make sure that he is 100% safe to go with sows. (I have the baby of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar living with me, so it can really happen as late as that). Again, dating at a good rescue that will offer this service will make sure that you do not end up with any more piggies that won't get along.
If you are prepared to travel a bit, there is one of the best neutering vets in the whole country in Northampton at the Cat&Rabbit Care clinic with as near a 100% success rate as you can reasonably get. I know that one of my piggy friends in your area is using him as her specialist vet for her piggies; I also use the clinic myself, even though it means a train journey for me! Simon Maddock is listed on our piggy savvy vets locator on the top bar, but here are the contact details: http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/html/contact_us.html

All the best while you think over it all!

 

[verticordian]

Since posting, Bingo actually seems to have calmed down a bit - maybe the threat of the snip has frightened him into submission! Obviously I'm still keeping an eye on him and, if things worsen, I'll have to consider having him neutered.

As for my timid boar, he's by himself again as his boar friend had started picking on him, sigh. He's getting lots of cuddles for now and I'll try to reintroduce him to his brother soon.

 

[Wiebke]

Since posting, Bingo actually seems to have calmed down a bit - maybe the threat of the snip has frightened him into submission! Obviously I'm still keeping an eye on him and, if things worsen, I'll have to consider having him neutered.

As for my timid boar, he's by himself again as his boar friend had started picking on him, sigh. He's getting lots of cuddles for now and I'll try to reintroduce him to his brother soon.

With Bingo out of the question, you will by necessity see some dominance behaviour and an adjustment of the hierarchy. I think that is what the picking on you were observing is!

 

[verticordian]

Definitely but sadly Vincent (my very timid boar) seems completely unable to deal with this, he screams and runs around in circles until I either remove him or what/whoever has frightened him.