Quartet Or Trio

[VickieD]

Hi All
I have 3 boys who are now 4.5 -5 months old.
2 are brothers which are Rex (informed Teddy at time) and 1 chases the other quite a bit and nose off now and again but nothing more sinister, however the American crested follows the more dominant brother around and are always found together.
Now I am feeling sorry for the other brother he chases and thinking would making this trio into a quartet work better? Another younger one to them?
What are people's thought.
Thanks
Vickie

 

[eileen]

I think it takes a very experienced owner to bond 4 male piggies together,you could have the potential for 4 fall outs.lots of space is needed.you know your piggies just be prepared for all options,but i wish you much luck.

 

[Pawz]

I would not add a 4th boar unless you are considering to make them into two separate pairs. As @eileen has said above, the potential for a fall out with a trio or quartet of males remains rather high especially during the hormonal peeks in their life cycles.

 

[VickieD]

Yes I can see what you are saying...
Well depending on how they go that might that way but like I say at the moment nothing sinister just sometimes feel sorry for the other brother.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi All
I have 3 boys who are now 4.5 -5 months old.
2 are brothers which are Rex (informed Teddy at time) and 1 chases the other quite a bit and nose off now and again but nothing more sinister, however the American crested follows the more dominant brother around and are always found together.
Now I am feeling sorry for the other brother he chases and thinking would making this trio into a quartet work better? Another younger one to them?
What are people's thought.
Thanks
Vickie

Boar trios are very difficult to get right; they end up with an outsider scenario of some sort like yours more often than not, even with adult boars! Quartets however ALWAYS fail unless you have pensioners whose testosterone has run out or a disabled boars/carer companions scenario.

The best option is split off your underboy and find him a companion of his liking and ideally of his choosing at one of our recommended piggy savvy rescues that offer boar dating (not all do). Adopting from a good rescue also means that you only rehome a healthy/vet cleared boar and that you have got the rescue to fall back on if things go haywire at any point during the life of the rescue boar. The key to any successful boar bond is character compatibility and mutual liking.
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator

 

[VickieD]

Thanks
I don't think I am at point of splitting up as no nastiness and when are apart for knee time they both call for each other so just monitoring

 

[VickieD]

But what I did forget to say is that the brother doesn't go down stairs now and was before.

 

[VickieD]

Looks like I am going to have to split up brothers. Even lap or floor time at any chance Alfie tries to push or chases grumio away....
I don't want to end up with a lone and unhappy pig as grumio is so friendly and always popcorning when alone.
But it's doing it and finding a right partner for him. But he is worth it.

 

[VickieD]

Well I ended up getting a baby (from a breeder as none in any rescues near us) and split up my trio.
There was alot of mounting from grumio to the baby in every possible angle.no fighting ,nibbling,chattering and within an hour the baby was following grumio around.
They have been split up for a whole week now and both pairs seem alot happier abd baby still following grumio around.
In both pairs there is the rumble strutting but think this is just showing whose boss.
Never again would I try a trio and would always recommend boys in a pair.