Question About "normal" Bonding

[salice]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and just wanted to get some outside advice regarding "normal" bonding between new pigs. My boyfriend and I adopted a young male pig from a coworker's sibling in December and have since been looking to rescue another pig as a companion for him. About a month ago we met up with a lady who was fostering some pigs for a rescue organization and ultimately (long story short) ended up coming home with the pair of males she had. We've made a 'fostering' arrangement with the organization and thus are treating this as a trial run, of sorts, in the event that it doesn't work out.

Anyhow, since we've introduced the pair into the cage our original pig seems pretty excluded. I honestly can't say if this is by his choice or not at this point. Basically the cage has two hideys (an igloo and a fleece forest) and our pig used to love to spend time in the fleece forest. Now since the other two are here they seem to always be in the forest and our pig is in the igloo by himself. Worse yet, sometimes the new pair split up into both the igloo and forest and our original pig just sits in the middle of the cage (which I assume is not his preference as he NEVER did this before for extended periods).

Basically I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and how they dealt with it/if it worked out. Do you guys think it's unwise to bring a previously bonded pair into our little guy's life? The lady who was fostering them before mentioned that they got along just fine but weren't the best match she'd seen - do you think that maybe our pig picks up on that and it's affecting his ability to bond with either of the new ones? Shots in the dark, here. We want to rescue the two pigs but not at the expense of our young one's happiness. Unfortunately we don't reeeally have the space for two adequately sized cages so adopting but separating them permanently would be a tough call.

Thanks for reading this long-winded blurb! All advice is appreciated

 

[Tigermoth]

I'll let others comment about the bonding side of things, I'm new and don't have the experience. I was wondering in the meantime though, could you put another hidey of some sort in there? Doesn't have to be fancy, we have a shoebox currently as one of ours (I also have a fleece bag, a twig tunnel and a fleece tunnel). Paper bags are popular too. At least it means they each have a space to go to. (Ideally with more than one entrance/exit so no-one can get trapped)

 

[Critter]

Hi there and welcome. I'm tagging @Wiebke as she has a lot of advice to give in regards bonding issues (amongst other things ).
Did the fosterer recommend that you take the pair of boars? Sometimes boar trios work out beautifully but these are very much exceptions. Generally speaking it's a bad idea and asking for trouble, especially when these youngsters hit the hormonal 'teenage' years and start vying for dominance. Usually in a pair one will take charge and the other will be submissive (though they still may have the odd small-scale argument on this matter), but trios of boars often don't sort things out.

I wouldn't have thought that this will work out well. How long is this agreement for? Some months down thew line when the hormones hit they may end up fighting and separation will become a must before one of them injures the other. This isn't a certainty, as I say, some trios do work out, but it is unlikely and already your established boar is feeling put out by the others.

I'm sorry, it can be hard sometimes when we try to do the right thing by our lonely piggies.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and just wanted to get some outside advice regarding "normal" bonding between new pigs. My boyfriend and I adopted a young male pig from a coworker's sibling in December and have since been looking to rescue another pig as a companion for him. About a month ago we met up with a lady who was fostering some pigs for a rescue organization and ultimately (long story short) ended up coming home with the pair of males she had. We've made a 'fostering' arrangement with the organization and thus are treating this as a trial run, of sorts, in the event that it doesn't work out.

Anyhow, since we've introduced the pair into the cage our original pig seems pretty excluded. I honestly can't say if this is by his choice or not at this point. Basically the cage has two hideys (an igloo and a fleece forest) and our pig used to love to spend time in the fleece forest. Now since the other two are here they seem to always be in the forest and our pig is in the igloo by himself. Worse yet, sometimes the new pair split up into both the igloo and forest and our original pig just sits in the middle of the cage (which I assume is not his preference as he NEVER did this before for extended periods).

Basically I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and how they dealt with it/if it worked out. Do you guys think it's unwise to bring a previously bonded pair into our little guy's life? The lady who was fostering them before mentioned that they got along just fine but weren't the best match she'd seen - do you think that maybe our pig picks up on that and it's affecting his ability to bond with either of the new ones? Shots in the dark, here. We want to rescue the two pigs but not at the expense of our young one's happiness. Unfortunately we don't reeeally have the space for two adequately sized cages so adopting but separating them permanently would be a tough call.

Thanks for reading this long-winded blurb! All advice is appreciated

Hi and welcome!

- Adding a third piggy to a well-bonded existing pair does often not work out; they can be rather seen as intruders into a cosy relationship. Trios are especially prone to outsider problems. More often than not, you end up with a 2+1 situation. Generally, boars are best kept in pairs unless they choose each other. Sub-adult boar trios have a fall-out rate of about 90%, as the added stress of the hormonal teenage month is too much of a strain when the youngsters develop their adult identity.

- The rule as most piggies go is to have one hidey and food bowl per piggy (or in the case of a very dominant piggy, the number of piggies +1) and giving them all a space to get away from the others. this goes especially with boars. Generally, we also recommend one water bottle each and at least two ways to access one hay source or even better, two hay stations, so that no piggy can ever be blocked off.
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

- Your options as far as I can see:
A) Finding your little friend a character compatable boar friend of his own; preferably by dating/introduction at the rescue.
If you want to hang onto the other pair (it is always rather upsetting handing piggies back into rescue), then would it be possible to find a solution with two cages above each other? We may be able to help you with finding a creative solution.

B) Handing back the boar pair and considering neutering your boy when he is old enough (4-6 months), so he can be introduced to a sow pair after a 6 weeks post-op wait when he is 100% safe to be with sows. A "husboar"+ 2 well-bonded sows trio is the combination that is most likely to work out, as boars are not a direct part of the sow hierarchy, only of the group hierarchy, but in order to mate, they have to get on with both girls.
However, this option stands and falls with access to a good guinea pig neutering or well practised small furries operating vet in order to minimise the otherwise unfortunately still high risk of complications. The cost for an operation can - depending on where you are - be very expensive, so it depends very much on your location.

As we have members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any recommendations and advice to what is really available and possible where you are. Click on your username on the top bar, then go personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!