Questions From A New Piggy Momma!

[kraftykiwi]

Ok, so I am now the proud momma of three piggy boys, Maximus, Uther, and Rory. Max is only one or two months old while Uther and Rory (the brothers) are about 3 or 4 months. Right now they are separate but soon enough I'm going to be trying to bond them into a little boar trio. Now, I've done a lot of research on it and everything says that the likelihood is my trio won't bond but I want to try for Max's sake so he's not alone. I am prepared for the alternative that they won't get along and will need to be kept in separate cages next to each other. Any suggestions beyond the guides given to help encourage them to love each other?
My other question is regarding temperament. I've held each of the boys in my lap a few times now and they just snuggle down between my legs and don't move while I stroke them. Is this a sign they like me? Or is it possible they're just frozen in fear? They'll pull their head up and look around, maybe circle around my lap and then I'll settle them back down. I just don't really know how to know how they feel about me.

 

[piggyfan]

Just to let you know that if they all fall out you will have three lone boars. It really is not worth it. Could you not find Max his own friend?

Your boys sound very content with you. Snuggling into your lap is a very positive sign.

 

[kraftykiwi]

Just to let you know that if they all fall out you will have three lone boars. It really is not worth it. Could you not find Max his own friend?

Your boys sound very content with you. Snuggling into your lap is a very positive sign.

I'm quite certain I couldn't talk my hubby into another guinea pig as getting the brothers was one more than planned. I was just going to get a one boar to pair with Max but when I saw the brothers in that tiny, poo filled cage I just had to take both of them home.
Do you think that Max's social needs would be fulfilled if I just put them in cages next to each other with plexiglass between so Max could see the brothers without throwing off the mix?

 

[piggyfan]

Living next door will be some company but it is not the same as having his own friend. Those poor boys are lucky you rescued them from such conditions.

 

[Wiebke]

The fall-out ratio with subadult boar trios is about 90%, so you are very likely to end up with another separation along the way once the boys hit the big teenage hormones between 4-14 months old. There is also a chance that an introduction of a third boar can destabilise the bonded couple and that at the worst you can end up with three single boars that prefer their own territory; this is something you need to be aware of when trying to bond a trio. It is generally less of an issue with sub-hormonal babies.

Max would be OK alongside the others (it's not ideal, but practicable if you haven't got the option to find him his own boarmate), but he would prefer to have more direct interaction via grids than via plexiglass; guinea pigs rely very much on smell and it would allow him to do all the territorial things that boars do. There will be some rattling at some point, but generally it is just a showing off.

I would recommend to see first how your two boys make it through to adulthood together. If necessary, you can always try one of them with Max if they have a fall-out over the next year or wait with intros until all three boars are hormonally more settled adults. It very much depends on how many dominant boarsonalities you have in the mix!

If your little boys suddenly start getting stroppy during cuddling time, you'll know that they have become confident and trusting enough to show you their real likes and dislikes and you will then discover who is a true cuddler and who isn't. This can take a few weeks, but with patience and persistence, you will gain their trust and affection.

 

[kraftykiwi]

The fall-out ratio with subadult boar trios is about 90%, so you are very likely to end up with another separation along the way once the boys hit the big teenage hormones between 4-14 months old. There is also a chance that an introduction of a third boar can destabilise the bonded couple and that at the worst you can end up with three single boars that prefer their own territory; this is something you need to be aware of when trying to bond a trio. It is generally less of an issue with sub-hormonal babies.

Max would be OK alongside the others (it's not ideal, but practicable if you haven't got the option to find him his own boarmate), but he would prefer to have more direct interaction via grids than via plexiglass; guinea pigs rely very much on smell and it would allow him to do all the territorial things that boars do. There will be some rattling at some point, but generally it is just a showing off.

I would recommend to see first how your two boys make it through to adulthood together. If necessary, you can always try one of them with Max if they have a fall-out over the next year or wait with intros until all three boars are hormonally more settled adults. It very much depends on how many dominant boarsonalities you have in the mix!

If your little boys suddenly start getting stroppy during cuddling time, you'll know that they have become confident and trusting enough to show you their real likes and dislikes and you will then discover who is a true cuddler and who isn't. This can take a few weeks, but with patience and persistence, you will gain their trust and affection.

Ok, then I'm definitely not going to try and bond them, I didn't realize the fallout rate was so high! I'll just put them next to each other with grid separation. Another reason it would be hard to find him a mate is that rescue piggies are near impossible to come by in my area and the ones I do see are seniors or sows. It's not practical to neuter because the one vet that does it charges $350 US. So next to each other will have to work for now as they grow up.