Separate cages

[Ramia]

I'm thinking of the future. My boys are neighbors and I just love having them separate. I can handle them without handling the dominant first, I don't worry about dominance escalating, i can cut out veg for one and not the other, I just love it.

If something happens to one of my boys, I decided this morning, that I'd like to continue the piggy cycle and get another boar.

Would it be cruel to not attempt a bonding and keep them as neighbors?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I can see what you mean about not having to worry about issues of a bonded pair (the two boys I have left are a failed pair) but it is better for them to be bonded to another where that is possible. That doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with living side by side in a fall out situation; but my opinion on your question is that I would rather try to bond the remaining single (following the death of the neighbour) with another boar first before considering ongoing single living.
I personally would not bring in another pig with the intention of keeping them single and not trying to bond them.
If the bonding doesn’t work out, then go back to side by side.

Just because the two you have now didn’t get on doesn’t mean the remaining one would absolutely have to be kept single forever. Older boars are often easier to bond - they become all about companionship and less about dominance. They can accept a youngster, teach them and be happy to hand over dominance (as it what happened when I bonded my bereaved 6 year old boy to one of my single youngsters). My 6 year old has since passed and I am now back to two singles (who are 2.5 years old now). When one of these two passes and I am left with a lone pig I will potentially have to make the decision to rehome the one I’m left with as I do not want to continue my piggy cycle after these two boys.

The other variation depending on the number of pigs you can handle is when one of your boys passes, to then get another bonded pair and keep them alongside your single pig.

 

[Ramia]

Thanks. I'll bond them. I'm assuming Stripe will die first from CBS, although he is doing really well but you never know if the disease will progress.

Chesney bullied Stripe when Stripe was paralyzed from an ear infection (he's mobile now). He must've sensed Stripe was sick before he started showing symptoms because he tried to take over dominance about a week before. Then when Stripe couldn't walk the incessant humping started and Stripe couldn't even get away. Vet recommended separation.

I can't handle three pigs financially or if they ever needed three cages. Don't get me wrong I can pay for two pigs even three, but I just don't want to. I've paid over $2000 for Stripe's X-rays and emergency visits and I'm happy to continue but don't want to pay for a third. My cat is $1000 a year for gingivitis teeth cleaning, too.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s certainly worth trying to bond first. If nothing else, one cage clean rather than two!

You have to stay within your limits - Animals are a lot of work!
I had six animals at one point - two rabbits, four pigs (still have the two rabbits but am now down to two pigs) - and although I loved it, life has changed over the last couple of years and we now want to do other things which having so many animals isn’t conducive to!

 

[AidaB]

We have a visiting pair of bonded boys with us this week& it’s reminded me of the relationship our first two boy guinea pigs had. I miss it, with our current two who don’t get on & live separately.
We quickly learnt that 2 piggies was enough for us long term, whichever way they choose to live

We still treat the seemingly dominant one first even though our 2 live separately.