L
laneychubb
Hi everyone, I'm a novice guinea pig owner and learning as I go along. Ive been visiting this forum and think its wonderful and am totally addicted. My older 2 boars I got together from pets at home (not brothers) and have always got on well until recently. 4 weeks ago I got 3 boars that were 4 weeks old, from a nearby farm. I was intending to get 2 but I couldnt leave 1 on his own and as they are brothers have always been together. My husband has made them outdoor hutches and runs, the 2 older boys being together near to the young 3 who have their own hutch and run. They could see each other but not touch. I noticed a lot more 'boyish' behaviour between the older 2 but no fighting. With the young 3 I noticed 2 paired off with the other 1 on his own more but they all interacted fine with no fighting.
Then 10 days ago the lady from the farm phoned to say that from a seperate litter (same mum but different dad) she'd been left with 1 boy on his own (2 weeks younger than the trio) and as she knew Id been a bit concerened as to how 3 would get on she asked if Id be interested in giving this little boy a home. I decided to take him and put him in a seperate hutch and run (newly made by my hubby) with the boar that seemed to be on his own more. They have paired off really well.
Here is where I may have made a mistake, hubby suggested adjoining the runs so that they were still in pairs but able to see and almost touch each other. The oldest 2 started showing more aggressive behaviour towards each other as if trying to show whos boss between themselves and the 4 younger boars. I was hoping they would sort it out but it escalated to a proper fight and I had to seperate them. My long suffering husband was able to make it so that the older 2 have thier own hutch at each end of their run, with a division between them so they see each other and can interact without fighting. The young boars are fine and settled, the older 2 seem fine but I worry they wont be happy without a proper friend in proper contact.
Do I leave things as they are, or do I break up the other pairs by putting a young one with each older one so they all have a buddy to live with?
I'm absolutley commited to giving them all a happy and great life and love them all to bits, I want to do the right thing and would really appreciate any advice you can give me. I realise as a novice owner Ive taken on a lot by having 6 boars, but I am home all the time and along with my dogs they are my day to day priority (oh and my husband too!)
Then 10 days ago the lady from the farm phoned to say that from a seperate litter (same mum but different dad) she'd been left with 1 boy on his own (2 weeks younger than the trio) and as she knew Id been a bit concerened as to how 3 would get on she asked if Id be interested in giving this little boy a home. I decided to take him and put him in a seperate hutch and run (newly made by my hubby) with the boar that seemed to be on his own more. They have paired off really well.
Here is where I may have made a mistake, hubby suggested adjoining the runs so that they were still in pairs but able to see and almost touch each other. The oldest 2 started showing more aggressive behaviour towards each other as if trying to show whos boss between themselves and the 4 younger boars. I was hoping they would sort it out but it escalated to a proper fight and I had to seperate them. My long suffering husband was able to make it so that the older 2 have thier own hutch at each end of their run, with a division between them so they see each other and can interact without fighting. The young boars are fine and settled, the older 2 seem fine but I worry they wont be happy without a proper friend in proper contact.
Do I leave things as they are, or do I break up the other pairs by putting a young one with each older one so they all have a buddy to live with?
I'm absolutley commited to giving them all a happy and great life and love them all to bits, I want to do the right thing and would really appreciate any advice you can give me. I realise as a novice owner Ive taken on a lot by having 6 boars, but I am home all the time and along with my dogs they are my day to day priority (oh and my husband too!)
