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Bereavement

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Nick c

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi, Until today we had three boars, all nearly 4 years old. We soon learnt that having 3 was a mistake, so Butterscotch and Ginger lived in a 6 x 4 c and c cage and Biscuit lives directly above them in an L shaped home of similar total size. They could see, hear and smell each other and by stretching a little the downstairs boys could nose at Biscuit through the grids. Biscuit is content and still popcorns more than the others so we left him as a single.

This morning we had to have Butterscotch put down, so now we have 2 singles. Although content to nose at each other through the grids I know they won't bond. So my question is..... should I rebuild their home so that they are side by side or leave things as they are? Regardless of this should I remove one of the two pigloos and bowls from the downstairs home?

As an aside Ginger seems to be coping well on his own. In the past if we took him or Butterscotch out on their own both would complain until they were back together. He has been out all afternoon and not made a sound! Yesterday he lay beside Butterscotch all day. It is if he knows what has happened.
 
Nick c said:
Hi, Until today we had three boars, all nearly 4 years old. We soon learnt that having 3 was a mistake, so Butterscotch and Ginger lived in a 6 x 4 c and c cage and Biscuit lives directly above them in an L shaped home of similar total size. They could see, hear and smell each other and by stretching a little the downstairs boys could nose at Biscuit through the grids. Biscuit is content and still popcorns more than the others so we left him as a single.

This morning we had to have Butterscotch put down, so now we have 2 singles. Although content to nose at each other through the grids I know they won't bond. So my question is..... should I rebuild their home so that they are side by side or leave things as they are? Regardless of this should I remove one of the two pigloos and bowls from the downstairs home?

As an aside Ginger seems to be coping well on his own. In the past if we took him or Butterscotch out on their own both would complain until they were back together. He has been out all afternoon and not made a sound! Yesterday he lay beside Butterscotch all day. It is if he knows what has happened.
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sorry for your loss. Is it an option for you to get 2 sows?
 
The boys are not neutered and space could be an issue as I would really want both runs to be 6 x 4 minimum. It could be an option though.
Biscuit has always seemed happy as a single, popcorning frequently, getting extra laptime, and content to nose at the downstairs boys. That is why we never attempted to find him a partner and after 4 years I am reluctant to disrupt him.
 
Sorry for your loss of Butterscotch.

You say the 2 boys won’t bond but is it worth trying as they are both singles?
I’m not a bonding expert and you know your piggies best but I thought I’d ask
 
When we first had the three boys, Biscuit was the least dominant. Then he decided enough was enough and turned into the Tasmanian Devil. I dread to think hat would have happened if we hadn't witnessed it and reacted quickly. I'm less concerned with Biscuit as he has been single for so long and seems happy just being near other pigs. Bonding someone with Ginger may end up being our best option though. Thank you.
 
hello, sorry to hear of your loss. I agree with what you have said above, boar trios are notoriously hard and never advised. I would leave as is for now with the grids separating them as always if Ginger is coping okay

how long ago is it since you had them as a trio?
 
Hi, They are nearly 4 years old, but were only a trio for about a month before we realised the error of our ways and have learnt a lot since. I am quite content with Biscuit being a single as long as he can see/hear/smell others. He has been single a long time in this way, popcorns a lot and seems happy. He can almost rub noses through the grids with the "downstairs" pigs if they stretch up to him which they sometimes do.
My concern is whether to leave things like this, or whether to change for the sake of newly single Ginger, the remaining "downstairs" pig. I could convert their home to side by side quite easily, which would create a longer stretch of through the grid contact for them, but that would be another disruption for Ginger. He seems quite content today, eating, drinking as usual, which is making me think I should leave things as they are.

Another option is to add a loft for Ginger which would leave most of his home as is, but create an easier/bigger section of through the grid contact with Biscuit.

I could look at bonding a new pig with Ginger, but wondered whether that would upset Biscuit. Bonding a new pig with each of them is a space issue as they are indoors and I would want to increase Biscuits L shaped home to a larger area if he too had a partner.
I appreciate your reply, as you are one of the experts on here. It is reassuring to know that separated contact, if that makes sense is an option.
Nick.
 
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