Boar Trios?

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GilliC

GilliC

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I'm not entirely sure if this is the appropriate place for this thread, but since it's not currently a care issue I thought I'd post it here.

So currently I have two boars, both around 7 months old, but I'm thinking of introducing a third, most likely older, piggy. I've done a bit of research over the past few days after some very helpful links were recommended to me, so I've become much more aware of the problems that may occur. So really what I want to know is:

Has anyone had a successful boar trio?
 
I've only ever had 1 boar trio which worked.
I don't think it would be a good idea to get another boar at the mo
 
I have not personally tried, some people do have succesfull trios, but it depends what you class as successfull. Most I know of that have been sucessfull have no been introduced till later in life. (the hormonal age of 4 months - a year is the worst)

Another key thing is SPACE, oodles and oodles of space :) Also having 3 of everything, and hideys with two or more exits. (ie childrens stools, rather than a pigloo)
 
I've considered it, but one i weighed up the options, decided it really wasn't worth it (:
 
I have also been considering this and after reading lots of advice, decided that I should let my happy pigs stay as they are- happy!
inbreeding
Sarah
 
Occaisonally it works but very very rarely.

Trios rarely work as the fight for domienance and being top pig is opposed 3 ways- in a pair you will always have one which is more submissive, hence a successful pairing.

I wouldn't mess with the bond your current two have, if you introduce a third you'll quite likely end up with an outsider situation or worse, the newbie upsets the bond between your current two and they all fall out and you'll end up with 3 lone pigs who all need new friends. Basically, don't fix what isn't broke!
By all means you can have another pair living nearby but i would leave well alone incase they all fall out, piggy fights can be very unpleasant.
I have 2 boar pairs, one living above the other and this works fine :)
 
There are a few successful trios that I know of, but they are all comprised of mainly or all adult boars (over 15 months old). In my time on the forum I have heard of only one trio that has made it through the stroppy months (4-14 months) intact; we get plenty from the other side! mallethead

Trios are generally the trickiest constellation to get just right without ending up with a major outsider problem of some sort or other, whatever gender constellation you are trying (3 sows, 3 boars or 2 sows and 1 neutered boar). I have one successful trio, but my two middle aged cataract sows actually chose to become best of friends of their own accord and I let them select their new husboar through a round of dating at a rescue.

As for boars - two is definitely the best ticket. http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/optionsmenu.htm

You can have a snoop round the behaviour section to see for your self what kind of issues you may be facing.
 
Honestly.... its not worth it.

Boars are tempremental at times to bond, and trios rarely work. I would introduce a third piggie to an already settled pair. I would maybe consider getting a second pair of boars if you are thinking of getting more piggies?
Any more than two boars can cause 'gang warfare' where there is a constant battle for top pig, and a very unsettled cage, sometimes or often ending in some bloodshed.

Sorry if its not the answer you wanted.

x.
 
Thank you everyone for your input and honesty. Abi_nurse, I'm not really looking for any specific answer except the one that will keep my guinea pigs happy.

It's becoming quite obvious that trying to introduce a third boar is almost definitely a bad idea. I do have one more question though. Would it be equally stressful to house one male alone, but next to two others for company? I'm sure the best idea is to just stay at two so none of this is an issue, but there's a lone male at a local rescue that I'm determined to give a home. If I could just adopt two more and have two pairs it would be ideal, but I'm lucky my housemates are tolerating the idea of three.

I think I'm going to have to give up on my dream of a trio, unfortunately. But if that's the best thing to do for the safety of my piggies, I can live with it.
 
If it is a matter of the new boar being alone or living next to a couple of piggies then that is certainly an option. Best talk it over with the rescue.
 
Yes, I'd be keeping the new boar separate from my current pair. I have quite a few questions to ask them already about the personality and age of Scooter (the lonely rescue), among other things. I'm just hoping it all works out for the best!

If I possibly can (and I'm a sneaky one, so I might be able to) I'm going to try to convince my boyfriend to let me adopt both Scooter and Mr. Tibbs, lone boars at two different rescues.

The small animal rescue society here doesn't seem to get many of their guinea pigs adopted, which I find very sad. Hence my determination on this matter! But chances are Chewie and Hans are going to remain my only two piggies.
 
Boars are such hard work!

I think I agree with pretty much everything said so far and somehow trios seem the most unstable combination of pigs.

I'm really unusual in that my 4 boars, who live in two pairs during teh day share floortime in the evening and get along fine but I'd never house them all together as they'd go mad! They have a very obvious pecking order that is rarely in dispute so it works for me but I realise this is definately not the norm!
 
Wishing you all the best in what you choose to do love :)
I know you want to help this other piggie, perhaps talk to the rescue and your boyfriend and see what you can do..... GOOD LUCK LOVE xx>>>



My friend who i got my girls from has 5 boars together, BUT these are all over the adolescent stage! I only just found out this by chance i had no idea! They do have a very large area to live in.
 
I had a trio of boars that I introduced to each othr last April. Two of the boys were brothers that had been together since birth and one was 7 months old.
They did extremely well together until January 13 when we had an unexpected litter of pups. All Hades broke loss then.

I had no idea what I was doing when I started this journey with herd(s) of guinea pigs.

I have a herd of 6 girls that get along amazingly.

My boars on the other hand are exhausting.
After the initial dust up I moved the older boar out and into a cage with two other boars that are closer in age to him. The older boar had been my dominate boar no matter where I put him. He is now afraid of his own shadow.
Things worked well until this past week with this trio and now the oldest boar is in with my babies that were born in January.

I am very quickly trying to figure out pairings and trying to get the things together to buil more cages so I can separate my boars.
 
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