Boars and fighting! :(

[Freckles13]

Looking for some tips!
Our lovely Freckles (in the profile picture) died 2 months ago after being diagnosed with a poly cystic kidney. Unfortunately his poor little cage mate Denver (1year 8month old) was left heart broken. So we decided it was time to get him another friend (perhaps we went in a little ignorantly) and decided to get 2 baby boars from rescue they are approximately 5 to 6 months old. Denver and freckles were truely best friendly from day 1 we never really needed an introduction period they mutually groomed from the day they met.

Our new situation is a little different the babies do not seem to like each other (babies names are Mose and Sven) Denver and Sven do not get along, Sven flys for Denver every time they meet. If they are on your lap they are all completely fine with each other they all curl up and sleep together. But put them down anywhere together Sven and Denver and it kicks off! Then on a separate note Sven and Mose who came together from rescue would tolerate each other but never sit together and groom. Then Sven got an eye infection and Mose started attacking him he now has a abcess on his paw that being delt with. So everyone is now in separate cages.

Denver and Mose do get along there is a bit of teeth chattering, bum wiggling and chinning to begin with but then it settles down. Eventually they will sleep on the same blanket as each other not curled up together but beside each other. I have done a very slow gradual introduction with them and left Sven separate. But I am terrified to leave them alone together encase the fight. Denver is a good bit bigger than the babies however he is a pansy and hides from most drama. I have done Denver and Moses introduction in the base of the shower and will leave them for an 1.5hours at a time together and they are fine.

I read some information about fear aggression and moving into a new home is stressful. The thing is even although Denver is separate he chats to them through the cage and he is so much happier he popcorn all over his cage and chats away to them. I have plugged in a pet remedy. I have read some information on bathing them to wash away the testotrone smell (there is an odour coming from Denver in particular). I have also read some information that is for castration and some against. Basically I just want a happy home for them and need some help.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Having them castrated will not change their behaviour. Pigs who don’t like each other, don’t like each other - neutering will not change that.
Buddy baths are not recommended. It’s stressful and doesn’t change anything. It won’t wash testosterone away.
The problems stems from the fact that you cannot have more than two boars together.
If you have two that do like each other and will live together, then that would be best for them - Denver and Mose. Teeth, chattering, bum wiggling (called rumble strutting) is normal and to be expected during the bonding and hierarchy establishing phase. The important thing is not keep introducing and separating them - they either need to be permamently together or permamently apart. When you introduce and separate, it interrupts the bonding process and each time they meet, it starts the whole process all over again and it is stressful for them. It’s only a problem if a full on blood drawing fight occurs and in that case separation needs to happen and they must not live together anymore.
As you cant keep three together, and Sven doesn’t get on with anybody, then keep him separate but near the other two so they can still talk to each other. for the long term getting him a friend of his own would be best. Boar dating at a rescue centre if possible, is the best way to do that. It ensures that he gets a compatible friend. If you just buy a new pig from a pet shop you have no idea if they will get along.

 

[Swissgreys]

Firstly sorry to hear about lovely Freckles, and well done for putting Denver's needs first and trying to find him a new companion.

There is a lot of excellent information here under the heading Boars.
Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

But basically the problem is that it is highly unlikely that 3 boys will ever live together, so you will need to make some adjustments to your initial plan.
Buddy baths and castration won't change anything, so you need to decide who will live with who (as a pair) and then how to manage your lone boar.

Also putting the boys together for an hour or so is very stressful for them - guinea pigs don't do 'play dates', every encounter means they need to work at reestablishing a hierarchy. So you need to commit to bonding, and leave them together until it is complete, or has 100% failed.

They are complex little creatures!
Good luck with everything.

 

[Reenie]

If I'm understanding, you have a pair who get on and the third is happy to chat through the bars? I would leave it like that. Having another piggy to talk to is what's important. The boar trio grouping seldom works, as everyone has said. It would be great to see your boys pics.

 

[Wiebke]

Looking for some tips!
Our lovely Freckles (in the profile picture) died 2 months ago after being diagnosed with a poly cystic kidney. Unfortunately his poor little cage mate Denver (1year 8month old) was left heart broken. So we decided it was time to get him another friend (perhaps we went in a little ignorantly) and decided to get 2 baby boars from rescue they are approximately 5 to 6 months old. Denver and freckles were truely best friendly from day 1 we never really needed an introduction period they mutually groomed from the day they met.

Our new situation is a little different the babies do not seem to like each other (babies names are Mose and Sven) Denver and Sven do not get along, Sven flys for Denver every time they meet. If they are on your lap they are all completely fine with each other they all curl up and sleep together. But put them down anywhere together Sven and Denver and it kicks off! Then on a separate note Sven and Mose who came together from rescue would tolerate each other but never sit together and groom. Then Sven got an eye infection and Mose started attacking him he now has a abcess on his paw that being delt with. So everyone is now in separate cages.

Denver and Mose do get along there is a bit of teeth chattering, bum wiggling and chinning to begin with but then it settles down. Eventually they will sleep on the same blanket as each other not curled up together but beside each other. I have done a very slow gradual introduction with them and left Sven separate. But I am terrified to leave them alone together encase the fight. Denver is a good bit bigger than the babies however he is a pansy and hides from most drama. I have done Denver and Moses introduction in the base of the shower and will leave them for an 1.5hours at a time together and they are fine.

I read some information about fear aggression and moving into a new home is stressful. The thing is even although Denver is separate he chats to them through the cage and he is so much happier he popcorn all over his cage and chats away to them. I have plugged in a pet remedy. I have read some information on bathing them to wash away the testotrone smell (there is an odour coming from Denver in particular). I have also read some information that is for castration and some against. Basically I just want a happy home for them and need some help.

Hi!

Boar trios, especially with sub-adult boys in the mix won't generally make it through the teenage months. Neutering only takes away the ability to make babies, but doesn't change social behaviour or personality. I am very sorry for your problems; you have tried to do your best for Denver. Unfortunately for boars the rule is either pairs or large groups. Trios and quartets are most prone to problems with a very high percentage of failure in young boars.

Please take the time to read these guides here. You should find them very helpful for making any informed decision as to where you want to go with your boys from there:
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts

 

[Freckles13]

Firstly sorry to hear about lovely Freckles, and well done for putting Denver's needs first and trying to find him a new companion.

There is a lot of excellent information here under the heading Boars.
Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

But basically the problem is that it is highly unlikely that 3 boys will ever live together, so you will need to make some adjustments to your initial plan.
Buddy baths and castration won't change anything, so you need to decide who will live with who (as a pair) and then how to manage your lone boar.

Also putting the boys together for an hour or so is very stressful for them - guinea pigs don't do 'play dates', every encounter means they need to work at reestablishing a hierarchy. So you need to commit to bonding, and leave them together until it is complete, or has 100% failed.

They are complex little creatures!
Good luck with everything.

Thank you, I have been building up the interaction time so that is helpful I will try just leaving them! I just panic as Denver is just our baby and you don't wanna stress him but I didn't realise that would stress him more

 

[Freckles13]

If I'm understanding, you have a pair who get on and the third is happy to chat through the bars? I would leave it like that. Having another piggy to talk to is what's important. The boar trio grouping seldom works, as everyone has said. It would be great to see your boys pics.

Yeah so Sven is a loner he just fights as soon as he sees the others but is super affectionate towards us. Denver and Mose get along but are still trying to work out the chain of command. So me it looks like Mose is in charge as he pushes Denver's head up and sways his hips and does that low growl at Denver. Mean while Denver just stares at him and eats his dinner. The only time Denver reacts is when Mose tries to hump him then he'll chatter his teeth at him.
I am just feeling a bit out my depth and Freckles and Denver were just a dream together

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes it would have been easier with freckles and Denver because they obviously liked each other and given it was a pair it is always easier. As has been said trios generally won’t work.
I would put Sven in an adjoining cage and then leave Denver and Mose to try to work things out between them.

 

[Freckles13]

Having them castrated will not change their behaviour. Pigs who don’t like each other, don’t like each other - neutering will not change that.
Buddy baths are not recommended. It’s stressful and doesn’t change anything. It won’t wash testosterone away.
The problems stems from the fact that you cannot have more than two boars together.
If you have two that do like each other and will live together, then that would be best for them - Denver and Mose. Teeth, chattering, bum wiggling (called rumble strutting) is normal and to be expected during the bonding and hierarchy establishing phase. The important thing is not keep introducing and separating them - they either need to be permamently together or permamently apart. When you introduce and separate, it interrupts the bonding process and each time they meet, it starts the whole process all over again and it is stressful for them. It’s only a problem if a full on blood drawing fight occurs and in that case separation needs to happen and they must not live together anymore.
As you cant keep three together, and Sven doesn’t get on with anybody, then keep him separate but near the other two so they can still talk to each other. for the long term getting him a friend of his own would be best. Boar dating at a rescue centre if possible, is the best way to do that. It ensures that he gets a compatible friend. If you just buy a new pig from a pet shop you have no idea if they will get along.

Thanks, yeah I never realised doing "introduction dates" where contraindicated so I put them in together tonight and but the baby cam on them and watched from another room to let them chill without me staring at them and they did the rumbling chattering thing to begin with then eventually lay down next to each other sleeping! So am really happy with that