Bonding 3 males

[pigmom19]

Advice Needed! Warning it’s a long post.

We have two bonded brothers who just turned a year. We adopted a 5 week old male last week from the shelter. We attempted quarantine but the baby wasn’t eating or drinking and spent his time crying out for the other pigs. Cautiously, we introduced all 3 pigs using the advice found on this page. Everything had been going well. There’s been a lot of humping, some teeth catering but nothing unexpected until tonight. The two brothers have been fighting, chasing, and tumbling across the cages to the point where there’s been hair loss. The only change in the last 24 hours has been the addition of two midwestern cages. They now have 3 total linked together with the ramps. Each has hideaways, blankets, and food. We’ve separated each pig into his own cage for the time being. We’re worried the two older brother could hurt each other tonight. They’ve both been great with the baby. It seems like some of the tension comes from who gets to be next to the baby.

We’re not sure what to do next. I’ve read to allow pigs to argue unless there’s blood drawn. I hate for it to get to that point and it seems like it’s close. We ideally want all three to be able to live together. If we were to separate the baby from the two brothers do you think they would “get over it” and be nice to each other again? Any advice is appreciated. We’re worried that the bonded pair will lose their bond and be unable to live in the same cage.

 

[tatals]

Hello!

Unfortunately, bonding more than 2 pigs is usually advised against. If you take a look at this guide: Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not? , you'll notice that your case is a very common one for trios. Introducing a third board to an existing pair can cause an unbalance.

I think you can try to re-introduce them, but you should probably be ready to deal with three independent boars. Take a look at these guides, they may be helpful:
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[Wiebke]

Advice Needed! Warning it’s a long post.

We have two bonded brothers who just turned a year. We adopted a 5 week old male last week from the shelter. We attempted quarantine but the baby wasn’t eating or drinking and spent his time crying out for the other pigs. Cautiously, we introduced all 3 pigs using the advice found on this page. Everything had been going well. There’s been a lot of humping, some teeth catering but nothing unexpected until tonight. The two brothers have been fighting, chasing, and tumbling across the cages to the point where there’s been hair loss. The only change in the last 24 hours has been the addition of two midwestern cages. They now have 3 total linked together with the ramps. Each has hideaways, blankets, and food. We’ve separated each pig into his own cage for the time being. We’re worried the two older brother could hurt each other tonight. They’ve both been great with the baby. It seems like some of the tension comes from who gets to be next to the baby.

We’re not sure what to do next. I’ve read to allow pigs to argue unless there’s blood drawn. I hate for it to get to that point and it seems like it’s close. We ideally want all three to be able to live together. If we were to separate the baby from the two brothers do you think they would “get over it” and be nice to each other again? Any advice is appreciated. We’re worried that the bonded pair will lose their bond and be unable to live in the same cage.

Hi!

Unfortunately, a new cage means new territory, and that can upset the apple cart even for adult boars; yours are still at that stage of the teenage month where a change in conditions can upset an otherwise quite pair.
Our advice for cage extensions is to always do it with soiled, scent marked bedding and to rub it all over the new territory to avoid a hierarchy upset if at all possible. Any tension that the arrival of the baby has caused will have unfortunately come to the surface with the added stress of a new territory. Please put the baby with the top boar in order to not cause any more upset.

Please give your two adult boars 2-3 days time out with a divider in order to calm down. Then you can try a formal introduction again on neutral ground with all three piggies and see whether your two boys will go back together or whether the fight has led to a permanent fall-out. In that case, I would recommend to keep them separated and to find a new friend for the underboar, preferably one of his choice.
Please have oven gloves and a divider ready; you should know pretty soon which way things are going. Never go between riled up boars with bare hands (deep instinctive defence bites for any sudden movement can do permanent damage even to a human hand) but be aware that if things are going wrong, they will blow up very quickly.
A fall-out can happen without any serious bites if your two boys decide that they do not want to go back with each other once you give them the say. The 'do not separate unless there is blood' advice is more for people who quake at the first sign of dominance behaviour.
A fighting ball without serious bites does count as a reason for a temporary separation with a small chance of a reunion.

Please take the time to read these guides here:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[pigmom19]

Advice Needed! Warning it’s a long post.

We have two bonded brothers who just turned a year. We adopted a 5 week old male last week from the shelter. We attempted quarantine but the baby wasn’t eating or drinking and spent his time crying out for the other pigs. Cautiously, we introduced all 3 pigs using the advice found on this page. Everything had been going well. There’s been a lot of humping, some teeth catering but nothing unexpected until tonight. The two brothers have been fighting, chasing, and tumbling across the cages to the point where there’s been hair loss. The only change in the last 24 hours has been the addition of two midwestern cages. They now have 3 total linked together with the ramps. Each has hideaways, blankets, and food. We’ve separated each pig into his own cage for the time being. We’re worried the two older brother could hurt each other tonight. They’ve both been great with the baby. It seems like some of the tension comes from who gets to be next to the baby.

We’re not sure what to do next. I’ve read to allow pigs to argue unless there’s blood drawn. I hate for it to get to that point and it seems like it’s close. We ideally want all three to be able to live together. If we were to separate the baby from the two brothers do you think they would “get over it” and be nice to each other again? Any advice is appreciated. We’re worried that the bonded pair will lose their bond and be unable to live in the same cage.

Advice Needed! Warning it’s a long post.

We have two bonded brothers who just turned a year. We adopted a 5 week old male last week from the shelter. We attempted quarantine but the baby wasn’t eating or drinking and spent his time crying out for the other pigs. Cautiously, we introduced all 3 pigs using the advice found on this page. Everything had been going well. There’s been a lot of humping, some teeth catering but nothing unexpected until tonight. The two brothers have been fighting, chasing, and tumbling across the cages to the point where there’s been hair loss. The only change in the last 24 hours has been the addition of two midwestern cages. They now have 3 total linked together with the ramps. Each has hideaways, blankets, and food. We’ve separated each pig into his own cage for the time being. We’re worried the two older brother could hurt each other tonight. They’ve both been great with the baby. It seems like some of the tension comes from who gets to be next to the baby.

We’re not sure what to do next. I’ve read to allow pigs to argue unless there’s blood drawn. I hate for it to get to that point and it seems like it’s close. We ideally want all three to be able to live together. If we were to separate the baby from the two brothers do you think they would “get over it” and be nice to each other again? Any advice is appreciated. We’re worried that the bonded pair will lose their bond and be unable to live in the same cage.

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[pigmom19]

Hi!

Unfortunately, a new cage means new territory, and that can upset the apple cart even for adult boars; yours are still at that stage of the teenage month where a change in conditions can upset an otherwise quite pair.
Our advice for cage extensions is to always do it with soiled, scent marked bedding and to rub it all over the new territory to avoid a hierarchy upset if at all possible. Any tension that the arrival of the baby has caused will have unfortunately come to the surface with the added stress of a new territory. Please put the baby with the top boar in order to not cause any more upset.

Please give your two adult boars 2-3 days time out with a divider in order to calm down. Then you can try a formal introduction again on neutral ground with all three piggies and see whether your two boys will go back together or whether the fight has led to a permanent fall-out. In that case, I would recommend to keep them separated and to find a new friend for the underboar, preferably one of his choice.
Please have oven gloves and a divider ready; you should know pretty soon which way things are going. Never go between riled up boars with bare hands (deep instinctive defence bites for any sudden movement can do permanent damage even to a human hand) but be aware that if things are going wrong, they will blow up very quickly.
A fall-out can happen without any serious bites if your two boys decide that they do not want to go back with each other once you give them the say. The 'do not separate unless there is blood' advice is more for people who quake at the first sign of dominance behaviour.
A fighting ball without serious bites does count as a reason for a temporary separation with a small chance of a reunion.

Please take the time to read these guides here:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Thank you for your reply. We are going to try a reintroduction once more and if that doesn’t work then we will get our more submissive older boar a new friend and allowed the new baby to live with the dominant boar. It’s been so sad to watch our bonded pair fall out. Thanks again.

 

[ThePiggieHouse]

Agree with @Wiebke.
Patience is key too... I had two bonded boars, whom I added a baby to, and after neutral territory, the alpha boar being introduced first, lots of sniffing and food bribery, my boys now successfully live as a trio. It can happen. But more often than not it is better for boys to be as pairs. I know I'm lucky.
Read the advice suggested and if you don't feel it's working, while baby is still little, get him a lovely friend.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x

 

[CaitlynDLee]

Agree with @Wiebke.
Patience is key too... I had two bonded boars, whom I added a baby to, and after neutral territory, the alpha boar being introduced first, lots of sniffing and food bribery, my boys now successfully live as a trio. It can happen. But more often than not it is better for boys to be as pairs. I know I'm lucky.
Read the advice suggested and if you don't feel it's working, while baby is still little, get him a lovely friend.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x

Hi! What age were your boars when you added the third baby? I currently have 3 male boars living together. 2 were bonded as babies and are around 6 months old and the third is around 4 months. They are living together fine but I'm worried that they will start fighting eventually. How long have yours been together and are they still bonded? Any tips would be great.

 

[ThePiggieHouse]

Mine are now all grown up, and still cohabiting just fine. I think it makes a difference to have boars at staggered ages. Mine were a little younger than yours when introduced but although there is occasionally a disagreement within the trio they're usually fine.
Whoosit is the oldest at just over a year, Gus-Gus is 9 months old and Teddy is (Whoosits son) at 7 months.
Separate hideouts, food bowls and rest places all help. Regular meals and routine.
Exercise is vital for the best possible outcome as boredom in boars is not good for a harmonic atmosphere. Lots of things to keep them occupied and the bigger the cage will be better. Boars like to keep out of each others space x

 

[VickiA]

Hi! What age were your boars when you added the third baby? I currently have 3 male boars living together. 2 were bonded as babies and are around 6 months old and the third is around 4 months. They are living together fine but I'm worried that they will start fighting eventually. How long have yours been together and are they still bonded? Any tips would be great.

The OP hasn’t been back for some months so we don’t know how they are doing.
Statistically a trio of juvenile boars is very unlikely to make it as a trio into adulthood as a group. The best advice is to prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Have plan B ready - ie be ready to separate if there is bullying, fighting or a fall out. Please have a good read of these threads.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonds In Trouble
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care