Bonding boars

[Amyrosexo]

Hello, as some people may know I lost one of piggy’s last week, and now his brother is on his own. Who has now just started his grieving process.
I have 2 other boars in a separate cage who have recently been paired together. I was just wondering how many boars can be together or whether it’s worth the hasstle of trying to bond them together.
I have read the post on the forum but I was wondering if anyone has been successful at all.
Thankyou x

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, as some people may know I lost one of piggy’s last week, and now his brother is on his own. Who has now just started his grieving process.
I have 2 other boars in a separate cage who have recently been paired together. I was just wondering how many boars can be together or whether it’s worth the hasstle of trying to bond them together.
I have read the post on the forum but I was wondering if anyone has been successful at all.
Thankyou x

Hi! I am very sorry for your loss.

To be honest, introducing a third boar into a fresh bond is rather the ideal recipe for disaster.

Give your boy time to grieve. He can live in a cage/pen right next to your other pair, so he has got company through the bars when he wants it but your two other boys can work on strengthening their own bond. Having neighbours he can interact with through the bars will hopefully be enough to prevent depression. I have made that experience with my own piggies. Then you can take it from there once he comes out of deep mourning. If the boars make a trio of their own choice, then count yourself lucky, but please do not force it. Be aware that the more sub-adults there are in a boar trio, the higher the fail rate is.

 

[Amyrosexo]

@Wiebke Thankyou I’m in the process of planning a cage build so there’s more room for toys and things for them. Their cages are across from each other so they can speak if they want too I was planning on doing it after new year for after the cages are built. I will see how they are being near each other, i wouldn’t force them to be together as it will be too much stress for them all as well as me.

Regarding the photo that’s the sort of style I want to make but two separate ones. And with a little bit of an upstairs but again separate so the pigs can have their own space

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke Thankyou I’m in the process of planning a cage build so there’s more room for toys and things for them. Their cages are across from each other so they can speak if they want too I was planning on doing it after new year for after the cages are built. I will see how they are being near each other, i wouldn’t force them to be together as it will be too much stress for them all as well as me.

Regarding the photo that’s the sort of style I want to make but two separate ones. And with a little bit of an upstairs but again separate so the pigs can have their own space

Right now living so they can see each other full body as well as hear other would be best for your bereaved boy as that gives him the level of company he needs. This buys you time so you can research finding a new friend for your bereaved boy, ideally one he can choose himself for character compatibility.

Communication between guinea pigs is complex - it has a vocal level, a sight level (body language) and a scent level (pheromones and territorial scent marking). If you keep your single boy at a distance while he is alone, you take away two thirds of his communication. Guinea pigs don't have sharp sight past one foot; they only react to sudden movement and pheromones dont travel far.

That setup looks impressive, but keep in mind that guinea pigs are ground roamers and that it is only the largest space on one level that is counting towards the cage size. One upper level is plenty for them, and it won't count towards the cage size unless it is the minimal size of a proper cage. if boars live as singles on different levels, they need to have somewhere where they can see and interact fully for it to work.

 

[Amyrosexo]

@Wiebke I will have to move the cages around tomorrow and see if that helps.

And the new cage would pretty much be half the size of the bedroom they are in at the moment. So would be huge, I’m not sure on a second level yet it’s just a thought atm.

Thankyou

 

[Wiebke]

This is how I have solved the space problem with several groups and several tiers. It has the advantage of being a very flexible layout considering I have more piggies and accordingly a larger turnover as groups change, piggies fall out or die...

 

[Amyrosexo]

Wow that is amazing.
I’ll show my mum it when I get home. That’s something like I want to build

 

[Wiebke]

Wow that is amazing.
I’ll show my mum it when I get home. That’s something like I want to build

I have used vinyl cut-offs for the underlay on ground floor and Ikea linnmon tables with tops of 75x150cm (which accommodate a cable tied 2x4 C&C grid cage. A linnmon table fits into the food print of a 2x4 ground floor cage. I just gently lift it up with my shoulder for cleaning and then deep clean/thoroughly disinfect twice a year.

 

[Amyrosexo]

I was looking at the ikea tabletop and things like that,I’ve got to measure the room properly so I can work out the amount that I’m going to need.

Thankyou for that it’s helped me with my idea x