Bonding new boar?

[Didiri1337]

Hi
I just bought a new piggy to my herd. He's a boar, about 2.5 years old and I bought him because his friend had just died so he was alone in his old home. I've tried to introduce him to my current herd of two other boars, 9 months old, but they seem to be chasing each other a lot and biting, I don't know how much of this behaviour is considered normal.
Any tips on how to bond them better?

Also he seems to have some kind of problem with his eyes, they are kind of drooping. His old owner said that she didnt have insurance and no veterinarian had looked at him.

Any advice?

 

[Julie M]

Really sorry to have to tell you this but boar trios rarely work out. Do you have space for another set up and you could get him his own friend.

 

[Didiri1337]

Really sorry to have to tell you this but boar trios rarely work out. Do you have space for another set up and you could get him his own friend.

Unfortunately I don't have room. Maybe temporarily but It would take an lot of work and money to get and look after another habitat. Are you sure I can't help them bond?

 

[Didiri1337]

Should I separate them? They have been chasing each other non-stop for 40 minutes, and I've been watching them closely but I'm getting worried they will hurt each other

 

[Julie M]

Some members do have boar trios that do work happily. But it's sadly not the normal.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
I just bought a new piggy to my herd. He's a boar, about 2.5 years old and I bought him because his friend had just died so he was alone in his old home. I've tried to introduce him to my current herd of two other boars, 9 months old, but they seem to be chasing each other a lot and biting, I don't know how much of this behaviour is considered normal.
Any tips on how to bond them better?

Also he seems to have some kind of problem with his eyes, they are kind of drooping. His old owner said that she didnt have insurance and no veterinarian had looked at him.

Any advice?

Hi!

The majority of boar trios don't work in our experience, especially the more teenagers are in the mix. Your two 9 months olds are right in the thick of it.

Here is our illustrated bonding guide with the behaviours and dynamics. Chasing and nipping are both dominance behaviours.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

And here is our comprehensive boar guide, which will give you some useful background information and alternatives: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Please have the eye vet checked!

 

[Didiri1337]

Hi!

The majority of boar trios don't work in our experience, especially the more teenagers are in the mix. Your two 9 months olds are right in the thick of it.

Here is our illustrated bonding guide with the behaviours and dynamics. Chasing and nipping are both dominance behaviours.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

And here is our comprehensive boar guide, which will give you some useful background information and alternatives: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Please have the eye vet checked!

Thank you.
There are some more problems with him, his teeth are really long and askew, his nails are curling and he has urine everywhere. Also it looks like he's never had a boar-cleaning done, poor thing.
The insurance hasn't gone through yet so I can't take him to the veterinarian just yet. Do you have any advice what I can do from home? I'm feeling really desperate because I've had to separate all of my guinea pigs and they are screaming after one another. I'm a new piggy owner so I don't have any experience with this!
I just feel so bad for them

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you.
There are some more problems with him, his teeth are really long and askew, his nails are curling and he has urine everywhere. Also it looks like he's never had a boar-cleaning done, poor thing.
The insurance hasn't gone through yet so I can't take him to the veterinarian just yet. Do you have any advice what I can do from home? I'm feeling really desperate because I've had to separate all of my guinea pigs and they are screaming after one another. I'm a new piggy owner so I don't have any experience with this!
I just feel so bad for them

Please make sure that you monitor his weight daily and feed him with recovery formula and/or mushed up pellets and grated veg if he can still chew and his overgrown premolars have not trapped the tongue yet. Keeping him fed and minimising potential complications from long term overgrown teeth as much as possible is important.
Please be aware that unless you find a specialist for guinea pig dentals (sadly not likely), your boy is not likely to be able to eat straight away after dental treatment and may need ongoing dental care depending on the severity and cause of his problems, so you have to be prepared to continue with syringe feeding/grated veg, painkillers and gut stimulants after treatment.
You can find our emergency and bridging care advice via this link here: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
The lady who runs The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary for guinea pigs with special needs (TEAS) is currently too busy to come on here but has allowed us to refer any members with dental issues to contact her via her sanctuary during normal daytime hours. The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary – Providing life-enhancing care for Guinea Pigs with extra needs


Keep your boys next to each other with interaction through the bars so they have company and stimulation but cannot fight. The screaming and bar biting should calm down within a few days, but the boys should be able to still see see (body language), smell (pheromones) and talk with each other for full communication in the longer term.

Detailed advice and information via the two links below.
Please accept that it has taken me days to write the guides and that I cannot get all the relevant tips into every post each time. I am moderating for free in my free time.
Both guides deal with the 'what next' after a major fight and a permanent separation by going through all your possible options with their various pros and cons. As each situation is unique and access to good rescues and piggy savvy vets varies massively from country to country (or even between areas in one country) there is no one solution that fits every case. It is a process of working out which options are valid for you and which you find the best and easiest to implement and to live with in the longer term.
If you are near Gothenburg, then Eragons Marsvins guinea pig rescue would be the best place to contact; especially for country specific information and support.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Eragons Marsvin

 

[Didiri1337]

Please make sure that you monitor his weight daily and feed him with recovery formula and/or mushed up pellets and grated veg if he can still chew and his overgrown premolars have not trapped the tongue yet. Keeping him fed and minimising potential complications from long term overgrown teeth as much as possible is important.
Please be aware that unless you find a specialist for guinea pig dentals (sadly not likely), your boy is not likely to be able to eat straight away after dental treatment and may need ongoing dental care depending on the severity and cause of his problems, so you have to be prepared to continue with syringe feeding/grated veg, painkillers and gut stimulants after treatment.
You can find our emergency and bridging care advice via this link here: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
The lady who runs The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary for guinea pigs with special needs (TEAS) is currently too busy to come on here but has allowed us to refer any members with dental issues to contact her via her sanctuary during normal daytime hours. The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary – Providing life-enhancing care for Guinea Pigs with extra needs


Keep your boys next to each other with interaction through the bars so they have company and stimulation but cannot fight. The screaming and bar biting should calm down within a few days, but the boys should be able to still see see (body language), smell (pheromones) and talk with each other for full communication in the longer term.

Detailed advice and information via the two links below.
Please accept that it has taken me days to write the guides and that I cannot get all the relevant tips into every post each time. I am moderating for free in my free time.
Both guides deal with the 'what next' after a major fight and a permanent separation by going through all your possible options with their various pros and cons. As each situation is unique and access to good rescues and piggy savvy vets varies massively from country to country (or even between areas in one coutry) there is no one solution that fits every case. It is a process of working out which options are valid for you and which you find the best and easiest to implement and to live with in the longer term.
If you are near Gothenburg, then Eragons Marsvins guinea pig rescue would be the best place to contact; especially for country specific information and support.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Eragons Marsvin

Thank you so much, I'll do my best. I really appreciate you taking your time and answering my thread! I'll try to get an appointment with a veterinarian tomorrow.