Bonding trouble

erinroneree

erinroneree

New Born Pup
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When we bought our pigs there were 3 left in their litter and we bought 2. We left the last one behind. I felt this sadness about splitting them up that never left me and my kids even named the long lost kid Coco and asked if we could find him a few times to which i replied we couldn’t
So fast forward - we built a new much larger cage and soon after found this long lost brother pig and are now trying to reunite them.
They spent 24 hours in a neutral cage we built them and were calm and we moved them into their new cage together which was just about new to all three pigs. It’s and C&C 2x4 with a loft making the space - 2x5 total. They spent two days just fine eating together even sleeping near each other. We thought it was over. Then as my son was cleaning the cage in night 3 they started fighting again and the stress in the cage has been high. For the most part the new pig let’s himself be mounted but then occasionally fights back particularly with one of our pigs. They’ve had a little hair tuft pulling out and scratches on the face now. A little bit larger fight this morning drew blood from a big mouth scratch or bite not sure on the new pig. Should we keep trying at this point or separate? My heart breaks at having to separate these siblings again as I am so attached to the new pig. I am not sure why their seemingly successful bond went down hill.
I will add that the new pig was returned to the pet store after a failed bind and is a bit beat up from that maybe And on guard?
Please help!
 
I’m sorry it didn’t work out. There are a couple of things that jump out straight away. The first is that boar trios rarely work out, especially for young/juvenile boars. They work best in pairs as it’s difficult to find the correct balance of characters. The second is that a 2x4 is the minimum recommended space for a sow pair or boar/sow pair. For boars, you need minimum 2x5. Lofts or upper levels don’t count towards overall space as they are ground roaming animals.

You will have to separate them now I’m afraid. Leave together the two that get on the best and have the third living alongside them as neighbour. He can still get the interaction he needs that way. The pair will need a 2x5 and the lone will need a 2x4. Your options are to leave him as a neighbour to the other two or take him to a rescue where he can be bonded and find his own friend. You cannot now give them time together at all. So separate run time and lap time etc. Have a read of the guides I’m linking to below.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

I would try and find your third boar a friend from a rescue. If you decide to go another route, you have to have a plan b in case things don’t work out. See the link below for rescues.
Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations

How long have you had them? Have you had them seen by the vet for a general health check yet?
Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List
 
They go long stretches of calm without much altercation. Then it gets more intense. And the new pig is clearly avoiding the others at this point. I just don’t know why it took a turn for the worse after days of being good.
 
I’ve had the new one for a week almost and the other two for 5 months. They are a little over 7 months old.
I was so happy about reuniting them and I’m so sad.
So you definitely think they need separating at this point?
I have no option for cages that big I’m sorry. We just built this one and invested heavily in it. The 2 pigs will have to live in the 2x4 with the loft which the guinea pig cage site told us was enough space for 2. I don’t have a whole room to designate to the pigs with 3 kids 😔. I have a smaller cage the one can live in alone in the floor next to them or I’ll have to adopt him out of you really think this has to be the end of the attempted bond…
 
Currently the two pigs that were fighting are laying together sleeping. So I’m so confused. We prepared another cage.
 
When blood is drawn then that’s a failed bond and you need to separate. I know that’s not what you want to hear but it’s for the best. Having periods of calm doesn’t mean they’ll make it through. You also don’t want to wait for a more serious scuffle to occur before you do separate them.

Watch your pair carefully. As I mentioned, a 2x4 is the minimum. You don’t need a whole room but with boars you really need a 2x5 as a minimum. Is there nowhere else you can place their cage and expand it? And how small is the cage for the third boar? A single piggy needs minimum 120x60cm or 2x4.

They’re in their teens at the moment which can be a testing time for even well bonded boars.

If you do find your lone boar a friend, you could stack the cages. If that’s still not feasible then please consider surrendering him to a rescue rather than a private person. Do have a look at the rescue locator and consider your options and what works best for him and you. And also have them booked in for a general check. You should do that now in case you need to take them in as an emergency.
 
I can only agree with the advice you have been given so far. It was lovely of you to try to reunite them but for boars being kept in pairs only is much better.

A loft doesn’t count towards the cage size - it’s only the bottom Level of the cage which counts - and a 2x4 is minimum for two boars, 2x5 is recommended size.
To give enough space to a boar trio, then your cage is sadly far too small. The recommendation is to give each boar one square metre of territory to give them enough space to get away from each other (this doesnt mean they will get on, it just means they can get away from each other if tensions rise which of course isnt the same thing as living in harmony). Therefore, a cage for a boar trio needs to be 3 metres by 1 metre or in excess of a 6x3 c&c cage. However, as compatibility comes first, even with a large cage the bond is still unlikely to work.

It takes two weeks for them to fully form their relationship (they basically sort out the fine print during the first two weeks) and the relationship failing at any time within those two weeks can and does happen. The fact you are trying a boar trio means it would most likely fail at some point anyway (particularly as they are hormonal teenagers).
As a blood drawing fight has occurred then they do sadly need to be separated permanently. Such a fight is a clear sign they aren’t compatible and cannot form a bond. If they remain together sadly more fights will occur.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
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I can't add anything more to the advice you have been given.

Please take the time to read the information links. You will find them very helpful as they provide the kind of in-depth practical information that we cannot give in every post.
 
Thank you everyone so much for your advice and I will read through the materials provided. We are grateful!
 
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