Can I get another piggy?

[Slinkikitten]

Hi, I wonder if you can give me some advice.

I have 2 wonderful teddy boars whom I love a lot. Billy and Chester are just over a year old and are very friendly, happy piggies. I have seen another rescue pig (about 5 months old) and I would love to bring him home! However, I don't want to cause a problem with my boys.

So, do I just be grateful for the happy pigs that I have- am I just being greedy? Or is it possible for my boys to take to a new companion? What is the advice usually given on this?

Thank you for any help you can give me,

Sarah x

 

[Pepperdog]

while the general advice on keeping a trio of males is that it doesnt work out, you could be an exception to the rule.

However personally if it were me I would be looking if the space permitted it having a second pair of boys, that way you could rescue the new lad and get him a friend.

 

[gogoguineas]

Hi and welcome!
I wouldn't bring this boar home to live with your others, especially as it sounds like they already have a lovely bond.
Boars rarely work out in trios. In pairs one will always be more dominant and the other will acceprt this but in a trio this can be challenged 3 ways and can cause terrible problems. It can also upset your current bond and at worst you'd end up with 3 lone boars and possible injuries if there's a fight.
By all means you could get this boar and then get him a friend too, preferably via boar dating at a rescue and he could pick his companion.
But unfortunatly a trio is rarely a good idea I'm afraid and I'd rather be honest with you about that than risk upsetting the lovely bond between your current two.
I have 4 boars living in 2 seperate pairs and whilst one pair lives above the other quite happily, I dont even share floor time with them due to the potential problems I wouldn't want to cause lol.
Hope that helps and have fun on the forum its such a great place for advice and info!

 

[Wiebke]

Please don't break what is not broken! Trios are so much more likely to end up with an outsider problem and separation than not (at worst even with all three boars refusing to go back with any of the others) - unless you get the character mix just right. I have still got fingers left on my hand when it comes to trios of forum members making it intact through the stroppy hormonal months.

But of course, the temptation is always there! Great of you to research first!

http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/optionsmenu.htm

 

[zombieprincess]

I also think, unless you are sure you have space for potentially 3 singles (although in my failed trios i've never had all 3 fall out, usually it's one being very antogonistic towards the others) i would reconsider. Not only are your boys obviouslyclose but my biggest worry is that this boy is only 5 months ... and thats when the big hormonal ruish starts - he could become very confrontational.

But ... if you think you could have room for 2 pairs then go for it!

 

[Slinkikitten]

Thank you so much! I love my sweet piggly boys and the last thing I want is to upset them! I am grateful for your honest advice. I think I will try to stop looking at other pigs, LOL!

I do have several cages (one outside hutch and run, one 2 storey indoor cage in my living room, an indoor cage at my Pre-school, and a c+c run in my sons room!) , so technically I could get another pair, but I think I'll stick with my boys and give them all my love and attention!

Sarah x