Friends Again?

[a.guineapigs]

Hi, sorry if this is long but I have a situation. So about 1 month ago I had two piggies, Walter and Felix. We had found another piggie named Franklin so we got him. (At the time I didn’t know a boar trios very rarely work out) Franklin and Walter fought so they had to be separated. They were all in one cage that was split in half so they could still interact with each other. Walter and Felix were together and Franklin was alone on the other side of the cage. Felix (Walters cage-mate) had passed away about a week ago and I was going to try and bond Franklin and Walter again.. Do they have a chance?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, sorry if this is long but I have a situation. So about 1 month ago I had two piggies, Walter and Felix. We had found another piggie named Franklin so we got him. (At the time I didn’t know a boar trios very rarely work out) Franklin and Walter fought so they had to be separated. They were all in one cage that was split in half so they could still interact with each other. Walter and Felix were together and Franklin was alone on the other side of the cage. Felix (Walters cage-mate) had passed away about a week ago and I was going to try and bond Franklin and Walter again.. Do they have a chance?

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss!

Your experience with a boar trio is sadly not at all uncommon. Whether Franklin and Walter will gel, depends on how character compatible they are and whether they can come to an agreement about dominance.

If they are both dominant, it is not going to work. If their fight has ended with serious bites to the rump or neck, it won't, either. You can try them on your lap together, as long as you have a oven gloves and a box you can pop one boar into in a hurry right by your side. If there are hostilities within minutes, it is definitely not worth proceeding with a full intro on neutral ground as they will fight again.

You may find these guides here helpful. Please take the time to read them before you startl we have made them as detailed and practical as we could.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[a.guineapigs]

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss!

Your experience with a boar trio is sadly not at all uncommon. Whether Franklin and Walter will gel, depends on how character compatible they are and whether they can come to an agreement about dominance.

If they are both dominant, it is not going to work. If their fight has ended with serious bites to the rump or neck, it won't, either. You can try them on your lap together, as long as you have a oven gloves and a box you can pop one boar into in a hurry right by your side. If there are hostilities within minutes, it is definitely not worth proceeding with a full intro on neutral ground as they will fight again.

You may find these guides here helpful. Please take the time to read them before you startl we have made them as detailed and practical as we could.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Thank you for the reply. Sadly, they were both dominant, and when they fought they pulled each other’s hair. I wish they could be buddies, but luckily there’s a shelter near by so I can get them both cage-mates.

 

[a.guineapigs]

Okay, so the craziest thing happened this morning.. I woke up, went into the guinea pigs room, and I found Walter on Franklins side of the cage.. I immediately grabbed Walter and checked him for any wounds.. nothing. They don’t seem to be fighting but they don’t seem to be interacting with each other much.. any tips? I’m kind of worried they’ll start fighting..

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi, well if they had been going to fight I would have expected them to have once they got together, especially as they were in a confined space. I would read the bonding guides @Wiebke mentions above and closely monitor their behavior. The fact there are just the two of them now and not three alters the dynamics and it may be they will get along.