Introducing Baby Boar.... Advice Needed

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lewpylew

lewpylew

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Hi everyone. On Sunday I got a 6 week old baby boar who I introduced to my 18 months old boars Bentley and Chester. I introduced them in a normal place, after wussing out I separated them Sunday evening as he was being bullied and tried again Monday. After an hour or so together I put them in a new C&C cage I had made.

Since then they have been in together but the older two are constantly chasing the baby, trying to hump him and it's not nice to watch. I've read all their behaviour are normal but it upsets me to watch. I feel like I've made a mistake as even my original two piggies are fighting.

Any advice what I should do with baby Diesel? He's eating ok but it is the constant chasing and humping and his little squeaks that's really upsetting me.

Thanks x
 
It is difficult get a trio of boars to work but it has been done. It seems in this case however that it isn't likely- especially if your first two boars are fighting each other- do they still fight once the baby is gone? If they do I would bond one of your original boars to the baby and work about finding a friend for the other boar if you have the room. I'm sorry it didn't work out bit it's not your fault it really rarely does due to all that testerone and is much easier to do if the boars are older.
 
lewpylew said:
Hi everyone. On Sunday I got a 6 week old baby boar who I introduced to my 18 months old boars Bentley and Chester. I introduced them in a normal place, after wussing out I separated them Sunday evening as he was being bullied and tried again Monday. After an hour or so together I put them in a new C&C cage I had made.

Since then they have been in together but the older two are constantly chasing the baby, trying to hump him and it's not nice to watch. I've read all their behaviour are normal but it upsets me to watch. I feel like I've made a mistake as even my original two piggies are fighting.

Any advice what I should do with baby Diesel? He's eating ok but it is the constant chasing and humping and his little squeaks that's really upsetting me.

Thanks x
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Hi! If you are really struggling with the dominance/hierarchy sort-out (dramatic baby submission screaming can be very upsetting when you have never come across it before) and your two older boys are squabbling as well, I would recommend to consider if you have the option to keep two pairs instead of one trio and contact Wheek and Squeak rescue near Southampton to find a suitable companion there.
They offer boar dating under expert supervision at the rescue, so you come home with a new mate only if there has been success and acceptance has happened. You also have the guarantee that any adopted boar is perfectly healthy and you have the backing of the rescue if you run into problems over the bond while Diesel is going through the domiannce phase of the bonding and then through his teenage months. At least at his young age, he should still bond rather well with an older 'uncle boar'. ;)
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator

If you are pushed for space, you can consider having two cages on top of each other. I use Ikea tables standing in my ground floor C&C cage (the 150x75 linnmon table nicely fits into the foot print of 2x4 C&C grid and can support a cable-tied C&C top - that is the equivalent of a 2x5 ft traditional cage).

Boar trios and quartets are the most difficult constellations to get working, to be honest. Quartets are extremely unstable at the best of times unless you have a disabled/carer or a pensioner group, and trios end up more often than not with an outsider (situation with either one boar waging war on the others or two ganging up on the third). Baby boar trios have about a 10% chance of making it to adulthood together. :(
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

Take consolation that you are by far not the first nor will be the last to succumb to the temptation of adding a third boar to a happy boar couple because you are enjoying them so much!
 
Thank you. I've taken him out this morning. They've had over 48 hours and it was starting to get hard to watch. I now need to think what to do. He's a lovely little boy. Quite confident and was eating ok and even took something from my hand yesterday.

Do I rehome him, do I get another baby boar or does he live alone :( feel so upset and silly x
 
lewpylew said:
Thank you. I've taken him out this morning. They've had over 48 hours and it was starting to get hard to watch. I now need to think what to do. He's a lovely little boy. Quite confident and was eating ok and even took something from my hand yesterday.

Do I rehome him, do I get another baby boar or does he live alone :( feel so upset and silly x
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See my post (which I have posted at the same time as you yours) and contact Wheek&Squeak rescue, which is by far the best rescue in your area and where you and Diesel are in safe hands.
 
lewpylew said:
Do I rehome him, do I get another baby boar or does he live alone :( feel so upset and silly x
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As usual Wiebke has given you some great pratical advice, but I just wanted to say don't feel silly.
You are certainly not the first, and definitely won't be the last person to fall for a sweet guinea pig, and then have a bonding fail.
You are clearly a caring and committed owner, and now you have realised that it won't work out as a trio, I am sure you will find a good solution that works for everyone.
 
I've spoke to Wheek and Squeak and she advised contacting the breeder. She said so not pair him up with an older boar as they can attack and rape him now I just don't know what to do as there are no babies and I'm left with a beautiful little baby who already my toddler loves very much.

What should I do
 
lewpylew said:
I've spoke to Wheek and Squeak and she advised contacting the breeder. She said so not pair him up with an older boar as they can attack and rape him now I just don't know what to do as there are no babies and I'm left with a beautiful little baby who already my toddler loves very much.

What should I do
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It seems weird they'd say that? Another boar (so long as the right one was picked) would obviously mount the little one or vice versa because that's bonding. But they wouldn't 'rape' him or 'attack' him so long as the right boar was selected. I would go for an older calmer boar who had the opposite personality to Diesel. Or once Diesel's testicles have dropped you could think about neutering him and getting him a sow.
 
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