Keeping two boar pairs in the same room

Zoe157

Zoe157

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What are everyone’s thoughts on having two boar pairs (housed separately) in the same room? Would this cause agitation or fights among the pairs? I understand that keeping sows near boars would cause tension, but is the case with a separate boar pair?
(A friend of a friend wishes to rehome her pair of boars and knows how much I love guinea pigs. I would happily take them as we have the room but I don’t want to disrupt my current pair of boars.)
 
Zoe157 said:
What are everyone’s thoughts on having two boar pairs (housed separately) in the same room? Would this cause agitation or fights among the pairs? I understand that keeping sows near boars would cause tension, but is the case with a separate boar pair?
(A friend of a friend wishes to rehome her pair of boars and knows how much I love guinea pigs. I would happily take them as we have the room but I don’t want to disrupt my current pair of boars.)
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Hi!

Not a problem - it is the pheromones from sows coming into season that are the big disruptive issue with any bonded boars.
You will likely see some measuring up rumblestrutting boar hakas, mounting and some other territorial dominance behaviours in the mild range but it should not go any further unless there is a major underlying rift in the pairing already as the boars react to others moving in but it should not go any further than that. They can live in adjoining cages, by the way.
Boars that are growing up in a room with sows do generally not overreact to sows in season as long as they are out of sight and direct reach of pheromones; it is the introduction of them and the direct contact that does generally cause the trouble.

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
I've got 3 pairs of boars in my living room. They are very interested in each other through the bars at floor times (they take it in turns) and like to have a natter. I wouldn't ever let them do more than meet through the bars but the interactions are interesting to watch. One boar cannot stand the sight of one of the other's so I have to be careful where floor or garden time pens are sited so those two aren't side by side or there's some aggressive fluffing up and bar biting, but living in the same room is not a problem.
 
@Zoe157 I have six pairs of boars living in my piggy shed (and two sow herds who live on the floor). None of the boys are bothered by the presence of the other piggies.
If you take on your friend's pair make sure to bring their used bedding with them so that their new pad smells like home. This will help to minimize any risk of fall outs resulting from over excitement and scent marking of new territory.
 
I have 2 boar pairs in my living room (separately). They're about 10 feet or so apart. They can't see each other (due to the layout of my room). No issues. There's no telling if they even know the other set is there.
 
Same here, had three pairs in one room at one point (fosters). It actually helped them to come out of their shells as my boys are very loud and do a lot of happy squeaks. My foster piggies quickly joined in and learned the piggie ways! There's nothing like community bottle rattling and hay eating time :))
I use different dustpan and brush to clean each set and wash hands in between.
 
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