Looking To Add A 3rd Pig

[Loz1892]

currently have two males age 1 and a half.

My local shelter has a 7 month old male looking for a home. He’s been there for months as other pigs have come and gone and it’s breaking my heart and I’d love to give him a home. The shelter says he was left after his friend died and the previous owner didn’t have time to bond him but didn’t want him to be alone

I’m just worried about how he would get along with my current boys. I have a separate cage he could stay in. Just wondering if anyone’s had an success or got any tips on bonding.

Thanks in advance

 

[mshappy89]

Trios of boars rarely work. I think you would upset your current boar dynamics

 

[Wiebke]

currently have two males age 1 and a half.

My local shelter has a 7 month old male looking for a home. He’s been there for months as other pigs have come and gone and it’s breaking my heart and I’d love to give him a home. The shelter says he was left after his friend died and the previous owner didn’t have time to bond him but didn’t want him to be alone

I’m just worried about how he would get along with my current boys. I have a separate cage he could stay in. Just wondering if anyone’s had an success or got any tips on bonding.

Thanks in advance

Hi! As long as you have got the option for a next door cage, you are OK. Please be aware that introducing a new boar can in some cases lead to a fall-out between the two bonded boars; when bonding, please abort as soon as you notice tensions between your pair.
Trios are generally the most difficult constellation to get right whatever the gender; even with all adults the fail rate is higher than the success rate. With three same age baby boars it is as high as 90% before they reach a hormonally more settled adulthood. Your new boy is currently right in one of the more difficults phases of the teenage months, which is likely not going to make intros easier.

If you get him from a shelter without medical care, you may need to practise a quarantine and ideally have him vet checked.

It is very likely that he is either a single piggy or has fallen out with his companion when he hit the teenage months, but he is certainly better off with you than as a single piggy - even if it is just as a next door neighbour to your boar pair!

Importance Of Quarantine
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Information about the teenage months at the start: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Since we have members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your state or province to your details (I assume that as you mention shelters you are USA or Canada based?), so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are straight away. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and speeds up things for everybody. Thank you!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Can't add anything to the above just please don't. We see so many members try this and I don't think I've seen one work out in my time on the forum

 

[Wheekallweek]

As hard as it might be for you I would avoid adding another boar to your pair; boar trios very rarely work and can cause problems between the original pair; you may end up with three separate piggies in three separate cages!
I’m sure he is being looked after well at the rescue and will find his perfect forever home soon

 

[VickiA]

I’m afraid all our experiences on here tell us that this is most unlikely to work as a trio.

 

[eileen]

i have 2 sets of trio boars ,but they have a vast difference in ages, 7 year boar with a 2 year and a 8 month old boars,the older piggie is very dominant,but the other two are laid back boars .nearly horizontal ! the other trio ages are between 6 and 9 months old,but have a very large cage.i am neutering them all in case of any fall outs ,and i have too many piggies to risk an unplanned pregnacy.i only have one pig neutered at any one time,is case of complications,as syringe feeding alot of piggies at the same time would be difficult.i would suggest you are fully prepared for a plan b,or c if the trio does not work.ive got alot of experience at bonding,that is the only reason why I'm prepared to risk attempting ,a trio bonding of boars.it is not recommended for the inexperienced/or faint hearted ! good luck! the boar will be better with you whatever way you choose to place him,but check with the rescue ,if they are able to find a home for him !