meet willows new cage mates. Our 2 New baby Boars. Charlie and milo.

[furpiggy]

Hi everyone, as some of you may already know, we lost our 14 month old Guinea to re-occurring stones. He had them removed in December and got them back again. We was told it was much kinda to put him sleep. Hardest thing we have had to do. This left Simba's litter brother Willow alone. He was eating but looked sad and despite putting a mirror in we had not seen him pop corn for ages. We bit the bullet and decided sooner was better than later for willow too have a new cage mate.

We were told by the vet due to our guinea being only 14 months old still a young boar himself, that a younger boar would be better suited for a perfect match. This way he will feel good about himself still being in control and not being bossed by a older boar or a boar his age totally taking over his home. We found the perfect baby boar or should i say ( Boars ) we got him 2 beautiful babies to play daddy too.

Travelled quite far to get them but they were so worth it. They are only 6 weeks old and i know they don't leave mum till 8 weeks but these were ready to go for the simple reasons being. 1. They can eat veggies / pellets and drink out of a bottle, climb high and run super fast. lol.

They were raised with about 4 adults and lots of babies and 4 rabbits in a lovely outdoor well made /cared for housing/run. We picked our babies up brought them home put them into our indoor run play pen e.g my guineas are ( indoor ) Using this Set up for there house for the next week or so. I give them there veggies/ hay and they tucked in straight away, eating how fab is that for there age, even eating there pellets, there doing things well before there time. They settled in ever so well.

I let my guinea smell the babies faces that evening. We divided the guineas in the play pen and they could see each other. The baby guineas was pop corning and my older guinea was smelling there face through the sectioned off area through the bars. The next day we thought let's try them. I sectioned a area off in the hallway and sat in the middle of them and brought in the baby's. my older guinea give there bums a good sniff and they were following each other everywhere.

I have never seen a bonding session go successfully so quickly. my older guinea started to do the biggest Pop Corn jumps and then the baby's were doing the same. I have a indoor house built under the stairs for my guineas so i opened the hatch and let them in watching there every move with the tea towel in my hand. The baby's acted like they had lived there for years, they were straight into his bowls, in his hay tray, and my lovely Guinea willow allowed them to do it. I could cry at just the thought of how lovely he is.

I bought willow a hay box to chew that is stuffed with hay etc from pets at home and it arrived today by delivery. He let them chew that too and then the 3 of them were sat chewing it and the 3 of them got in the hay box together. Pop corning all round the place. I am delighted so happy. We took the babies away after a hour and willow was crying for them and then the babies were crying for willow. So i let them have roam time in the hall for a little longer and then put them back into there play pen.

A hour each day i'll do then put them together full time next week because right now i could actually put them together full time there so settled and happy with each other but just to be safe i'll stick to the bonding a bit more and then move them in. Here's a over load of pics. :-) meet our new babies, Charlie and milo, and my baby willow. :-)

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[Teema]

This is such a lovely story, this actually made me smile just reading it! How sweet! So pleased Willow will have some new pals to cheer him up! The babies are just gorgeous! Willow is beautiful I used to have a piggie all black just like him, gorgeous! So sorry about having to get Simba put down but definitely always the right thing to do.
Brilliant story, gorgeous pictures, keep us updated!

 

[artcasper]

I am just getting my pig napping gear out because those babies are GORG!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

What lovely boys! So cute!

So bonding wise, it’s generally not recommended to separate males as it interrupts the bonding process. All or nothing with boars I’m afraid!

Have you got a spare cage just in case? Boar trios are sadly the most difficult bond to maintain as they often fall out during the teenage years due to hormonal spikes. I don’t mean to rain on your parade and I’ll definitely keep my fingers crossed for you, but I think it’s always best to be prepared. It’s a shame the breeder didn’t tell you about that but they rarely do sadly.

Have your new babies been vet checked yet? I always think it’s a good idea to vet check new animals anyway but especially so if they were living with rabbits (they can transmit diseases to pigs).

Hope they continue to settle in well!

 

[Swissgreys]

It is wonderful that you have gotten WIllow some friends, and lovely to see how happy having a guinea pig companion has made him.

However I am deeply sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the chances of this relationship (a boar trio) working out long term is very slim.
Right now the babies will be happy to be around other guinea pigs, but as their hormone levels ramp up and they hit the teenage months there are likely to be power struggles and it is probable that they will end up falling out to the point of needing to be separated.
It is very important that yo have a plan in place for how to accommodate everyone when this does happen.
It is a shame that the breeder did not advise you of this, but given that they were also living with rabbits at the breeders it sounds like she/he may not have been particularly knowledgeable about guinea pigs.

Also please carefully read the Forum bonding guides.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Once you have introduced your guinea pigs please do not keep separating them.
This is stressful for them and also unnecessary (unless they are fighting of course).
If they are getting along together then it is fine to leave them together for now as long.

 

[furpiggy]

What lovely boys! So cute!

So bonding wise, it’s generally not recommended to separate males as it interrupts the bonding process. All or nothing with boars I’m afraid!

Have you got a spare cage just in case? Boar trios are sadly the most difficult bond to maintain as they often fall out during the teenage years due to hormonal spikes. I don’t mean to rain on your parade and I’ll definitely keep my fingers crossed for you, but I think it’s always best to be prepared. It’s a shame the breeder didn’t tell you about that but they rarely do sadly.

Have your new babies been vet checked yet? I always think it’s a good idea to vet check new animals anyway but especially so if they were living with rabbits (they can transmit diseases to pigs).

Hope they continue to settle in well!

The baby boars sleep in there own separate very big pop up pen indoors of a evening/night. There very well bonded and both boars were introduced together neither of which has been separated for bonding they were both put together with willow. They have been with willow since 10 am this morning in his open house and all 3 of had free roam in the hallway. In fact there still together with the free roam of the hallway as willows house has been built under the stair case. Should i keep them together now then day/ night ?

They have slept together this afternoon too. Willow give up his house and slept outside with his head near the opening of his bed he refused to use the other one. He wanted to be by the baby's bless him. He's amazing. There getting on ever so well and like every single pig there will be a time when one get's nasty and i'm sure that would come from the baby boars as they mature, but nothing can be stopped to prevent that. They will figure it for there self. The baby boars don't take no messing from willow when he is bum sniffing /licking they put him in his place. I am just so pleased to have the best well behaved / caring boar e.g willow who has took to them like a duck to water.

I have seen many of people with more than 2 boars who get a long fine. If you have a big enough housing area for them then nothing more can be done. I will cross that path if or when i come too it. If it turns out to be not as good as it is now then i will divide the house area. It already has a top and bottom so there is a house upstairs too so plenty of space at the minute.

The baby's have not been vet checked. There is no need too as i am pretty clued up on what to look out for. There eyes are fine, there nose isn't running, there feet are fine, they have no scabs, i have looked through there fur and both are in top condition. There behind and gender parts look fine too. There not sneezing or coughing so there is no need to take them vet. I know some people like too but if you know what your looking out for then there is no need to do that unless something occurs.

They shared a run with rabbits but never shared housing. The guineas shared housing with there parents. When they let them run the rabbits were there but to be fare these were clean and well presented people so i'm sure if there was ever a sign of illness with either of there rabbits they would of had them straight to the vet. The rabbits were big flop ear rabbits absolute gorgeous and the babies are so fast i can assure you they never spent enough time even near a rabbit the run was huge. However thanks for the advice :-) i will be sure to keep a eye out for any signs of illness. If you cant see any illness /signs then there is very little a vet could do anyway, apart from a blood test which they would most likely refuse to do on such a small baby guinea.

 

[The2musketeers]

The babies are adorable and so is Willow! He must be so happy!

 

[Flutterby]

Beautiful!

 

[furpiggy]

I have been doing a lot of researching since i read the posts here about a boar trio not going to work. I had seen before others having trio boars and it working well i knew this had to be a myth. It has to depend on there personality not just implying that any boar would not get along because there boars with hormones. It may not work with my trio, but it may. I'm now more than sure reading that others have been successful with a boar trio before, makes me more confident. I did have 2 boars together before, who got on absolute great. So basically it's not just about a trio it can happen in a pair of boars. my pair got on so well and would cry for each other if they were ever separated for cuddles. Read this below.

 

[furpiggy]

I have been doing a lot of researching since i read the posts here about a boar trio not going to work. I had seen before others having trio boars and it working well i knew this had to be a myth. It has to depend on there personality not just implying that any boar would not get along because there boars with hormones. It may not work with my trio, but it may. I'm now more than sure reading that others have been successful with a boar trio before, makes me more confident. I did have 2 boars together before, who got on absolute great. So basically it's not just about a trio it can happen in a pair of boars. my pair got on so well and would cry for each other if they were ever separated for cuddles. Read this below.
Myth #1: Male Guinea Pigs Can't Live Together Myth #1: Male Guinea Pigs Can't Live Together

 

[VickiA]

I, too, hate to be the bearer of potentially bad tidings but you really do need to be prepared with Plan B if this doesn’t work. I’d really love it to work, but I really doubt that it will.
I do know of boar trios and boar quads who work. However, they were not set up with juvenile boars involved. In each case the boars were introduced individually ie 1 then became 2 then became 3 etc. And in each case these were adult boars at point of introduction. And each boar has /had a very laid back personality. You cannot tell what personalities your babies will have.
Once your babies hit puberty they cannot help it but their personalities will change, and there will be challenging times ahead. You can’t watch them 24 hours a day so you are going to have to be very vigilant as to any behaviour changes and rigid in weekly weighing and weekly health checks,
As long as you are prepared and will separate if you find evidence of bullying or injury then that’s fine. But it would be foolish of us to simply ooh and aah after your babies.

 

[furpiggy]

I, too, hate to be the bearer of potentially bad tidings but you really do need to be prepared with Plan B if this doesn’t work. I’d really love it to work, but I really doubt that it will.
I do know of boar trios and boar quads who work. However, they were not set up with juvenile boars involved. In each case the boars were introduced individually ie 1 then became 2 then became 3 etc. And in each case these were adult boars at point of introduction. And each boar has /had a very laid back personality. You cannot tell what personalities your babies will have.
Once your babies hit puberty they cannot help it but their personalities will change, and there will be challenging times ahead. You can’t watch them 24 hours a day so you are going to have to be very vigilant as to any behaviour changes and rigid in weekly weighing and weekly health checks,
As long as you are prepared and will separate if you find evidence of bullying or injury then that’s fine. But it would be foolish of us to simply ooh and aah after your babies.

I'm sorry but were going to have to agree to disagree. Like i have said earlier not every pair or trio will work but many have and i have already had a pair of boars together for a long time with no problems at all. Again it's all down to if's and but's but it's not entirely fair to say that boars in a trio wont work. You cant predict the future and if there is clear evidence on google that people have trio boars and it has worked then making someone think it automatically wont work when i am literally only 2 days in of having the babies is ridicules. Of course i have a back up plan if needs be. I would much prefer people to say 1, ( Always have a back up plan just in case they fall out in the near future ) rather than telling a person they wont work when one cant be so sure and 2, telling me you hate to be the bearer of potentially bad tidings. Thanks for that. Quote below in bold, one of many i have found this evening, having searched further into successful trio boars.

So lets not run away with one's self when there is clearly no evidence to say all trio boars will not accept each other long term. I'll let you know when we are at least 3 months in ;-)

Myth #1: Male Guinea Pigs Can't Live Together
Somewhere, sometime, someone started a rumor that two male guinea pigs cannot live together. In time, the rumor developed into a full-blown myth that's been hard to erase. There's rarely a week that goes by that Cindy doesn't have to debunk this myth for a prospective adopter.
Fact: Two or more male guinea pigs can live together quite happily, and seem to be less prone to the kind of surprise falling-outs that we've seen within pairs and trios of females. A perfect example of a happy trio of males is Cheech, Chong and Diego, three sanctuary pigs profiled on our Web site.

Fact: Two or more males can't live together if there's a female in the cage with them. Having a girl in the mix stirs up spatting and outright fighting amongst the boys for alpha male status. Inevitably, the female, and one of the males, gets hurt. No bonded pair or trio -- no matter how long they've been together -- is immune.
Fact: In many cases, two or more males can't live together peacefully if there's a girl or two living next door in an adjoining cage. There are exceptions, but they're the minority.
Ultimately, successful matches between guinea pigs -- in any species, for that matter -- come down to individual personalities. Some mix, some don't.
We'll debunk other myths about guinea pig relationships over the next couple of days. In the meantime...have stories about successful pairings of male guinea pigs? Share them in the Comments section!

 

[Claire W]

Aww they’re soooo cute

 

[furpiggy]

Here is one successful trio of boars. Yes the story on the website may of been old but that makes no difference what so ever the fact is there. Trios can work. So fingers crossed mine do. The Three Amigos | CT Guinea Pig Rescue

 

[Crystella]

I have been doing a lot of researching since i read the posts here about a boar trio not going to work. I had seen before others having trio boars and it working well i knew this had to be a myth. It has to depend on there personality not just implying that any boar would not get along because there boars with hormones. It may not work with my trio, but it may. I'm now more than sure reading that others have been successful with a boar trio before, makes me more confident. I did have 2 boars together before, who got on absolute great. So basically it's not just about a trio it can happen in a pair of boars. my pair got on so well and would cry for each other if they were ever separated for cuddles. Read this below.
Myth #1: Male Guinea Pigs Can't Live Together Myth #1: Male Guinea Pigs Can't Live Together

I think I have only heard of one or two boar trio's working out and that was with alot of space and back up plans if when your baby ones when they hit their hormone spike at about 4-6 months and they could be a fall out.
Please have a read of what Swissgreys linked you to help you see what you could be in for and to help you watch out for signs of a breakdown of friendship.
Here is another guide to have a read of as well, written by someone with lots of experience
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

By the way, baby boys need to be separated from their mum at 3 weeks old not 8 weeks as they could get mum pregnant.

 

[VickiA]

You don’t need to tell me or show me evidence that boar trios can work. I am already aware of this. If you re-read my post you will see that I personally know boar trios and a quad that do work. It’s not me that needs convincing. However, none of the successful ones that I know involve a mature boar and 2 juvenile boars.
Given all the experience we have on this forum and that I personally have through working with an approved rescue and being involved with bondings I don’t know of a single reputable rescue who would allow you to adopt a pair of baby boars to put with a mature boar. The reason for this is the failure rate. If you look at things taking a risk based approach, then on a risk/reward ratio you wouldn’t enter into this arrangement lightly as it is not certain but more likely than not that it will fail and you will have to separate.
I have said my piece and have nothing further to say on the subject. You’ve had the benefit of our advice. As a forum we are here to support you. Whether you choose to listen to our advice is entirely up to you.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

The baby boars sleep in there own separate very big pop up pen indoors of a evening/night. There very well bonded and both boars were introduced together neither of which has been separated for bonding they were both put together with willow. They have been with willow since 10 am this morning in his open house and all 3 of had free roam in the hallway. In fact there still together with the free roam of the hallway as willows house has been built under the stair case. Should i keep them together now then day/ night ?

They have slept together this afternoon too. Willow give up his house and slept outside with his head near the opening of his bed he refused to use the other one. He wanted to be by the baby's bless him. He's amazing. There getting on ever so well and like every single pig there will be a time when one get's nasty and i'm sure that would come from the baby boars as they mature, but nothing can be stopped to prevent that. They will figure it for there self. The baby boars don't take no messing from willow when he is bum sniffing /licking they put him in his place. I am just so pleased to have the best well behaved / caring boar e.g willow who has took to them like a duck to water.

I have seen many of people with more than 2 boars who get a long fine. If you have a big enough housing area for them then nothing more can be done. I will cross that path if or when i come too it. If it turns out to be not as good as it is now then i will divide the house area. It already has a top and bottom so there is a house upstairs too so plenty of space at the minute.

The baby's have not been vet checked. There is no need too as i am pretty clued up on what to look out for. There eyes are fine, there nose isn't running, there feet are fine, they have no scabs, i have looked through there fur and both are in top condition. There behind and gender parts look fine too. There not sneezing or coughing so there is no need to take them vet. I know some people like too but if you know what your looking out for then there is no need to do that unless something occurs.

They shared a run with rabbits but never shared housing. The guineas shared housing with there parents. When they let them run the rabbits were there but to be fare these were clean and well presented people so i'm sure if there was ever a sign of illness with either of there rabbits they would of had them straight to the vet. The rabbits were big flop ear rabbits absolute gorgeous and the babies are so fast i can assure you they never spent enough time even near a rabbit the run was huge. However thanks for the advice :-) i will be sure to keep a eye out for any signs of illness. If you cant see any illness /signs then there is very little a vet could do anyway, apart from a blood test which they would most likely refuse to do on such a small baby guinea.

Yes I would keep them together now, providing they’re not fighting or anything it’s better to keep them together now!

It’s good you’ve got a plan in place just in case! It’s never nice to think of the possibility of an unpleasant outcome but always wise to be prepared! Those teenage hormones are a nightmare, I remember when Iggy was going through that stage... surprised the girls put up with him haha very tolerant!

Yes it’s definitely worth keeping an eye if not vet checking, rabbits can give piggies bordetella and not have any symptoms themselves. The breeder likely didn’t know about that possibility. The last thing we want is your new babies and existing boy getting that! A good pig savvy vet should be able to check chest and respiratory tract etc

 

[furpiggy]

I think I have only heard of one or two boar trio's working out and that was with alot of space and back up plans if when your baby ones when they hit their hormone spike at about 4-6 months and they could be a fall out.
Please have a read of what Swissgreys linked you to help you see what you could be in for and to help you watch out for signs of a breakdown of friendship.
Here is another guide to have a read of as well, written by someone with lots of experience
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

By the way, baby boys need to be separated from their mum at 3 weeks old not 8 weeks as they could get mum pregnant.

The guinea pigs have only just turned 6 weeks old on Sunday and they was separated from mum much earlier but kept with dad another male and the rest of the baby boars. Once again just because you have only heard of one or two boar trio's working out that's not to say there isn't more out there. Not everyone uses a guinea forum just saying and it's the truth. I have literally only had them since Sunday 4 days. I am aware that there may be a fall out but that's not say they will draw blood or have to be separated. No one knows what will happen and i will cross that bridge when i have too. I have already read the Guide amongst other info on google. I do know how to handle guinea pigs i have had 2 boars living together for going on 15 months until one sadly died last Sunday. There indoor guineas so i have a watchful eye on them.

 

[artcasper]

People are just giving you advice based on their own experiences and years of experience. Everyone would like your situation to work for you but are just advising about a back up plan just incase.

 

[furpiggy]

You don’t need to tell me or show me evidence that boar trios can work. I am already aware of this. If you re-read my post you will see that I personally know boar trios and a quad that do work. It’s not me that needs convincing. However, none of the successful ones that I know involve a mature boar and 2 juvenile boars.
Given all the experience we have on this forum and that I personally have through working with an approved rescue and being involved with bondings I don’t know of a single reputable rescue who would allow you to adopt a pair of baby boars to put with a mature boar. The reason for this is the failure rate. If you look at things taking a risk based approach, then on a risk/reward ratio you wouldn’t enter into this arrangement lightly as it is not certain but more likely than not that it will fail and you will have to separate.
I have said my piece and have nothing further to say on the subject. You’ve had the benefit of our advice. As a forum we are here to support you. Whether you choose to listen to our advice is entirely up to you.

Firstly i cant see the support to be fare all i can see is being told that my baby boars and my 14 month old guinea will kill each other basically. Fall out of friendship and will need to be separated. I have been told from not just your own other posts too that this will not work. That i should never of been sold 2 boars and now you are saying a rescue would never approve of this. I would call that jumping on the bandwagon and thinking to far ahead. I have already acknowledged that this could very well happen i don't need to be reminded of this. You have admitted that you do you know of a boar trio that has worked and that's just one of that you do know of. That's not to say there is not more out there. A have visited a guinea sanctuary in Tenerife in a zoo called monkey park for the last 4 years and they roam in open space there is at least 60 of them of both genders and ages. It is possible never say never that's all i am trying to say. I will cross that path when or if it happens. I don't need convincing either thanks. It's others that do when i say yet again, i am aware of what could be it's only early days and if it does happen then i will fix that problem.

 

[furpiggy]

Yes I would keep them together now, providing they’re not fighting or anything it’s better to keep them together now!

It’s good you’ve got a plan in place just in case! It’s never nice to think of the possibility of an unpleasant outcome but always wise to be prepared! Those teenage hormones are a nightmare, I remember when Iggy was going through that stage... surprised the girls put up with him haha very tolerant!

Yes it’s definitely worth keeping an eye if not vet checking, rabbits can give piggies bordetella and not have any symptoms themselves. The breeder likely didn’t know about that possibility. The last thing we want is your new babies and existing boy getting that! A good pig savvy vet should be able to check chest and respiratory tract etc

Thanks, i've kept them together tonight, all is quite, just had a look and there all asleep in there beds. Yes i am prepared i know all about the hormones i remember Simba and willow, they would chase each other around to hump they were sexually frustrated. Willow would hump Simba on his head and Simba's hair would all be sticking up lol. Never come to drawing blood or even hurting each other. One night it was just constant and Simba was getting no rest so i took them out washed there bums, moved there beds around and that sorted the problem. So when ever either one would be at each other for humping i would do the same thing and it would make them stop. In fact i remember my guinea minder messaged me while i was on holiday to say they were at it and willow would't leave simba alone so i told her to do the same and it fixed the problem. Not say it will work with all though. I will certainly be keeping a eye out on all 3 for any signs of illness and i have to register the new baby's at the vets too. You always keep a extra eye out with newborn guineas anyway, weighing them etc. No sneezing or coughing so fingers crossed all is good.

 

[furpiggy]

People are just giving you advice based on their own experiences and years of experience. Everyone would like your situation to work for you but are just advising about a back up plan just incase.

And i have already acknowledged that fact. So when one is saying the same thing over and over again and surely others are reading the posts yet posting saying the same it becomes exhausting having to repeat that i am aware this and did not need telling from the beginning. Whether there was a pair instead of a trio i would be the same watching out for any unusual behaviour, bullying, depressed, i know all the symptoms and unusual behaviours and sounds that guineas do yet i get the feeling some here think i don't know anything regarding guineas. I have had a pair for 15 months and used a guinea group on Facebook when they were babies. I have a back plan if it don't work.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thanks, i've kept them together tonight, all is quite, just had a look and there all asleep in there beds. Yes i am prepared i know all about the hormones i remember Simba and willow, they would chase each other around to hump they were sexually frustrated. Willow would hump Simba on his head and Simba's hair would all be sticking up lol. Never come to drawing blood or even hurting each other. One night it was just constant and Simba was getting no rest so i took them out washed there bums, moved there beds around and that sorted the problem. So when ever either one would be at each other for humping i would do the same thing and it would make them stop. In fact i remember my guinea minder messaged me while i was on holiday to say they were at it and willow would't leave simba alone so i told her to do the same and it fixed the problem. Not say it will work with all though. I will certainly be keeping a eye out on all 3 for any signs of illness and i have to register the new baby's at the vets too. You always keep a extra eye out with newborn guineas anyway, weighing them etc. No sneezing or coughing so fingers crossed all is good.

Haha boys are gross right? Luckily Iggy isn’t much of a humper but I call him the panty sniffer as he’s always sniffing where the girls have been Iggy’s 2 and a half now so he’s mellowed out a lot since he was a baby, when he was little he also tried to dominate me, a big human vs a tiny pig haha he was fearless!

 

[furpiggy]

How Young Can Guineapigs Be Sold

By the way, baby boys need to be separated from their mum at 3 weeks old not 8 weeks as they could get mum pregnant.

Yes separated from there mum at 3 weeks. They produce sperm from 3 weeks old. I know this. I meant they should not be SOLD to a person till around 6-8 weeks. Pet4homes.co.uk insist that you should not sell a baby guinea under 8 weeks of age. my boars turned 6 weeks Sunday but they was ready to leave they can eat everything, climb, very active, use a water bottle, clever little things. I found this on here too.

How Young Can Guineapigs Be Sold

 

[furpiggy]

Haha boys are gross right? Luckily Iggy isn’t much of a humper but I call him the panty sniffer as he’s always sniffing where the girls have been Iggy’s 2 and a half now so he’s mellowed out a lot since he was a baby, when he was little he also tried to dominate me, a big human vs a tiny pig haha he was fearless!

That made me giggle ( Panty sniffer ) willow has had a good sniff and lick at the baby's bums, they tell him off though. He's so lovely he walks away when they tell him off, he reminds me of a little kid walking away in a strop, if only he could speak he would be saying, it's not fare lol. I know when he's sniffing them because they start to squeak, i'm watching him all the time and even when it's quite i go check to make sure the babies are okay and there sound asleep, all snuggled up. I'll just keep a eye out over the next weeks/ months. Fingers crossed they bond just as good as Simba and Willow did.

 

[furpiggy]

Yes I would keep them together now, providing they’re not fighting or anything it’s better to keep them together now!

It’s good you’ve got a plan in place just in case! It’s never nice to think of the possibility of an unpleasant outcome but always wise to be prepared! Those teenage hormones are a nightmare, I remember when Iggy was going through that stage... surprised the girls put up with him haha very tolerant!

Yes it’s definitely worth keeping an eye if not vet checking, rabbits can give piggies bordetella and not have any symptoms themselves. The breeder likely didn’t know about that possibility. The last thing we want is your new babies and existing boy getting that! A good pig savvy vet should be able to check chest and respiratory tract etc

How many guineas do you have and what gender. I love your profile pic are they all your guineas ?

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

That made me giggle ( Panty sniffer ) willow has had a good sniff and lick at the baby's bums, they tell him off though. He's so lovely he walks away when they tell him off, he reminds me of a little kid walking away in a strop, if only he could speak he would be saying, it's not fare lol. I know when he's sniffing them because they start to squeak, i'm watching him all the time and even when it's quite i go check to make sure the babies are okay and there sound asleep, all snuggled up. I'll just keep a eye out over the next weeks/ months. Fingers crossed they bond just as good as Simba and Willow did.

The joys of bonding right? I was so close to sleeping next to the cage during our last bonding session! Yes I’ll keep my fingers crossed for them!

How many guineas do you have and what gender. I love your profile pic are they all your guineas ?

Thank you! Yes I love that picture too, that was during the bonding of Iggy to the girls! Sadly I only have 4 piggies now, I lost our herds leader recently, a wonderful girl called Cissy. I had a lovely herd of 5, yes they’re the ones in my picture I now have 3 girls and a neutered boy, but sadly after Cissy’s passing they are two pairs now as they couldn’t tolerate each other without her keeping them all in check. I don’t think they could work out a hierarchy and it’s such a shame, I never expected that to happen and I don’t think it’s very common. Iggy was a bit of a tyrant and wouldn’t give in even though Bella was to be the next leader

Now two of the girls (Bella and Drom) live in one half of the cage and Iggy and his Mrs (Tonks) live in the other half. They seem very happy with the new set up even if I’m not but as long as they’re happy! I bet they miss the space though!

 

[EllsB3lls]

I'm one of the lucky piggy mummies where a trio is working. My three were bonded when we rescued them from the RSPCA, two of them are just over a year and the other is coming up to two years. I'll be honest I hadn't heard about the problems with trios until I came on here after we adopted them. With Charlie and Milo being so young I am crossing fingers for you that they build a good bond before the dreaded teenage years kick in. With my boys space was the key, they still have little strops and like their own space sometimes, but there is nothing funnier than watching two boys rumble strutting at each other, then boy popcorn and run off to nibble some hay together. Also my older boy likes to defuse things and I've seen him jump between the other two and popcorn like mad.

I am sorry that you feel a lot of the comments have been negative, I am sure that people were just wanting to warning you to be aware but it sounds like you have researched lots and know what to expect. I think the reason everyone says trios don't work is because we hear more about the ones that go wrong than the ones that work out.

I look forward to seeing lots more pictures of these three and hearing about their antics.

 

[furpiggy]

I'm one of the lucky piggy mummies where a trio is working. My three were bonded when we rescued them from the RSPCA, two of them are just over a year and the other is coming up to two years. I'll be honest I hadn't heard about the problems with trios until I came on here after we adopted them. With Charlie and Milo being so young I am crossing fingers for you that they build a good bond before the dreaded teenage years kick in. With my boys space was the key, they still have little strops and like their own space sometimes, but there is nothing funnier than watching two boys rumble strutting at each other, then boy popcorn and run off to nibble some hay together. Also my older boy likes to defuse things and I've seen him jump between the other two and popcorn like mad.

I am sorry that you feel a lot of the comments have been negative, I am sure that people were just wanting to warning you to be aware but it sounds like you have researched lots and know what to expect. I think the reason everyone says trios don't work is because we hear more about the ones that go wrong than the ones that work out.

I look forward to seeing lots more pictures of these three and hearing about their antics.

Gorgeous pigs this has brightened my mood reading your post. I am so happy to hear from someone who has a successful trio. The baby's stayed with willow all night last night and they were amazing together all 3 of them. I have there house door open so all 3 are able to free roam the hallway from early morning till bed time which i closed the pen door at 9 pm last night.

When i checked on them around 10 pm they were sharing a bed which was lovely to see. The baby's now follow willow every were. Willow and Charlie was in the bed having a snooze earlier and milo went for a roam then he started too squeak really loud, shouting for the others. I looked into the hallway to see what was going on and seen milo at one end and of the hall and willow running out of his house to look for him. Willow ran up to milo sniffed his face to check he was okay see what all the crying was about and they both walked back together to there house. It was lovely to see that willow cared for him and was a father figure to him come running to his rescue, which is so heart warming he is such a lovely pig.

I really do hope they develop a really strong bond and that nothing will be serious enough that it comes to separating. There never short of things and there's always more than enough so never any need to fight over food /hay/beds and yes i totally agree space is key, and i am looking into expanding even bigger when they start to grow. Thanks for posting. x

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Aw that’s lovely to hear! More pigtures of them needed for sure I bet Willow looks massive compared to the babies!

How big is their current house? It’s definitely worth expanding it if you can! To give them the most space possible at night in the months to come