New Boar?

[Louspiggs]

i currently have 2 boars (i got them a year ago when they were still tiny so i'm guessing they are a year and a few months old). they don't fight and id never had any problems so i'm considering getting another boar but i have a few questions.

1. would a 4x2.5 grid c and c cage be big enough for 3? each panel is 1ft

2. how do i introduce them? do i put the new pig in a clean cage with the other 3 or should i put them all in a new area (this will be an area of the floor enclosed with c and c grids).

3. should i introduce them for a little bit everyday and then eventually keep them together or just one meeting? i've read different views on this so i'm confused

4. if they don't get along well enough to keep together what proportion of the cage should i give to the pair and to the single pig? its a 4ft x 2.5ft cage that can be split anywhere. they'll be able to see eachother through a grid but i'm unsure where to spilit it for a good amount of space each

5. what age boar should i consider getting?

 

[Wiebke]

i currently have 2 boars (i got them a year ago when they were still tiny so i'm guessing they are a year and a few months old). they don't fight and id never had any problems so i'm considering getting another boar but i have a few questions.

1. would a 4x2.5 grid c and c cage be big enough for 3? each panel is 1ft

2. how do i introduce them? do i put the new pig in a clean cage with the other 3 or should i put them all in a new area (this will be an area of the floor enclosed with c and c grids).

3. should i introduce them for a little bit everyday and then eventually keep them together or just one meeting? i've read different views on this so i'm confused

4. if they don't get along well enough to keep together what proportion of the cage should i give to the pair and to the single pig? its a 4ft x 2.5ft cage that can be split anywhere. they'll be able to see eachother through a grid but i'm unsure where to spilit it for a good amount of space each

5. what age boar should i consider getting?

Hi! I know that the temptation to add another piggy when your are happy with your is great, but it can be a recipe for disaster, as we have seen plenty of times on here!

Please do not introduce a third boar to an existing, stably bonded pair. It can very easily be recipe for disaster and can (and has!) ended in the boar pair falling out over establishing a new dominance. At the worst you can end up with none of the boars getting on with any of the others.
Trios are by the most difficult constellation of guinea pigs to get right. Boars either work in pairs or in large bachelor groups with plenty of space. Trios, quartets and small groups are the most prone to fall-outs or bullying. The fail rate lies anywhere between over 50-90% for boar trios.

If you are considering more boars, rather consider getting a second another stably bonded pair of boars to keep on a table cage that stands in the food print of your existing cage. Ideally you look for a stably bonded rescue pair that is healthy/quarantined and character compatible and where you have the rescue to fall back on if it doesn't work out.

Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Here is my own set-up. Perhaps that can help you? A 75 x 150 cm table top can accommodate a cable tied 2x4 grid cage and still leaves space to interact with the guinea pigs below. When cage cleaning, I lift the table just off floor with my shoulder to remove and replace the bedding.