New owner of 2 pairs of “bonded” boars

[JayRaye]

I adopted 4 guinea pigs from a shelter yesterday. I’ve been doing research and planning for them for a month before I even met them. The shelter had them in in their “bonded” pairs so I figured I wouldn’t have any problems until I tried to introduce all 4 of them. But immediately I noticed that one of the pairs don’t seem to be bonded at all.. they supposedly have lived together their whole lives but they can’t be near each other without rumble strutting and there has been some nipping and LOUD chattering. I haven’t separated them yet because they aren’t hurting each other and seem to do alright as long as they aren’t right next to each other. they seem like they can’t decide whose the dominant pig. Meanwhile in the cage next to them the real bonded pair are living in harmony, slight chasing and mounting but no chattering. They eat out the same bowl and already eat out of my hand. It’s clear who is the dominant pig. Both of the pairs are the same age (2 years for the fighting pair and 1 1/2 years for the bonded pair) I don’t know if the fighting pair will get over it once they settle in to the new environment or if they need to be separated. Has anyone else experienced this.? Is there anyway I can help them sort it out.?

 

[Wiebke]

I adopted 4 guinea pigs from a shelter yesterday. I’ve been doing research and planning for them for a month before I even met them. The shelter had them in in their “bonded” pairs so I figured I wouldn’t have any problems until I tried to introduce all 4 of them. But immediately I noticed that one of the pairs don’t seem to be bonded at all.. they supposedly have lived together their whole lives but they can’t be near each other without rumble strutting and there has been some nipping and LOUD chattering. I haven’t separated them yet because they aren’t hurting each other and seem to do alright as long as they aren’t right next to each other. they seem like they can’t decide whose the dominant pig. Meanwhile in the cage next to them the real bonded pair are living in harmony, slight chasing and mounting but no chattering. They eat out the same bowl and already eat out of my hand. It’s clear who is the dominant pig. Both of the pairs are the same age (2 years for the fighting pair and 1 1/2 years for the bonded pair) I don’t know if the fighting pair will get over it once they settle in to the new environment or if they need to be separated. Has anyone else experienced this.? Is there anyway I can help them sort it out.?

Hi!

Firstly - are they boars or sows? Boars generally don't work well in quartets; they should be preferably kept in pairs. With quartets you are mostly going to end up with one working pair and two singles who won't gel.

With sows it very much depends on whether they can agree on a hierarchy or not. This is established from the top down. A piggy whose position is not in question will keep out of it as will a piggy that is frightened or whose position is still to come into question. Please let any sow pairs establish a hierarchy without interference; the dominance phase takes around 2 weeks until it is all settled down.

You can separate sows (but not boars) overnight and then see how they do back on neutral ground tomorrow. If hostile behaviour (teeth chattering) is springing up pretty much immediately, then it means that they are not likely to come to an agreement and are likely to clash in the future. If they are more relaxed with each other when meeting again, then you know that the bonding is still on. It is generally more difficult to bond same age pairs than an adult and a sub-adult pair as the hierarchy is generally much more contested.
With boars you have the tiger until the end.

Please take the time to read these guides here:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

 

[JayRaye]

Hi!

Firstly - are they boars or sows? Boars generally don't work well in quartets; they should be preferably kept in pairs. With quartets you are mostly going to end up with one working pair and two singles who won't gel.

With sows it very much depends on whether they can agree on a hierarchy or not. This is established from the top down. A piggy whose position is not in question will keep out of it as will a piggy that is frightened or whose position is still to come into question. Please let any sow pairs establish a hierarchy without interference; the dominance phase takes around 2 weeks until it is all settled down.

You can separate sows (but not boars) overnight and then see how they do back on neutral ground tomorrow. If hostile behaviour (teeth chattering) is springing up pretty much immediately, then it means that they are not likely to come to an agreement and are likely to clash in the future. If they are more relaxed with each other when meeting again, then you know that the bonding is still on. It is generally more difficult to bond same age pairs than an adult and a sub-adult pair as the hierarchy is generally much more contested.
With boars you have the tiger until the end.

Please take the time to read these guides here:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

They are all boars. I know it’s unlikely but I thought if they were all comfortable with each other it could work but I have no problem keeping them in pairs. I’m not sure of their background due to them being rescues but since they were the same age, “bonded”, and came to the shelter at the same time I assumed they were brothers. Maybe that’s why they aren’t actually hurting each other.? Thank you for the all the information.!

 

[Wiebke]

They are all boars. I know it’s unlikely but I thought if they were all comfortable with each other it could work but I have no problem keeping them in pairs. I’m not sure of their background due to them being rescues but since they were the same age, “bonded”, and came to the shelter at the same time I assumed they were brothers. Maybe that’s why they aren’t actually hurting each other.? Thank you for the all the information.!

You have to see whether they work out or not, but rescues prefer to pair up boars because that is much more stable. You have the advantage that they are all adults so past the very worst of the testosterone spikes.

Have you spoken with the shelter about whether they are related and have been living together before their arrival or not?

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new additions to your family.
@Wiebke has given you excellent advice.
You may just need to allow them all to settle into their new environment.
Please can we see pictures when they are more settled