Next chapter for Junior?

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Branston&Pickles

Branston&Pickles

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As you know Branston left us to the bridge, so that has left Junior by himself and I'm trying to do what's best for him,which i think is to start looking for advice/company.
He is a young energetic 8-9month old boar, he does enjoy human interaction but much perfers his own kind. He looks very lost in his big cage by himself, so is in-need of a partner in crime :). I know he is at the teenager stage so it may be tricky but what do you think would be best for him?

I have a bonded pair of boars, Rod and Del do you think it would be worth trying him with them? On neutral ground...et c.
I know a few rescues offer boar dating is he at the wrong age to do this?

Also, I know this is quite selfish of me but I don't want to take the risk of neutering him, I know how lovely it would be for him to have a girly friend but just don't want the risk after everthing.

Thanks,
Rachel x
 
Branston&Pickles said:
As you know Branston left us to the bridge, so that has left Junior by himself and I'm trying to do what's best for him,which i think is to start looking for advice/company.
He is a young energetic 8-9month old boar, he does enjoy human interaction but much perfers his own kind. He looks very lost in his big cage by himself, so is in-need of a partner in crime :). I know he is at the teenager stage so it may be tricky but what do you think would be best for him?

I have a bonded pair of boars, Rod and Del do you think it would be worth trying him with them? On neutral ground...et c.
I know a few rescues offer boar dating is he at the wrong age to do this?

Also, I know this is quite selfish of me but I don't want to take the risk of neutering him, I know how lovely it would be for him to have a girly friend but just don't want the risk after everthing.

Thanks,
Rachel x
Click to expand...

I'm sorry for your loss :(

In regards to Junior: if I were in your position, I would try him with your other two, but be warned that trios are very hard to make work, especially so if they are not related. That said, there is absolutely no harm in trying, as long as you have a towel/sheet of board to use if things heat up. It all depends on the individual temperaments of your boys as to whether they'd get on.

Otherwise, I'd look at rescues near you and see if they do boar dating. I'm not too sure what the 'done thing' is for boars in their hormonal period, but I would have thought your options would be fairly open to baby boar or more relaxed adult boar.

Neutering isn't for everyone, and you're definitely not being selfish in not wanting to do it. Hopefully you can find a boar-friend for Junior, but I wouldn't completely throw out the idea of a neuter, just in case things don't work out finding a boar.

I hope you manage to pair Junior up with a friend! :)
 
I don't think it will work with Del & Rod, Rod's quite a dominant piggy, they arn't brothers either but i'll try it later, whilst my mums here incase it doesn't go well.
I know Suzygpr does boar dating so i'll contact her, if it doesn't work out with Rod & Del and see what she thinks :)

Thank you for your advice :) xx
 
If you can find a baby boar, as young as possible, then Junior should hopefully be over the worst when his young friend comes into the stroppy months - don't rush because every extra week gives you a bit more of a margin.

It is certainly worth contacting Suzy. I would be careful with three boars. if things go really pearshaped, you can end up with three single boars.
 
Hi B&P

Give Junior a week or so living in sight and sound of DelBoy & Rodney before trying to introduce them - this should give you an idea of the boys' reaction to each other. It also give Junior the time to realise that Branston is not around anymore - piggies can reject a suitable cagemate purely because they are not their old one, he needs time to understand he is gone. It also gives you time to grieve too without the stress of bonding.

I've just this minute added the latest bonding to the boar-dating service thread - I've included a few more pics etc to show the process, hopefully this will help you if you decide to go ahead with the trio. As you know trios are not easy to achieve, if you want more detailed advice give me a ring.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=59233&page=3


Big hugs

Suzy x
 
Thank you for the advice Suzy, there cages are in seperate rooms now because they were too big to have all in the same room but I've got some C & C grids so I can set up them up and put a divider between them. It will do Junior good having piggy interaction, i think hes getting bored of me lol and like you said will give me an idea of how they react to one another. It would be lovely if they all got on.

I did see your thread on the two boys you are bonding, good luck, it looks like your doing a fab job with them :)

I'll keep you updated xx
 
I've built the C & C and haven't long put the boys next to each other. Rodney & Junior have been rumbling at each other, as expect a little teeth chattering by both. Delboy is just the most cutest laid back piggy! he's so funny, Rod & junz are having their rumble/strutt off and the expression on Delboys face "Oh look a piggy next to us" I'll just lie here :)) Ooooh food in the corner nom nom nom :(|) he really isn't bothered. It's all calmed down now, they've all gone for a nap.x
 
Them being next door neighbours seemed to be a positive thing... Junior had settled down, stopped rumbling, has been chatting to rodney and started popcorning again. Rodney was still rumbling but quite often chattering to Junior.

Until this evening...
For the last hour Rodneys been like a guinea pig possesed! Constantly humping Delboy (luckily delboy ignores him) and sort of guarding Junior, not letting Delboy go anyway near him and if he tried getting near chasing him away. Rodney lies next to the divider, to ensure delboy can't go near Junior. Is this to show his dominance?
 
Hi Rachel, we always have plenty of single boars at Windwhistle Warren that you could try with junior. Alice is good with pairing pigs but i can't pretend we have as much experience as Suzy! It sounds like the trio isn't going to work with the amount of mounting and teeth chattering going on to be honest. Check guinea pig rehome gloucestershire plus there's always more than i manage to put on there! Best wishes Alyson x
 
Thank you Piggiepal, i did think of Windwhistle Warren but wasn't sure if you did boar dating.
I'll keep them next to each other for the next few days, like Suzy said to let Junior realise Branston has gone and take it from there. I'll keep you updated.
xx
 
Branston&Pickles said:
Until this evening...
For the last hour Rodneys been like a guinea pig possesed! Constantly humping Delboy (luckily delboy ignores him) and sort of guarding Junior, not letting Delboy go anyway near him and if he tried getting near chasing him away. Rodney lies next to the divider, to ensure delboy can't go near Junior. Is this to show his dominance?
Click to expand...


By placing Juniors cage next to your bonded boys will change the Dynamics of things - as I am finding having my own 'Boar Village' with C&C cages and boars coming in for Fostering etc. And I have realised I have to be careful that the Dynamics dont change so much that the bonded pairs fall out too.

Good luck with Junior finding his own special friend
RIP Branston :(
 
I tried the boys together on neutral ground this morning, as its been about a week of them being side by side. There was a lot of teeth chattering and rumbling from Rodney and Junior, Junior's fur was up and he was chasing Rodney, then they squared up to each other and Junior went for Rodney :( (no injuries to either pig, I stepped in with a towel quite quickly) so I don't think it will work both being quite dominant boars.

Junior's back in his normal cage now and i'll put Rod and Del back in theirs later. I think i'll try contacting Alice from Windwhistle Warren to see if she has any suitable boars, it's not far from where we live either.
 
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