Scrapping

[RJade]

I bought my guinea pigs from what was suppose to be a reputable breeder. I've had a lot of problems with them since having them 4 weeks ago.
A lot of them were diet and health related, I have either resolved or they are resolving.
My biggest worry and problem right now is a dominance problem. On advice from the breeder, she insisted we take a third guinea pig (which i now know it was one she just wasn't selling) which is quite a bit older then the other two. He's about 3-4 months and the other two are about 8 weeks.
The older is a bit of bully, quite a lot of chasing, especially in the bed area of the hutch. Mounting. I've heard very minor teeth chattering, nothing to make me super concerned. He is clashing more with one of other two in particular, he had a bit of a scratch on his face this morning.
I can't bath tthem because the two little ones have a skin problem and I'd be washing all the treatment off, and as it every two weeks it's not just as easy to just reapply.
I'm aware separation is very probably on the cards, but I just wondered if there was any other options I could try.

Thank you!

 

[TheCavySlave]

I'll tag in piggy expert @Wiebke, she'll be able to help you

 

[Wiebke]

I bought my guinea pigs from what was suppose to be a reputable breeder. I've had a lot of problems with them since having them 4 weeks ago.
A lot of them were diet and health related, I have either resolved or they are resolving.
My biggest worry and problem right now is a dominance problem. On advice from the breeder, she insisted we take a third guinea pig (which i now know it was one she just wasn't selling) which is quite a bit older then the other two. He's about 3-4 months and the other two are about 8 weeks.
The older is a bit of bully, quite a lot of chasing, especially in the bed area of the hutch. Mounting. I've heard very minor teeth chattering, nothing to make me super concerned. He is clashing more with one of other two in particular, he had a bit of a scratch on his face this morning.
I can't bath tthem because the two little ones have a skin problem and I'd be washing all the treatment off, and as it every two weeks it's not just as easy to just reapply.
I'm aware separation is very probably on the cards, but I just wondered if there was any other options I could try.

Thank you!

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry - there is no regulation for breeders or rescues in this country, so you use them at your risk. You can complain to your local council about the breeder re. trading standards, as she is selling damaged wares.

Baby boar trios have unfortunately a 90% fall-out rate before they reach a settled adulthood. Balancing two personalities while they undergo massive hormonal spikes during the teenage months between their testicles starting to descend and them reaching a hormonally more settled adulthood (age 4-14 months) is difficult enough and ends up in plenty of clashes and fall-outs, even though more boar pairs than not make it, but with three boars in the mix, keeping a fragile balance through such a difficult time requires three very laid back boars. Your oldest has now started this phase.
You may find this very detailed guide here helpful in judging when the right time comes for a separation and what your options are. Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Your two closest rescues that I can both warmly recommend because you are in very safe hands with either and that both offer boar dating are BARC with a fosterer in Sheffield (@pig in the city ) or Cavy Corner in Doncaster. You can find the contacts in our rescue locator on the top bar whenever you need. They are the safest place to help you work out a sustainable solution for all your boys while making sure that all piggies involved are safe at all times.
You may also find our information starter kit for new owners very helpful, as well as our fungal hygiene and care tips guide:
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

 

[Joannajars]

I have 3 boars myself all living together, it was difficult at first as my oldest Geoff is just over a year old and he was paired with Kiwi who is around 6-7 months. I introduced Hugo to them who was a rescue guinea and only 5 weeks old so was tinnnny in comparison. I also struggled the first few days as the first introductions didn't really go to plan, no violence, just a lot of mounting, circling and teeth chattering! However i would let Hugo spent 30 or so minutes alone with each guinea pig and then 30 minutes all together and after a few days of that and washing them with foam shampoo i introduced them all in the same cage, and low and behold after a few little disagreements and some grumpiness (mostly on Geoffs part) they all got along perfectly, Now Hugo never leaves Geoffs side!
So it can be done, although rare!

 

[Wiebke]

I have 3 boars myself all living together, it was difficult at first as my oldest Geoff is just over a year old and he was paired with Kiwi who is around 6-7 months. I introduced Hugo to them who was a rescue guinea and only 5 weeks old so was tinnnny in comparison. I also struggled the first few days as the first introductions didn't really go to plan, no violence, just a lot of mounting, circling and teeth chattering! However i would let Hugo spent 30 or so minutes alone with each guinea pig and then 30 minutes all together and after a few days of that and washing them with foam shampoo i introduced them all in the same cage, and low and behold after a few little disagreements and some grumpiness (mostly on Geoffs part) they all got along perfectly, Now Hugo never leaves Geoffs side!
So it can be done, although rare!

Chances are much higher (even though still below 50%) if the ages are staggered, so dominance is clear from the start and any younger boys will not hit the teenage hormone spikes at the same time, so the risk of fights is much smaller.

Can I just say that excessive bathing and bathing at all is NOT conducive to a good outcome (not to mention the poor skin!), nor will a drawn out run up to the bonding proper as a group (the grumpiness you report is the inevitable dominance sort-out to establish a working hierarchy, which is at the core of any guinea pig society).
You can mask only so much, but in the end it always comes down to whether the boys (or sows, at that) get on or not. There is NOTHING you can do about that basic simple fact. After well over half a century of bondings whichever way, it's the one thing I have learned. If piggies don't like each other or cannot agree on who's coming top, a bonding is not going to work.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

You have been lucky indeed!