Three new boars from shelter are here!

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annar96

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Our three boars are with us now. We were warned that one can be a bit of a bully, Popcorn, two and half years old, and Dino who is one and half like his brother Cloud, has scars on backside to prove it.
Ok. So at the moment there s lots of argy-bargy. Chasing round cage, mounting each other, lying on too of each other. Lots of high pitched squeaking too and scurrying away from each other.
We took Popcorn out and put in a puppy pen cos he was being a real nuisance to the other two but then Dino started doing exactly the same with poor little Cloud!
We ve read this is normal and wondering now if we were hasty to separate Popcorn as he s chewing the side of the puppy pen as if he wants to be back with the other two 😥
Andy thoughts?
 
As has been said, three boars is usually a big problem. Two males together is ok as long as they are character compatible.
You need to be prepared to permamently separate when a fight breaks out - I say when rather than if, because there is a high fall out rate amongst three boars. The pig that ends up alone can live next door to the pair until a new friend can be found for the single pig. But you also need to be prepared that none of them get on and you can end up with three single pigs.
I know this sounds very negative, but it is most usually the reality when three males try to live together so being prepared for it is the better option.
 
annar96 said:
Our three boars are with us now. We were warned that one can be a bit of a bully, Popcorn, two and half years old, and Dino who is one and half like his brother Cloud, has scars on backside to prove it.
Ok. So at the moment there s lots of argy-bargy. Chasing round cage, mounting each other, lying on too of each other. Lots of high pitched squeaking too and scurrying away from each other.
We took Popcorn out and put in a puppy pen cos he was being a real nuisance to the other two but then Dino started doing exactly the same with poor little Cloud!
We ve read this is normal and wondering now if we were hasty to separate Popcorn as he s chewing the side of the puppy pen as if he wants to be back with the other two 😥
Andy thoughts?
Click to expand...

Hi!

Boars always have to re-establish their hierarchy in new territory so there is lots of dominance behaviour. It can on occasion lead to fights and fall-outs even in well bonded adult boars if there are underlying issues. Often they will get back together.

Please let them work it out, but take the time to read these guides here. Keep in mind that the dominance phase will last for around 2 weeks. Do not interfere unless there is a real risk of fights and serious bites.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Bonds In Trouble

You will have to evaluate later on once you know them better whether they are an OK trio or not (there are working adult boar trios, by the way). It sounds like they should have been separated long before they reached adulthood and ended up in the shelter, but you can do that evaluation only once they have settled down and you have had time to observe their dynamics. Right now, the more you separate and interfere, the less able they are to do what they need to do and the more you risk upsetting the apple cart.
 
Mother Hubbard said:
Well as you probably know, it's rare 3 boars will work together so just be prepared for the worse really.
Click to expand...
They've been together for a while before going to the shelter because the family are relocating but sounds to me like they just accepted the situation between the board without doing anything about it.
They're all quiet now and have been since they were fed ...
 
Good luck with them.
As has been said, they need to re-establish in a new environment, so you will just have to see how it pans out
 
Thanks for all your replies and advice. It's very difficult because we want to give the three of them the opportunity to work things out, particularly Popcorn and Deeno, but we know already that Deeno has scars on his rump from Popcorn and each time we let Popcorn back in with other two it just gets worse. They haven't drawn blood but neither do I want to wait til they do. I've read the post in boars and aggressive behaviour and I understand that it's normal but if they were three other animals, say dogs, we just wouldn't leave them together to hurt each other. It would be considered negligent. So while I understand the advice to let them sort it out amongst themselves if I'm already aware of Popcorns bullying of Deeno it seems wrong to keep putting Deeno in harms way.
 
I would play it safe and separate them rather than wait to see blood. Boys are difficult.

I am cautious too so I just have Finn and Lara in separate cages because I didn't want babies. I haven't been looking for cagemates for them either. I feel like Finn and Lara know each other because they can hear and see each other through their cages and that would have to do for now. Lara was unwanted by a friend so I was appointed her pet parent. I didn't want to see Lara without a home so she was unplanned.
 
The advice on letting mild dominance behaviour play out and leaving boys to sort it out, is more towards two boys together. With three together, it is highly unlikely that there will be any sorting it out and this is why it is advised to not put three boys together as it doesn’t work.
If one already has scars because of the other, then there have already been problems and they most likely should have been separated a long time ago. Once boys get into that kind of fight that results in an injury, then their relationship just won’t work.
I would separate now rather than let it go any further.
 
And to add, you can’t keep separating boys and then putting them back together - they need to either be permamently together or permamently apart - they don’t do these kind of play dates. the separation and reintroduction causes them stress and causes them to go into dominance mode every single time they meet and that is part of why you are seeing popcorn’s behaviour get worse each time as he feels the need constantly reassert his dominance.
My advice stands though, to pick the two which get on best (sounds like deeno and cloud) and let them live together as a pair. Popcorn needs to be separated away from them and don’t let him go back in with the other two at all - not even for playtime. You will then need to look at your options for him in terms of finding him a new companion. Boar dating at a rescue, if available to you, is a good way to find a new friend as popcorn will be able to choose his own companion and the bond is more likely to work.
 
Thankyou for that... After we d read the Boars and Aggressive behaviour post we thought we d maybe been too hasty in separating them, hence trying Popcorn back in. Plus, other folk seemed to be saying that sometimes a night apart may help. It's clear that it wasn't helping so we ve not put Popcorn back in. Unfortunately, we live in a small cottage and just don't have space to have him live with us in a separate cage, even though he s a lovely little boar. We ve noticed a big difference in the other two already however, even just from Friday when they came home! They ve been coming out into the open area of the cage much more and happily lying there, instead of under the shelter. And my 22 year old son is loving their week-week noises when he brings in their veggies! Deeno s coat looks quite dull and out of condition though and he s quite skittish and jumpy, bless him, but then so would I if I was being harangued all the time. Is there anything we could give him that might help his overall health...?
 
Sometimes being skittish is just part of their character and they don’t ever lose that, they are prey animals so think they are going to be eaten. When I got my two boys, they were given time to settle and were both shy for a while, but they both quickly started to come out and about more bug one of them gained more confidence quicker. now almost five monfhs on, he is very confident and happy to be touched. The other one (called Popcorn!) has Never gained that confidence and runs off when I got to him. He is just naturally more nervous and nothing I do helps that.
A good diet and care will help his condition but if you’re worried then get a vet check done
 
He s been seen by the vet at the shelter and everything was ok. He said they were healthy. We have been feeding them a variety of veg but noticed some soft poops, so will hold back on those and double check again what veg they fed them at the shelter...
 
What kind of housing are they in? Is there any way you could stack their cages?
 
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