Trios Of Boars- A Disaster Waiting To Happen?

[pig in the city]

Why do pet shops insist on selling trios of boars? We have just taken in a 4 month old boar who is covered in bites when his brothers turned on him in the last week. The family were also advised to buy a tiny cage, which didn't help. The family have done the right thing by bringing the piggy to us, but are heartbroken at having to give him up. I am so angry that this was completely avoidable and the pet shop was just intent on making money.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I know your frustrations! My best friend wanted guinea pigs for her 4 and 2 year old (bad enough) so after giving her advice on minimum cage sizes, needs of the pets, the need for her to take full responsibility I even covered sexes. I suggested she rescued two sows over 1 year of age as my friend can be nervous with small fast animals and I felt this would be the best route for her. I told her boars would be fine too but definitely an older pair as less likely to fall out. I knew she was looking at a farm for the piggies so I told her definitely do not get two young boars as they may fall out when they hit hormones and I'm not experienced with that so wouldn't be able to help...

So one day I get a text and she had been to the farm and come home with 3 boys... all because she couldn't take two and leave one brother there all on his own as they all get on so well together... just 6 weeks old. To top it all, they are living in a 2 floor 4ft x 2ft hutch which now doesn't meet the guidelines as they brought it planning to get two pigs.

I'm half prepared for taking one off her hands and getting him neutered when they fall out which I feel it more inevitable than anything.

 

[pig in the city]

I know your frustrations! My best friend wanted guinea pigs for her 4 and 2 year old (bad enough) so after giving her advice on minimum cage sizes, needs of the pets, the need for her to take full responsibility I even covered sexes. I suggested she rescued two sows over 1 year of age as my friend can be nervous with small fast animals and I felt this would be the best route for her. I told her boars would be fine too but definitely an older pair as less likely to fall out. I knew she was looking at a farm for the piggies so I told her definitely do not get two young boars as they may fall out when they hit hormones and I'm not experienced with that so wouldn't be able to help...

So one day I get a text and she had been to the farm and come home with 3 boys... all because she couldn't take two and leave one brother there all on his own as they all get on so well together... just 6 weeks old. To top it all, they are living in a 2 floor 4ft x 2ft hutch which now doesn't meet the guidelines as they brought it planning to get two pigs.

I'm half prepared for taking one off her hands and getting him neutered when they fall out which I feel it more inevitable than anything.

Grrrr, so annoying when you have tried so hard

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I have had lots of boar trios but they have always had plenty of room. I even have a group of four boars, who I call my bereaved boars group, and more are added as they lose their companions. I think it is more about personality than gender when it comes to bigger boar groups, but then space is always the key to success.

 

[pig in the city]

I have had lots of boar trios but they have always had plenty of room. I even have a group of four boars, who I call my bereaved boars group, and more are added as they lose their companions. I think it is more about personality than gender when it comes to bigger boar groups, but then space is always the key to success.

That's interesting @furryfriends (TEAS) , I am sure you are absolutely right. Space and no girl piggies in sniffing distance!

 

[Julesie]

I follow a user on facebook who has over 20 males together but they are in a huuuuuge space and they all get on well. I was amazed.

The problem with trio's is always one left out piggie and of course the tiny cage sizes that petshops give that aren't good enough for 2 let alone three.

Poor little mite. Hope he feels better soon.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I have had lots of boar trios but they have always had plenty of room. I even have a group of four boars, who I call my bereaved boars group, and more are added as they lose their companions. I think it is more about personality than gender when it comes to bigger boar groups, but then space is always the key to success.

I am sure you are right about space being the key but also experience. Unfortunately for my friend she has neither

 

[Wiebke]

Why do pet shops insist on selling trios of boars? We have just taken in a 4 month old boar who is covered in bites when his brothers turned on him in the last week. The family were also advised to buy a tiny cage, which didn't help. The family have done the right thing by bringing the piggy to us, but are heartbroken at having to give him up. I am so angry that this was completely avoidable and the pet shop was just intent on making money.

Baby boar trios are indeed a disaster waiting to happen - in about 90% of cases you end up with a separation before the boys reach their adulthood. Older or disabled boars are a very different ball game, as they are no longer hormone driven the way sub-adult teenagers are. Most fighting between boars happens when they can't get away from each other.

P@h had one year when they were pushing the sale of baby boar trios, and we were awash with falling-out threads in the wake of it.

Fall-outs between piggies are always very upsetting and gutting for any loving owner; at least their little boy has come to the right place and is hopefully looking forward to living happily with a sow or two in the future after his traumatic experience with other boars, I assume?

PS: Information and tips around the issue of fighting and fall-outs are in this thread here: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?