Three boars

[Momma2000]

So, I have had my piggies for 4 days now, and they make me so nervous. I don't know if I can handle the dominance issues. I read so much, and I know it is normal, but I hate seeing them rumbling and chasing each other. Why can't everyone just get along?

[bpatters]

Why did you get three boars if you're nervous about dominance? They're going to rumble and chase until they're past adolescence, and sometime even then.

[Momma2000]

I didn't realize how protective I would feel about them. Now that I have them, I want them to be happy, but perhaps they are happy in a guinea pig way.

[pinky]

Think of it as three grade school boys on the playground. They spend most of their time rough housing, too. Completely normal behavior.

[her87]

If you've been reading up about dominance issues, surely you've also read that boar trios very rarely work?

I'm quite concerned no other reply has mentioned this.

[Momma2000]

I did. But they were housed together at the rescue, and I was told they had bonded well.

[bpatters]

A change of scenery can upset the dominance apple cart, so moving them from the rescue to your house may have undone them.

How large is your cage? How many water bottles/hideys, etc. do you have in there? And how old are your pigs?

[Momma2000]

It is 3x5 grids. Three water bottles, five hideys. One 10 month, one 9 month, one 2 month. I know they are just doing the dominance thing, and I am dealing with it. I guess what I am most shocked about is how protective I feel of each of them. I didn't expect to attach to them so quickly. I know it is no surprise to you, but they each have their own personality, and I just love them. So maybe my frustration is with myself for being so overprotective.

[her87]

I was going to ask how old they were as well. Boars become hormonal generally between 5-8 months of age.

What advice did this rescue give on keeping trios, or guinea-pigs in general? Were you told to have spare caging, for instance? This has shocked me, a rescue should really know better.

[Momma2000]

Skittles

[her87]

Because of their ages, I would recommend pairing one older boar with the younger one, then find the lone a new companion. I've had to rush boars to the vets because of fights between pairings, I know how quickly innocent rumbles and chases can turn to severe attacks and sleepless nights of nursing the victims back to full health. Its really not worth the risk.

[Momma2000]

Thanks, I was thinking of returning one, and now you have helped with the decision

[bpatters]

Are they doing anything worse than rumbling and chasing? Like shedding blood? If not, I'd just let them work it out if they can.

[Momma2000]

Just an update, the boys are doing great now. There is still some rumbling and chasing, but not a lot. I guess the move stressed them out.

[Inle_Rabbit]

I noticed with my boars it takes about a 1-2 weeks before they calm down after a change. (IE: New cage, new pig, ect). My boar trio worked wonderfully and still does if I put them back together. It is the quad that didn't work out so well but that might be some puberty things, I'm still holding out hope that that is the problem. Good luck with your boys! They are so much fun when they are in a group like that.

[SuperGilbert]

Give it some time, if there's no blood shedding, let em be...... Boar trios can def work, I've had 2 successful trios in the past