HELP! Three’s a crowd. Boar bullying one of his cage mates.
This past Feb we adopted three baby boars. They all seemed so happy together. Then puberty hit and we hit a learning curve as cavvy owners. I was unaware that three are not recommended. But here we are. We have built them a three leveled living space. Space to separate and get away. The different levels can be locked off by raising the individual ramps to close each floor off. Two of the boars that live peacefully together are Fred and Neville. But the other, Sirius, seems to have to live in exile because he gets terrorized by Neville. Neville will hunt Sirius down and traumatize him, even if Sirius was on his own floor minding his own business. So, now we have locked Sirius onto the top floor by himself. And Fred and Neville live together on the bottom two floors. We thought about putting Neville by himself and allowing Sirius and Fred to live together, but Fred has struggled with health issues since we got him and he has always seemed to like being with Neville. We didn’t want to stress Fred by taking Neville away. Also, when Neville is alone and separated from Fred, he wheaks and wheaks and wheaks.
I’m not sure what the right answer is. Hoping more experienced cavvy owners could offer some advice. Thought about getting Sirius another mate, but what if that doesn’t work either and that would really crowd up the living space. Ugh. It seems like Sirius living all alone would be sad and hard on his health since they are social animals.
Any thoughts.
I attached pics of the cage with the doors open.
Jessica
I’m not sure what the right answer is. Hoping more experienced cavvy owners could offer some advice. Thought about getting Sirius another mate, but what if that doesn’t work either and that would really crowd up the living space. Ugh. It seems like Sirius living all alone would be sad and hard on his health since they are social animals.
Any thoughts.
I attached pics of the cage with the doors open.
Jessica
Your pics don't seem to be attached. However, when you say "doors open" I envision a cage made out of a cabinet of some sort. If that's the case, it is too small a space for them to live. Have you gone to the cage site to look at cage ideas and read up on the proper size needed? You can find it here: guineapigcages.com
Three boars need much more space than one thinks. You cannot count levels in measuring that space. So really, the space you have provided would be if you measured one level. How big is that?
This is a common problem when boars reach puberty. They get feisty and start vying for being top pig. Having the proper living space can sometimes help them get through that stage without bloodshed but sometimes not. It all depends on their personalities.
They can live side-by-side and still reap most of the benefits of actually living in the same cage together. But each pig STILL needs the proper cage space. And for a single boar, that would be the size of a 2 grid by 4 grid cage if made out of C&C materials like on that site above. That's for ONE boar. If two are living together, you should have a 2X6 at least.
Three boars need much more space than one thinks. You cannot count levels in measuring that space. So really, the space you have provided would be if you measured one level. How big is that?
This is a common problem when boars reach puberty. They get feisty and start vying for being top pig. Having the proper living space can sometimes help them get through that stage without bloodshed but sometimes not. It all depends on their personalities.
They can live side-by-side and still reap most of the benefits of actually living in the same cage together. But each pig STILL needs the proper cage space. And for a single boar, that would be the size of a 2 grid by 4 grid cage if made out of C&C materials like on that site above. That's for ONE boar. If two are living together, you should have a 2X6 at least.
The suggested floor space for three pigs (on guineapigcages) is 76X157. In grids, that's a 2 by 5. So your cage is not even close to being big enough. Guinea pigs are generally a "ground" animal and they need room to run and to do "zoomies" around the cage and, if in a group, they need room to be able to get away from each other (on the same level). Please do go and take a look at that site. It's possible that they may get along if the cage were big enough. For sure they will not get along if it's not.
I don't even think a 2x5 is big enough for three pigs that don't get along. My Ranger, Fred, and George all lived together happily in a 2x5 until puberty hit Fred and George. Fred and Ranger are separated and going to be neutered so they can be paired with females, and George lives with a different submissive male.
I agree with you lisam. I usually used a 2X4 for one pig (male or female) and a 2X6 for a pair of boars that get along. I'm trying to get this poster to understand that her cage is not at all big enough and hopefully to go to that site and get decent ideas to rebuild an appropriate-sized cage. If she makes the changes quickly, she may be able to at least have a pair that continues to get along.
I feel like a lot of people are too hasty about advising to split up boars. If someone doesn't have enough space for three pigs, why recommend getting a fourth?
It is scary and frustrating to see the underdog get glued on over and over, and the smell may get overwhelming at times as they work on their territory issues. My youngest had to suffer through a few bites and a lot of humping, but now all of my boars explore together and seek each other out. It sucks, and it seems awful, but that's just how guinea pigs act. I promise that it's possible for them to one day get along. As everyone suggests, a lot more space and more hides (igloos or boxes) will help. When my boars were still fussing, I noticed that a dedicated "food room" in a section of the cage away from the housing also helped prevent disputes/bullying.
Stay strong. Please keep us updated!
It is scary and frustrating to see the underdog get glued on over and over, and the smell may get overwhelming at times as they work on their territory issues. My youngest had to suffer through a few bites and a lot of humping, but now all of my boars explore together and seek each other out. It sucks, and it seems awful, but that's just how guinea pigs act. I promise that it's possible for them to one day get along. As everyone suggests, a lot more space and more hides (igloos or boxes) will help. When my boars were still fussing, I noticed that a dedicated "food room" in a section of the cage away from the housing also helped prevent disputes/bullying.
Stay strong. Please keep us updated!
Every level has its own water and food, hay, veggies. The one that is singled out is terrified of the one who bullies him. The bully seeks him out and chases him up and down and everywhere. We finally put him on the top level with the ramp closed for now. It just seemed to stressful. We still get them all out to play in a bigger space, but even then the bully pursues. :( is it possible that down the road we might be able to let them all freely live together?
Crowcrash, sometimes it's not possible for them to "one day get along". Also, pigloos are not recommended for guinea pigs that aren't getting along. Unless the house has two entrances, pigs get trapped and that's when serious injuries can occur. I think one reason people are "hasty" about splitting up boars is to avoid vet bills that can be hundreds of dollars (like $600 one emergency vet charged for stitching up a bite wound).
Sometimes it's not just getting "glued on over and over". I just had a male (the above mentioned Ranger) in to the vet to have his eye stitched because Fred got tired of the chasing and mounting.
Sometimes people don't realize the amount of space guinea pigs need. The original poster obviously thought her cage was large enough and appropriate for three guinea pigs. Now that she has information on cage size she can figure out what option works best for her.
Sometimes it's not just getting "glued on over and over". I just had a male (the above mentioned Ranger) in to the vet to have his eye stitched because Fred got tired of the chasing and mounting.
Sometimes people don't realize the amount of space guinea pigs need. The original poster obviously thought her cage was large enough and appropriate for three guinea pigs. Now that she has information on cage size she can figure out what option works best for her.