A poll! Best piggie combination.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Loopylou
  • Start date Start date

What is the best pairing to go with an adult BOAR?

  • Baby boar

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Any age boar

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Baby sow (and neuter boar)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Any age sow (and neuter boar)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Doesn't matter - personality is more improtant

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
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Loopylou

I'm thinking through options of what to do with my two boars. One is getting picked on and I may have to separate so just trying to think ahead, if this is the case.
If you choose baby boar or sow, please add what age you would consider best.
My boars are of unknown age, but are both adult, neither neutered as yet and have both been bred from in the past (not by me!) - I've read in some places that this can affect bonding.
 
I voted for personality. I think it's more important. it's definitely worth taking your piggie to a rescue to let him choose a friend.
 
Some things to think about:

Neutering can be risky unless you have a very competent vet who is used to doing this op on piggies
And (so I've read, no personal experience), not all boars and sows necessarily get on.
But, in favour of neutering and pairing him with a sow - IF - you have a good vet - is that you can take him to choose his new girlfriend and be pretty sure that if they take to each other they will not later fall out.

If you don't want to risk neutering, then pairing with a baby boar is often recommended as the easiest option because the baby will accept the adult as boss. BUT - as the baby grows up, he may launch a challenge and they could end up falling out.

Pairing adult boars requires time and patience, but if it works out, then you can get a really strong friendship. Because all the dominance issues are addressed at the beginning of the realtionship, once they have gotten past that stage, then you are less likely to get a falling-out at a later date.

It really depends on personality. Two very feisty boars will be constantly rivalling each other for dominance (like my Tom and Jez!) but if you get one very dominant boar and one submissive one, the submissive one may be bullied.
A feisty young adult may settle best with a more tolerant and laid-back older boar, like my feisty young Roo and older laid-back Sam.

Hope that is some help!

P.S. Are you absolutely sure yours are not getting on? As it's the weekend now, could you possibly keep a very close eye on them during the next 48 hours and see what's going on/ maybe even have them in your room overnight? - before assuming the worst and separating.
 
I am inclined to go with personality as there are some of my boars I wouldnt neuter and some I would if a problem arose.
 
sammyroo said:
P.S. Are you absolutely sure yours are not getting on? As it's the weekend now, could you possibly keep a very close eye on them during the next 48 hours and see what's going on/ maybe even have them in your room overnight? - before assuming the worst and separating.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to separate just yet, but I'm watching them closely. Problem is its happened several times - I have found one of them has got scratches and bites around his face - always the same one. I separated them before and re-bonded them again very carefully and even got them a brand new hutch and contents to make it all neutral, but the same thing has happened as it did the first time. Not sure what to do - just trying to look at all the options.
 
I have a similar dilema to you with Timmy. He attacks Lennie immediately if they are together and rumbles constantly at my other boars.
I voted personality also. I am not experienced in what personalities are best to go with though. I think a baby boar is risky because when they get to 3-4 months, it could all go wrong and you are left with 3 singles. So if you do seperate, try bringing them to a rescue perhaps to choose their own friends :)
 
I can back up that not all sows like the idea of having a boy in their space, Bumble wasn't bothered, Bee tried to kill him lol! Ralfie now has a baby sow and she loves him. My girls bumble and bee get on but never stop rumbling these days they're teenagers and in heat as far as i can see ::) i do think personalities matter though x
 
If its any help, I had two single boars both of whom had fathered litters at some time in the past and I introduced baby boars to them. The older boars were about 1 and 2 at the time, the babies 6 - 8 weeks. After the usual rumbling, mounting etc. both took to their new buddies. Subsequently I have lost one of the older guys and the oldest male, who is now nearly 4, is living with his buddy of 2, plus my other 2 year old boar.

Good luck with your dilemma, I know exactly how you feel.
 
By the way, Ralfie is of unknown age, the rescue guessed about 2ish and his baby sow Sephy is 6 weeks x
 
It doesnt matter as long as one of them if sow and boar is neutered or whatever ;D ;D
 
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