Adding Boar To Sow Herd

[Malice]

Hello all!

My partner and I are currently revamping our piggies' cage, meaning it's going to be even BIGGER! And a bigger cage means... More piggies!

Well, just the one. I'm looking at adopting hopefully some time in August/September. I was just wondering whether it would be better for herd dynamics to adopt a (neutered!) boar, or another sow? Currently we have five sows, ranging between three years and eleven months old.

I have previously kept boars, but in same sex pairs, so am unsure about mixed sex setups! I know boar/sow pairs are meant to be quite nice kept together, but would adding a boar to an already established group cause more problems? Would I need an adult boar, as opposed to a baby?

I'd be just as happy getting a sow as a boar, but single boars always seem to be adopted last and it makes me sad! So I would love to be able to give one a forever home if possible.

Any thoughts and comments are appreciated! =)

 

[Wiebke]

Hello all!

My partner and I are currently revamping our piggies' cage, meaning it's going to be even BIGGER! And a bigger cage means... More piggies!

Well, just the one. I'm looking at adopting hopefully some time in August/September. I was just wondering whether it would be better for herd dynamics to adopt a (neutered!) boar, or another sow? Currently we have five sows, ranging between three years and eleven months old.

I have previously kept boars, but in same sex pairs, so am unsure about mixed sex setups! I know boar/sow pairs are meant to be quite nice kept together, but would adding a boar to an already established group cause more problems? Would I need an adult boar, as opposed to a baby?

I'd be just as happy getting a sow as a boar, but single boars always seem to be adopted last and it makes me sad! So I would love to be able to give one a forever home if possible.

Any thoughts and comments are appreciated! =)

Ideally you want to date a piggy with your herd or date your herd with a piggy.
If that is not an option, go for a fairly submissive sub-adult who is physically not in the position to upset the hierarchy. Gender is less of an issue as long as the personalities work out. Some dominant older sows will not necessarily tolerate a neutered boar in their group.

 

[Flutterby]

I have two herds with a neutered boar in each and they certainly were the easiest of the bondings!

 

[eileen]

if it works neutered boar with sows is one of the most stable bondings once acceptance has happened.but i did have a neutered boar that i atempted to bond with a 2 year old sow,she had a lock on fight with jerry ,she knocked his jaw out of place,had nine months of 3 weekly teeth filing and syringe feeding.i now have five groups with one neutered boar and one to four sows .

 

[Betsy]

I have two boars (neutered) and 3 sows all bonded in a group. Velvet had a surprise shop litter which resulted in Meg, Christian and Dennis. Then there's the gorgeous Betsy who was well bonded with Velvet when I bought them both. Bonding Meg with Betsy went OK I think mainly because Meg smelt of Velvet! The bonding of the 2 boys and the 3 girls was a bit nerve racking but in the end everybody accepted everybody after much wee spraying, butt sniffing and humping! I stood around with a towel just in case I had to intervene!