advice on adding more pigs

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abby

My 2 boars are around 15 months old and get on great together. They have a huge hutch and run and i really want to add some more pigs but would like as much advice as possible before doing so!
 
No expert but I think the maximum number of boars is probably 2 as they're prone to fighting.
 
I personally wouldnt advise it. Boars can get on in pairs just fine but it is a tenuous relationship. The fact that they have lots of room is probably one of the reasons they do get on. You cant add a sow as she will get pregnant and even if you got the boars neutered, they will fight over her and you cant really add another boar as this will upset the balance and they are very likely to fall out, resulting in separation, possibly for all three!
The only thing I can suggest is, if you have room, getting another hutch and getting another 2 piggies for that.
 
o.k, I will stick with my 2 boys! I read somewhere that as they are sociable animals the more the merrier but obviously thats not the case!
 
That is true in the case of groups of sows, but its very rare that even 2 boars will get on...let alone any more!
 
If you have two boars and want them to stay together you don't really have an options, as adding sows (or more boars) will probably end in fights.

The options with piggies are normally:

2 boars together or
1 neutered boar and sows (doesn't really matter what number sows as long as they get on and have space) or
sows on their own (you can have more than 2 sows together, whereas with boars more than 2 normally fight).
 
What about if i were to do a little DIY on the hutch and run to split it in 2. Could i then have some sows or would it drive the boys bonkers?
 
It would drive the boys bonkers! If you divide it in two & they are able to see & smell the girls then this will still cause them to fight.
 
I thought so! I love my boys just as they are anyway, I only wanted to get more cos it seems like a lot of space for 2 little piggies but thats good for them anyway. :)
 
It's normally not a good idea, as there is the possibility your boys will then start fighting with each other if they smell the sows. I would personally not risk your boys relationship as they get on so well.

I think you should be ok to split the run and get more boars though? How about another couple of boars on the other side? I only have two boars myself - but I think that 2 boars living next to 2 boars should be ok? Can someone confirm?
 
You dont really need to fill any extra space...the more space the better!
 
They are!They're such lovely characters, I've recently discovered that they love the rain! When we had that heavy downpour on sunday i heard them squeaking, they were in their run running round in it! Now every time it rains they're down the ramp and out like a shot! ;D
 
Wow fancy them liking the rain! Maybe it's because the smell of the grass seems to come up more when it rains so they get excited at the smell of grass? :P
 
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