Bonding boars question

[Jujubeas]

Hi Everyone

Sorry to post another bonding question but I've read through all the info and I'm still not clear about something.

I understand that when you're bonding boars you shouldn't separate them but does putting them back in a divided cage (one cage with a mesh grid in the middle- they can still see and smell each other) count as a separation?

Our Manny lost his cage mate and has been having a supervised sleepover in a bonding pen at a rescue for the last week. We've now brought them both home and they're having longer interactions in a neutral pen but going back to a divided cage overnight as we can't divide the bonding pen.

Today they've been in our pen together for over 2hrs and they're just having a nap together. All seems to be going well so far fingers crossed. Am I going to undo it all if I put them back in the divided cage overnight?

Thanks all x

 

[JEFF&JOJO]

I think if things are going well you should leave them together from now on. I know there will be other people along to help you but sounds like things are good!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Everyone

Sorry to post another bonding question but I've read through all the info and I'm still not clear about something.

I understand that when you're bonding boars you shouldn't separate them but does putting them back in a divided cage (one cage with a mesh grid in the middle- they can still see and smell each other) count as a separation?

Our Manny lost his cage mate and has been having a supervised sleepover in a bonding pen at a rescue for the last week. We've now brought them both home and they're having longer interactions in a neutral pen but going back to a divided cage overnight as we can't divide the bonding pen.

Today they've been in our pen together for over 2hrs and they're just having a nap together. All seems to be going well so far fingers crossed. Am I going to undo it all if I put them back in the divided cage overnight?

Thanks all x

Hi! It is still some hours to go tonight for the boys to sort out the roughest bit of the dominance, so I don't think that a separation will be necessary if everything has gone well so far. You can however leave the boys together in the bonding pen overnight if you wish to and only put them into their shared cage when you have got another few hours to watch them settling in as their likely a bit of a renewal of the dominance in new territory at first.

I would recommend to not dividing if at all possible as it then is kicking all off again as soon as they are back together.

 

[Little Piglets]

^ +1

Let them hang out together. If they aren't acting aggressive, cross your fingers. Make sure BOTH have a hiding box/cubby with more than one opening, and either a very large food bowl (I use dog Frisbees flipped over and put hay/pellets in that as they seem to flip the smaller bowls over) or a couple small ones, and might as well get two water bottles at opposite ends nearest their boxes.

After running into an issue with a divider with a boar cage, I'm not a fan of them. IF they get unfriendly, consider separate cages vs. a divider as they'll still get angry with each other.

TBH, you might be better in the long run getting ONE boar and having it fixed, then get as many sows as you want or only one. They'll be much happier.