Bonding Boys And Girls?

[squeakypigs01]

We currently have 2 boars and 5 sows and 6 and a half weeks ago we got the boars neutered so we could put them all together. Today,we have put them in a large run together with 1 igloo and even though we have waited 6 and a half weeks (the vets told us 6), the boys still seem to be rumble strutting and trying to mount the girls. Is this just because they have just been introduced to them or is there still a chance they are not ready to be put in with the girls?

 

[Wiebke]

We currently have 2 boars and 5 sows and 6 and a half weeks ago we got the boars neutered so we could put them all together. Today,we have put them in a large run together with 1 igloo and even though we have waited 6 and a half weeks (the vets told us 6), the boys still seem to be rumble strutting and trying to mount the girls. Is this just because they have just been introduced to them or is there still a chance they are not ready to be put in with the girls?

Hi! We do not recommend to have two boars (neutered or not) in the same group; in most cases it leads to fights and problems sooner or later as sows come into season unless you have a VERY large cage that allow each boar their own territory (recommendation is a minimum of 1 sq metre per boar or more). Neutering only takes away the ability to make babies, it does NOT change the normal behaviour and does NOT calm down the boars. They can still crank testosterone out in their pee the same as full boars. While two boars can work out on occasion, the vast majority won't. Don't count on yourself being the lucky one!

What you are witnessing is normal boar dominance behaviour when they meet sows for the first time. Please take out the igloo asap. That is the best way of causing a fight if a piggy gets cornered in there! NEVER put a hidey with just one exit into a bonding area until the end of the dominance phase, which lasts around 2 weeks on average until every pig has settled and the new hierarchy has been established.

Please take the time to read our detailed bonding guide, so you have got a bit better idea what to expect. I would also most strongly recommend to plan on how to deal with the situation if your boys get into trouble.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[Janice C]

Please split up the boars and sows into two groups as the boys will still be dominant to each other. Could be more so as will compete for the sows affection.
Once you do this they will still mount the sows to show who is boss plus the urge to mate is still there albeit no sperm present now!
Its best too to have space between the two cages to allow them to settle in with their sows without having to compete with each other.One cage on separate sides of the room would be best.
The rumble strutting isnt a problem - more a look at me I'm the boss!

 

[squeakypigs01]

Thanks, we the boars are brothers and so have been together from birth (they were born with us). I have taken the igloo out and we have not yet put them in with the girls full time. We are going to keep a close eye on them over the next week and if we do notice any fighting, we will separate them imediatley. I does make sense to keep the igloo out as there is a large numper of pigs in the run. Thanks for your help x

 

[Janice C]

Hope they get over this. My boys were brothers too and I didn’t realise that that can be the cause of the problem between them as they’ll both mature and become hormonal at the same time!,

 

[Freela]

Brothers or not, the bond may fail between the boars when you add sows to the mix, so watch this very carefully so no one gets hurt. A group with more than one boar and some sows would not exist in the wild so it's counter to their natural instincts.