Bonding

[SamK]

Me again! (Sorry!)
So I’ve got my second pig from a local rescue, had him in an adjacent hutch for a couple of weeks until he had sufficient quarantine from his castration... I’ve had him and my girl in a run together most days for an hour or so to meet each other, he’s very confident and cocky, she’s very placid and timid, so it’s been quite active! With him rumble strutting after her and trying to mount and her flicking him off then hiding, I did notice yesterday that she was a lot more confident with him, but I still don’t know when to put him in her hutch... I’ve just read the info in the bonding section and didn’t realise it was such a potentially fraught procedure, I thought they’d just be happy to be living with another pig. Also the info seems focussed on indoor pigs, whereas mine would be in an outdoor hutch, so now I’m concern d about putting him in their and just leaving them to get on with it.... I may be over thinking it all, I hope so... I’m really keen to get these guys together.... any advice anyone?

 

[Swissgreys]

Firstly has your boy waited a full six weeks since castration.
This is very important becasue they can still potentially reproduce for this long, and many vets are not aware of it.

Secondly they really need to be introduced in a totally neutral area, and once they are getting along then put into a fully cleaned out hutch.
Putting them both in one of the hutches is likely to cause problems unless they have met on neutral territory first.

Without seeing you actual set up what I would suggest is picking a nice day and introducing them in a large pen on the lawn.
Observe them for a few hours until you are certain they are ok, and during this time fully clean and remove everything from the hutch you want them to live in.
Hose it out and make sure it is clean and dry before putting them into it.

A male and female usually bond well and quickly, so hopefully it will all go smoothly for you (and them).