Fighting boars

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Louisette

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Plz help I don't know what to do!

I got my first pig 6 months ago, he was 9 months old then. After about 2 weeks and reading many posts about lonely pigs I thought I just must get him a friend. I contacted the breeder lady I got him from and she agreed it would do him good to have a friend and said she had a baby boar I could have who was 5 weeks.

I was quite worried about this (2 boys) and after hours and hours of research on how to introduce them, reading a tonne of posts and articles, I decided to give it a go. After about half an hour of rumble strutting they actually got on ready well, so well in fact they couldn't bear to be apart! And ever since they have been brilliant, they have never fought they are popcorning a lot in pen time, they've always been very happy together.....until now :(

I believe my younger boar has just started to grown into a man as he is starting to rumble and I think his bits are a lot bigger. All of a sudden they hate each other and are squaring off against each other, they don't seem as happy, are too fidgity to even hold, there is no popcorning they won't share food, and this evening, after pen time I put them back into their cage and there was a squabble and the older one had a chunk of the younger ones hair in his mouth :'(

I separated them for half an hour to let things settle, and put the younger one in the pen. When the older one had calmed down I put the younger one back in the cage and took out the small hide they got kind of stuck in when they had the fight and replaced it with two tubes.

I sat and watched them for over an hour, there was no more fighting, just a bit of rumbling and backing away, but no fighting.

I have no idea what to do I'm so worried please any advice I'd love to hear from you, it's really hard to find information on this specific thing.

They are not brothers, they have not been neutered and I don't know if this is just a phase which will pass or if I need to take action, or what on earth that action would be.

Really appreciate any advice anyone can give me thank you.
 
Hi & Welcome to our friendly forum.
At the moment you need to keep a close eye on them. If there is any blood separate them. Unfortunately once this has happened, if you don't separate, the fights will get worse. There is no point having them done as it will not change there character. It doesn't matter weather they. Are brothers or not only have them done for medical reasons or if you want to find them a wife. Separate them & after 6 weeks join him with a lady. Good luck I hope they will settle again.
 
Hello,
I'm in a very similar situation to you, except my introductions seemed to have worked very well and my two boars seem to get on. I still worriedly watch them in their hutch, and I see my older pig rumble-strut around my younger one, but my younger one always has to eat with the older one, even though there are two bowls! I was very worried at first when I introduced them as my older pig let the younger one mount him, but I found that the older one kept dominance and no fighting or squaring up happened so I knew it would be okay.
I think if they are fighting you should separate them, because it will get worse until one wins - but that would be very distressing to see and one could get injured. I would try separating them permanently for a while, while the smaller pig matures and try again later. If they still are not getting on, it may just be a case that they don't get on and it won't really help to neuter them.
Hope the situation improves, would love to hear what happens :)
 
Thank you so much everyone, i really appreciate your experienced advice, I was so worried and didn't know where to turn! It's been really helpful reading what you have all said.

I have been monitoring them all day as I've had the day off, and they are really squaring off a lot, constantly taking turns to sniff each others butt's, followed by a lot of rumbling like growling, then a lot of chattering and there are frequent near fights, so unfortunately today I have had to separate them :(

I have a nice set up for two pigs, but not two fighting pigs so I feel a bit stuck :-/ I have a large cage (approx 125x75cm) which they share and also a large pen (approx 1m x 2m) which I put them in every evening.

Today as I was so worried I've temporarily put a spare piece of the pen to act as a divider in the middle of the pen, but not sure how to move forward. They are even growling at each other through the divider! Oh boys :( !

Do you have any advice on how I should proceed? Should I leave them in the pen for a few weeks separated in this way then try to reintroduce? Should I cover the divide so they can't see each other and chatter at each other? Would two separate cages be better than dividing the pen? If I separate them I am worried they will be lonely, I would love to get them two girlfriends but I just don't have the space so this really is not an option.

I just want them to be happy just don't know what to do for the best.

Again any advice really appreciated, I'm so lost on what to do! Thank you x
 
If there is no blood drawn you really just have to sit it out and let them work it out. They’re just trying to sort out the hierarchy. Every time you separate and re introduce they have to start from square one re hierarchy. Did you clean out the cage so it wasn’t smelling of the older pig? I’d say put them in a neutral place again (pen) with lots of hay and veg, no hides. Give them some hours and watch to see how they fair.
Disclaimer: I’ve never had to bond piggies and I’m just going on what others’ experience has been. Someone more experienced (like @Wiebke or @Merab's Slave) can give you more thorough advise.
Boys also need more space. If you could stretch to a 140cm it would be ideal.
 
Louisette said:
Plz help I don't know what to do!

I got my first pig 6 months ago, he was 9 months old then. After about 2 weeks and reading many posts about lonely pigs I thought I just must get him a friend. I contacted the breeder lady I got him from and she agreed it would do him good to have a friend and said she had a baby boar I could have who was 5 weeks.

I was quite worried about this (2 boys) and after hours and hours of research on how to introduce them, reading a tonne of posts and articles, I decided to give it a go. After about half an hour of rumble strutting they actually got on ready well, so well in fact they couldn't bear to be apart! And ever since they have been brilliant, they have never fought they are popcorning a lot in pen time, they've always been very happy together.....until now :(

I believe my younger boar has just started to grown into a man as he is starting to rumble and I think his bits are a lot bigger. All of a sudden they hate each other and are squaring off against each other, they don't seem as happy, are too fidgity to even hold, there is no popcorning they won't share food, and this evening, after pen time I put them back into their cage and there was a squabble and the older one had a chunk of the younger ones hair in his mouth :'(

I separated them for half an hour to let things settle, and put the younger one in the pen. When the older one had calmed down I put the younger one back in the cage and took out the small hide they got kind of stuck in when they had the fight and replaced it with two tubes.

I sat and watched them for over an hour, there was no more fighting, just a bit of rumbling and backing away, but no fighting.

I have no idea what to do I'm so worried please any advice I'd love to hear from you, it's really hard to find information on this specific thing.

They are not brothers, they have not been neutered and I don't know if this is just a phase which will pass or if I need to take action, or what on earth that action would be.

Really appreciate any advice anyone can give me thank you.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please do not separate and split them at the first sign of dominance behaviour. It is very hard to sit by and not interfere, especially if you are on the anxious side, but that is what is required.

Please take the time to read this guide here; it also contains information on what you can do to stabilise the bond, how you can work out when a bond is really dysfunctional once it gets really bad (you are not close to it yet) and what you can do if things really go wrong. I also has got links to guides about dominance behaviours and interactive dynamics.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
Siikibam said:
If there is no blood drawn you really just have to sit it out and let them work it out. They’re just trying to sort out the hierarchy. Every time you separate and re introduce they have to start from square one re hierarchy. Did you clean out the cage so it wasn’t smelling of the older pig? I’d say put them in a neutral place again (pen) with lots of hay and veg, no hides. Give them some hours and watch to see how they fair.
Disclaimer: I’ve never had to bond piggies and I’m just going on what others’ experience has been. Someone more experienced (like @Wiebke or @Merab's Slave) can give you more thorough advise.
Boys also need more space. If you could stretch to a 140cm it would be ideal.
Click to expand...
I’m flattered @Siikibam that you think I’m this experienced.
I have limited experience and only once with a boar and 2 sows.
Thank you for your confidence in me.
@Wiebke is the real expert so the advice she has given is best.
It’s her information I’m reading up in preparation for bonding 2 pairs of sows.
 
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