Happy Piggy Mum

[Ellie-May]

Hi guys,

I know people have said that having boars can be stressful and at times I would agree. However, although my boys are nearly four months this month, they get on so well. I don't know if it is because they have managed to establish a hierarchy (we have had them for about a month soon), but they just bond well. The only time they seem to have their moments is when food is involved or one becomes too annoying. I went upstairs to put some clothes away and I came downstairs and saw them zooming around chasing each other. I thought they were fighting as it looked like one was chasing the other, but then they started to jump over one another and smell each other then they were fine lol. They have started to smell each other a lot lately..any ideas what that means? They will be entering their teenage years soon and hormones will probably fly, but I am happy to see them get along so well. I don't really have to do anything to make them get along as they diffuse the situations themselves, but food is always good lol

 

[Piggies&buns]

Smelling each other is a form of communication and bonding.
It’s great they are getting on well!
They are just getting to the point of hormones starting to rise from 4-14 months and there are some particularly big spikes at around 6 and 10 months and it is often at those times that tensions can rise more so. Until now you wouldn’t have seen overly boarish behaviour but it is coming! Plenty of space, one backing down into a submissive position, and just a general like of each other and all will be fine though.

 

[Ellie-May]

Smelling each other is a form of communication and bonding.
It’s great they are getting on well!
They are just getting to the point of hormones starting to rise from 4-14 months and there are some particularly big spikes at around 6 and 10 months and it is often at those times that tensions can rise more so. Until now you wouldn’t have seen overly boarish behaviour but it is coming! Plenty of space, one backing down into a submissive position, and just a general like of each other and all will be fine though.

I can definitely tell Ernie is the dominant one as Bert is very passive and backs down a lot. However, I think I will need to get a bigger play pen as they are getting bigger lol

 

[Piggies&buns]

That’s good that Bert backs down. Hopefully he will continue to and they will get on brilliantly!

 

[Ellie-May]

That’s good that Bert backs down. Hopefully he will continue to and they will get on brilliantly!

They both have their moments but nothing serious. I think it is because they were together since such a young age. Not saying it always works, but sometimes it is better than bringing them together if they were adults

 

[Piggies&buns]

They both have their moments but nothing serious. I think it is because they were together since such a young age. Not saying it always works, but sometimes it is better than bringing them together if they were adults

Possibly but not always and it is no guarantee. Even piggies who are brothers and those introduced at an early age suddenly decide they don’t like each other, fall out, fight and have to be separated once hormone spikes hit. We see many a post about boars who have been together for 9/10/12 months with no problems, suddenly have a huge fight and refuse to live together. More boar pairs make it than not though, so you don’t need to worry!

 

[Ellie-May]

Possibly but not always and it is no guarantee. Even piggies who are brothers and those introduced at an early age suddenly decide they don’t like each other, fall out, fight and have to be separated once hormone spikes hit. We see many a post about boars who have been together for 9/10/12 months with no problems, suddenly have a huge fight and refuse to live together. More boar pairs make it than not though, so you don’t need to worry!

I agree. With enough space, two of everything etc it should be okay. we will be increasing their play space and would like a room designated for it so hopefully all that will help

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sounds lovely for them!
My boys have the entire shed 8ft x 6ft (I’m getting a new shed soon and it’ll be 10ft x 6ft) and they absolutely love it! I spend ages just watching them run around! And they spend ages moving everything around!

(Having a big space absolutely is a good idea, but for completeness of information, to add, that if two piggies are not compatible no amount of space will make them like each other.)

 

[Ellie-May]

Sounds lovely for them!
My boys have the entire shed 8ft x 6ft (I’m getting a new shed soon and it’ll be 10ft x 6ft) and they absolutely love it! I spend ages just watching them run around! And they spend ages moving everything around!

(Having a big space absolutely is a good idea, but for completeness of information, to add, that if two piggies are not compatible no amount of space will make them like each other.)

I agree, but hopefully, they will be fine. The play-pen I have now works, but as they will be getting bigger it will become a problem so will need to extend it until we can get a room

 

[Ellie-May]

Sounds lovely for them!
My boys have the entire shed 8ft x 6ft (I’m getting a new shed soon and it’ll be 10ft x 6ft) and they absolutely love it! I spend ages just watching them run around! And they spend ages moving everything around!

(Having a big space absolutely is a good idea, but for completeness of information, to add, that if two piggies are not compatible no amount of space will make them like each other.)

Do your piggies get along?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes. I got them when dex was 5 months old and Pops was 4 months. They had no problems to begin with but things got a bit tense when they were around 9/10 months old but nothing desperately concerning. They have always lived in the shed but the cage was smaller then - I was using half the shed as storage - so I changed the layout. I gave up my storage space and gave them the entire shed (making the storage space on top of the hutch) and things almost instantly improved. They have been absolutely fine since. (Dex turns 2 in February and pops turns 2 in March)

 

[Ellie-May]

Yes. I got them when dex was 5 months old and Pops was 4 months. They had no problems to begin with but things got a bit tense when they were around 9/10 months old but nothing desperately concerning. They have always lived in the shed but the cage was smaller then - I was using half the shed as storage - so I changed the layout. I gave up my storage space and gave them the entire shed (making the storage space on top of the hutch) and things almost instantly improved. They have been absolutely fine since. (Dex turns 2 in February and pops turns 2 in March)

Aww that is nice. Yeah from what I was told mine were together from like 6-8 weeks I think so they have been with each other for a while

 

[Piggies&buns]

My two had been together since about 8 weeks as well.