HELP .... I'm going mad trying to sort this problem

[yyoung]

I have ten piggies ..... I have a problem with 3 of them. They are all boys. Hamish is the daddy to Pickles.... when pickles was 3 weeks old I took him away from mummy (Bing ) and put him with Hamish ....they were great together. I then couldn't resist Bumble and got him and put him with Hamish and Pickles in a larger C + C cage. Everything has been fine until a few weeks ago when Hamish and Pickles were going hell for leather at each other and they really hurt each other.... bleeding and sore and trips to vets etc etc....so obviously I had to separate them. I enlarged the cage and divided it as I read they could still see each other but couldnt fight. So then we had Bumble and Pickles together and Hamish on his own side of the cage. Things kind of settled down but there is still the odd rumble and stuff but nothing serious. Hamish looks really sad now though and every week I weigh them and he has lost weight... down from 1200g to 1050g. I really dont think he is ill....he's just sad I think. I tried putting him back with the others but oh dear that was a massive mistake....within seconds they were full on fighting. Obviously I now know they cannot live together but this is making Hamish very miserable and I dont want that. Any suggesions would be gratefully appreciated. Do you think I should remove Hamish altogether and put him in a cage on his own ? or do you think I should try and get a baby boar for him some company ?

 

[rw3399]

It sounds like it would be best to put him in a cage on his own and see how he is after a few days. If it is not possible for you to get him a cage mate then maybe put a cuddly toy in so he has something to cuddle up to. Hope this helps and you manage to resolve the situation. Other on here have a lot more experience than me with these things.

 

[MemberY]

Hope you dont mind but I have thanked you for highlighting the problem of introducing a 3rd boar and upsetting a happy duo!
It sounds like Hamish is lonely. My suggestion would be to contact a rescue/RSPCA near you and take Hamish along to choose his own friend.
Just because you choose a baby boar for him, does not mean the relationship will make it past baby boars puberty, the best chance Hamish has of happiness is a friend he likes. Many rescues are happy for you to do this, although some are short sighted on the pairing of boars. Keep trying though.

Let us know how you go!

 

[yyoung]

I honestly thought I had it all sorted.... Hamish and Pickles settled nicely even though Hamish at this point would be 6 months ish and pickles 3 weeks. When I got Bumble he was around 6 weeks but at that time Pickles was also 6 weeks. So at that point we had older daddy and 2 babies. The problems began very suddenly... one day they were ok and the next killing each other. Of course Bumble is happy to be with either piggy as I did try swapping who lived in the lone end to see if that helped improve things. Bumble and Pickles is ok (a little bit of rumbling now and again) ...Hamish and Bumble is okay (equally maybe a bit of rumbling now and again) but heaven forbid if you try to put Hamish and Pickles together .....Bumble is a rex and pretty laidback. What does anyone think about getting Hamish neutured and putting him in with the girls.... his wife and two daughters so to speak ..... does anyone see problems with that ? He really loved Bing and she him and they hated being parted but we thought they were two boys (well the pet shop did) .... hence the name Bing....we now call her Mammy Bing....Any thoughts ?

 

[MemberY]

Well yes, I didnt know you had sows as well! I had the problem of one of my boar pairs fighting and separated them. The older boar wont take to any boar and I feel is too old at 5 ish to be neutered. Georgie was neutered and is now the happy husband of 3 sows! It wasn't an easy decision but the best I felt for Georgie and I had every confidence in my vet.

Be sure you are happy with the vet as many have not done this delicate op or not enough to be experienced. Phone surgeries and ask how many boar neuters on GPs they have performed and the sucess rate, which anaesthetic they use (should be isuflorene), how they seal the wound, aftercare and so on. You should never be advised to starve a GP prior to surgery.

Hope this helps!