Herd Dynamics & Adding Boys

[xRoan]

Hi all!

As some of you know, I have a herd of six girls living with me currently.

I just had a coworker contact me with two bonded boars in desperate need of a home. They’re healthy, happy, boars but their parent is not able to take them with upon relocation to a new house, and the other people planning on taking them in have backed out.

I am most likely going to take them in, however, I remember reading somewhere that having gals in the same room as the boys can break a bond between the males and cause issues/fighting. I am unable to keep them in my house, away from the girls— what are my feasible options? Cages connected but divided? Nearby? A couple of feet apart? I want to do what is best for my girls first and foremost, and then of course the boys. Financial responsibility isn’t really an issue.

I don’t want to split the boys unless I need to, but neutering and then bonding them with three girls each? I don’t know haha.

edited to add: The boys are two and one year old.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes having sows near bonded boys can cause problems for the boys relationship.

If must keep them in the same room, then they need to be as far away from the girls as possible, use dividers which are higher and wider than the cage so to reduce the risk of pheromones drifting about. The other way is to use stacking cages and put the girls at the bottom. That way, sow pheromones cant fall downwards onto the boys.
You must also ensure you always handle the boys first so to not transfer smells.