Housing an intact boar next to a pair of sows.

[ashimay]

Hello!

Since losing our beloved Mr Pig we have had our boar Otis in his cage next to our two sows to allow him to socialise whilst we wait for our local rescue to be open for boar-dating again. He currently isn’t living in a C&C cage like our sows and we would like to change this! We’re also taking the time to rearrange our current set up as it’s been a while since doing so and now seems to be the perfect time!

Before we jump right into it though I wanted to know whether there has to be any distance between the cages to prevent any accidental baby piggies! I’m under the assumption it would be best to not only have one C&C panel between him and the ladies (given there are rather large gaps!), or is this just me being extra paranoid?!

I’ve seen many side by side C&C set-ups that are adjoined without any space between, but I can never find out whether they house sows only or boars only, so I thought it would be best to reach out incase anyone else keeps sows and intact boars in this manner.

Eventually once Otis has another companion we hope to house the two above the sows in a C&C.

Many thanks!

 

[Piggies&buns]

You can put distance to be safest, or by having a lidded c&c (yes lids can be added to c&c) or with the two cages being next to each other but with the divider between the two cages being two grids high. Agile Boars (in tact or not) will absolutely be able to climb the cages (or use any hidey houses to climb onto) to get in with the girls.

Yes, when he lives with another boar, then it would be absolutely essential that the sows were kept at the bottom and that you always handle the boar pair first. You seem to have had boar and sow pairs previously (from reading between the lines in your post) so you will be aware of the risks that can be posed to a boar pair by being in the presence of sows. Otis may be used to being near the ladies, but any new friend of his may well not be used to sow smells so there could be issues.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Also, you say there we rather large gaps? Do you mean the squares in the grids themselves? C&c grids should be 9 squares in a grid. If they are 8 squares then they are unsafe grids in any event and can result in heads being stuck if they try to go through.

 

[ashimay]

Also, you say there we rather large gaps? Do you mean the squares in the grids themselves? C&c grids should be 9 squares in a grid. If they are 8 squares then they are unsafe grids in any event and can result in heads being stuck if they try to go through.

There are nine squares! Definitely not big enough for a head to get through. I did a lot of research before constructing the C&C!
I’ve heard stories of naughty boars and mystery pregnancies and some people have said that it was likely due to the gaps in the bars. However I feel like if the corex were to come up high enough there shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[Piggies&buns]

That’s fine if they are 9 squares, he won’t get through the bars. Some people aren’t aware and they sell 8 square grids for storage racks so that’s why I mentioned it.

Regarding these mysterious pregnancies, If there were large gaps in the bars then yes but proper grids suitable for piggies they simply wouldn’t get through them, or likely the piggies woud have escaped via that method a long time beforehand. Piggies can well climb the bars rather than go through them, if they can see a female nearby. Correx wouldn’t stop bar climbing.

 

[ashimay]

That’s fine if they are 9 squares, he won’t get through the bars. Some people aren’t aware and they sell 8 square grids for storage racks so that’s why I mentioned it.

Regarding these mysterious pregnancies, If there were large gaps in the bars then yes but proper grids suitable for piggies they simply wouldn’t get through them, or likely the piggies woud have escaped via that method a long time beforehand. Piggies can well climb the bars rather than go through them, if they can see a female nearby. Correx wouldn’t stop bar climbing.

Perfect, thank you for your help!