Housing/pairing my Boars

[Sarah1515]

Good Morning,

This may be difficult to follow, but I will try and be as clear as I can!

I have 5 male piggies, and my set up is made up of four 6x2 enclosures. However, one of them has just been extended to 8x2 with a divide (so making two 4x2’s)

My boys are currently all on an enclosure each, and living as neighbours. I will try my best to explain how this came about!

Timmy and Oscar - had been a pair since getting them a couple of years ago. I have only just got Timmy over an abscess removal surgery, as it came to light that he had been pestering Oscar, and Oscar has nipped him, which led to it getting infected etc.
These two have a 6x2 each and are neighbours on the top level.

Erik and Zippy - I bonded Zippy (5months) with Erik (14months) together in September. All went well until Zippy started to his his adolescence phase, and they started fighting over dominance. It started as excessive rumbling and chasing, and I did see a tornado fight the other day. These two are in the two 4x2 enclosures on the floor level.

Coco - was bonded with Peanut, but we very sadly lost him on Sunday. So coco has become a single piggy through loss.

As you can see from the photo, the piggies can see each other. However, I’m witnessing a lot of rumbling, bar chewing and strutting around from all of them at times.

I dont really want them all alone, but they have reason to be separated.

Is there a way you can suggest to how I can make them all feel happier?

All ideas welcome.

Thank you xx

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry for your loss.

It sounds as if being side by side is a pretty new thing to all of them. The behaviours you are seeing are normal and to be expected, it doesn’t mean they are unhappy. Side by side boars will still try to defend their territories if they think their neighbour might intrude - obviously they can’t but they don’t know that.

My two boys have been separated for years (they fell out at 18 weeks old and they are now 3.5 years old) and they still do this on occasion.

You could possibly have a think about trying to bond some of them to see if you can make a pair or two again - it depends on their characters and if you’ve got any submissive boys to match up with a dominant (or older boys (4yrs+) who usually just want companionship)