I have a few questions ...

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Woodlouse

Woodlouse

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... big thank you to anyone who can answer them for me! :))

I'm currently "foster" mummy to 5 babies, 2 weeks old ATM, after I rescued 2 pregnant sows and a boar!

1. Am I correct in thinking that littermate boars can live together for life? Is there likely to be any problems in the future with their relationship?
[I have a home for the 2 sows to live together and a home for a boar to live with an older boar ... hence hoping the remaining 2 boars can be rehomed as a pair?]

2. When introducing a baby boar (4 wks) to an adult boar (c. 3yrs) how do you know if it's going to work?! What should/shouldn't happen? How long do they take to 'settle'?
[Have done loads of bunny bonding and introduced sows a couple of times but boars are new to me!]

3. I've read that I should aim to leave the baby sows in with mum until they're 6 weeks old, to ensure all the milk is used (for mum's health)... good advice?

Thank you! I promise pics of the "tribe" soon! x
 
Yay for having so many piggies :) In terms of brothers living together, I have two 9 month old boar brothers who live happily together. There can be problems, it all depends on the personalities of the piggies involved.
 
amywithpiggies said:
Yay for having so many piggies :) In terms of brothers living together, I have two 9 month old boar brothers who live happily together. There can be problems, it all depends on the personalities of the piggies involved.
Click to expand...

I have 3 sows of my own too ... plus 7 bunnies and 4 foster bunnies! LOL!

So ... is there any way of 'knowing' whether they stand a good chance of having a long and happy partnership? It's a difficult one when people ask you if they'll always get on?! ... x
 
Good on you for taking these piggies in :)

1. Two male litter-mates have the same chance of living together as non-littermates. It is dependant on the personalities of both boars & how they react to one another when they hit their teens. I have introduced a few baby boars to adult boars with varying degrees of long-term success.


2. Most adult boars will chase & hump the baby with plenty of brring going on & squeaks of indignation from the baby who will run away & babies are fast :)) The adult boar should NOT attack the baby. I personally have never seen an adult boar attack a young pig.
It generally settles down quite quickly & baby will follow "dad" around. You should have both boars eating food/hay together very quickly. However, again, there is no guarantee they will stay together once baby's hormones hit.
The adult should allow baby to have free access to anywhere he should wish to go as well as eat/drink.
Shoving baby out of a pigloo or similar is normal but to lay across a pigloo when the baby is inside is considered bullying as is preventing the baby from eating. This is why 2 food bowls/bottles are favourable for boars; less to fall out over.

3. I have no experience of lactating sows with baby sows so i can't offer any advice but if the baby sows are to stay living with mum there is no reason to separate them.
 
Not sure about girlies but my boys are litermates and at age 5 they wouldn't be without each other. I think they only have half a braincell each and they have been far better than my previous pairs of non-littermates.
 
I have two abbys that are brothers and they have always gotten on - they sometimes have a bit of a tiff when one wants to eat something from the other ones bowl but they wouldn't be without one another.
 
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