Introducing A Boar To Four Sows

Hey guys, quick update and question...

I introduced the 5 pigs again yesterday (new boar and 4 sows) and all seemed to go well. Plenty of chasing and squealing but it all calmed down and they all ended up chilling / napping after a couple of hours.

I decided to bite the bullet and put them all in the cage over night (with a large extension making it almost 180 cm x 180 cm.

All seemed ok but I could tell they were still working out who's the boss of who.

This morning, they are still working it out with a bit of chattering and chasing, but are currently sat really near to each other, happily eating hay.

However, I have just noticed little scratches on the poor little boars nose! :( Does this mean they are not happy together or is it possible it was an accident and they will work through it?

Ok, not quite as quick as I thought... :xd:

I'd appreciate any thoughts you guys have, thanks!

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Likely just a misjudged swipe. They look quite happy together. It seems as if they slept and woke up OK and are now eating quite happily. I don't think it's anything to worry too much over.
 
Betsy said:
Likely just a misjudged swipe. They look quite happy together. It seems as if they slept and woke up OK and are now eating quite happily. I don't think it's anything to worry too much over.
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I hope so. Thank you. I'm so on edge with all this bonding milarky. I think I'm more on edge than the pigs :(
 
All sounding very positive now. When I first got my boys, they went through a phase where two of them were having a bit of a go at each other, and Chicco got quite a big scratch on his nose, but it's been fine most of the time since then. It sounds as though your herd have worked through the worst of it, and the boar has his little scar to make him tough looking (even if, in reality he's hen pecked by one of his wives lol)
 
kyliebowers said:
I hope so. Thank you. I'm so on edge with all this bonding milarky. I think I'm more on edge than the pigs :(
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I know how you feel. I bonded 2 boars with 3 sows last year hoping they would all get on as I read everything I could about bonding and everything said DO NOT PUT IN 2 BOARS WITH SOWS. Well I did and everybody gets on with everybody. The boars are brothers and were extremely well bonded prior to neutering and going in with the sows and I have a very dominant female who takes no cr*p. If you step out of line you know about it. So I think that helps. I am always on the lookout for fall outs between the boys and will be especially vigilant this weekend and for the coming weeks as the go into a new hutch as new hutch = new territory = new dominance display.
 
Reenie said:
All sounding very positive now. When I first got my boys, they went through a phase where two of them were having a bit of a go at each other, and Chicco got quite a big scratch on his nose, but it's been fine most of the time since then. It sounds as though your herd have worked through the worst of it, and the boar has his little scar to make him tough looking (even if, in reality he's hen pecked by one of his wives lol)
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I really hope so... I've just started another thread as I'm wondering how long I should leave them to work things out. The tension levels are still high. I feel like none of them have had a good rest in days! :no: It's really difficult to know whether you're best to leave them because they are working through things, or whether you're ignoring the signs that it's never going to work... I just want happy piggies!
 
Betsy said:
I know how you feel. I bonded 2 boars with 3 sows last year hoping they would all get on as I read everything I could about bonding and everything said DO NOT PUT IN 2 BOARS WITH SOWS. Well I did and everybody gets on with everybody. The boars are brothers and were extremely well bonded prior to neutering and going in with the sows and I have a very dominant female who takes no cr*p. If you step out of line you know about it. So I think that helps. I am always on the lookout for fall outs between the boys and will be especially vigilant this weekend and for the coming weeks as the go into a new hutch as new hutch = new territory = new dominance display.
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Wishing you all the best for the cage move. I guess I'm just new to dealing with this whole dominance thing. Last time I introduced babies to older gals with a very dominant top sow, so things were sorted in no time. Fingers crossed for both of our little herds!
 
kyliebowers said:
Wishing you all the best for the cage move. I guess I'm just new to dealing with this whole dominance thing. Last time I introduced babies to older gals with a very dominant top sow, so things were sorted in no time. Fingers crossed for both of our little herds!
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Absolutely! OH and son building hutch tomorrow.
 
My boar has been with 2 sows, I think it has been 4 months. He still rumble struts around the girls & makes a rumbling sound. He thinks he is boss, but the girls know better, they lead him a dogs life. Lol
 
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