Introducing a young boar to an older one- tething problems.

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Elle

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone can help by sharing experience of new piggy introductions. I got my first pig Laska, december 05 and bought a friend for her last April. Unfortunately it was buy one get two free and little Radish gave birth to Carrot, a boar, and Parsnip, a sow. The three girls share a hutch and get on great but just recently Carrot has been complaining a lot for no apparent reason and when I was offered the chance to rehome a young boar acouple of days ago I hoped this might offer a solution. I have been putting them together gradually and 'Jack' spent most of the time being chased and mounted by carrot but with no real agression. Last night was their first night together in the same cage and this morning carrot is sitting in one corner of the cage frozen but with not a mark on him. Jack is bimbling about in normal cavy fashion. What can have happened? Is this normal? Should I separate them? Help! :(
 
if i were you, i would leave them for now, but keep a REALLY close eye on them, I am no expert with this problem, but i think others will advise you to leave them if there is no actually fighting and blood being drawn, It's a case of working out whose boss pig. They should settle down, someone else might be able to help more.
 
Thanks, I am just watching them at the mo, there is definitely no biting/bleeding/nastiness going on, just this wierd subdued not moving thing on Carrot's part.
 
I have boars and have been through this. Rumbling noises and mounting are normal behaviour and common in boars, they are establishing a pecking order. Make sure they have 2 of everything..water bottles, food bowls and lots of hidey places and escape space. You need to start worrying if you hear teeth chattering combined with them facing eachother with reared heads. This means they are squaring up to fight. If they do start to fight, dont panic. Get a towel and throw it over them to disorientate them and then separate. Dont get your hands in there, otherwise ouch!
 
Lots of teeth chattering going on from Jack, Carrot not responding though, does this mean Jack is gonna be top pig or is it too early to tell?
 
Yep I reckon he will be top pig . . .

mine are sows but they sort the pecking order out in a similar way but much more ladylike ;D

Glad there is no fighting so far :)
 
Yeah with my three sows Laska is the boss lady and rumbles and circles like a boar to make sure everyone else knows it! Quietened down a bit now so hopefully things will work themselves out after a few days- it was just Carrot's statue impression that was scaring me- he's still not his lively self. :-\
Thanks!
 
Elle said:
Lots of teeth chattering going on from Jack, Carrot not responding though, does this mean Jack is gonna be top pig or is it too early to tell?
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If carrot is not responding, he has backed down and seems to be accepting Jack as top pig. Carrot may still have a go further down the line or may be quite happy being bosse4d around! They are funny and entertaining to watch but when they fight, its horrible :'(
 
gingerpig said:
mine are sows but they sort the pecking order out in a similar way but much more ladylike ;D
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;D ;D @ ladylike - 2 of my sows don't know what "ladylike"means - they're worse than all my boys put together ::)
 
I agree with everything thats been said, but keep a close eye...if they do fight DO NOT put your bare hand in to stop it because it hurts....it really really hurts :'( ;D ;D ;D Just throw a towel over them like lavenderjade suggested O0
 
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