Introducing Boar To 2 Sows

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Tigger&Eeyore

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Hi all,

I have a single boar, Eeyore (2 years old) at the moment after my second piggy sadly passed away recently.
I am adopting 2 girls tomorrow (2 years old) and have Eeyore booked in to get neutered next Thursday. I will be leaving them apart for 6 weeks obviously.

I’m looking for some advice on what I can do in the next 6 weeks to increase the likelihood of a successful bonding when they are eventually introduced together.

When I first introduced my 2 boars, 1 was in a separate cage in the same room for 3 weeks with a sheet over cage so they could talk to and smell each other but not see each other. When they then came to be introduced in a neutral environment it was a huge success.

I’m thinking I keep them a good distance from Eeyores cage for the first 2 weeks so they can’t see each other, bit closer for weeks 3 and 4 so they can see each her but not touch and maybe change some items between the cages so they get used to the smell and I can observe their behaviour. I then thought weeks 5 & 6 I could put their cages right next to each other / joining so that they can touch noses and interact.

All advice very welcome :)
 
Your plan sounds good, and it seems you know exactly what you are doing.

I guess the only thing I would add is to make sure they Eeyore (love the name) is in a VERY secure cage whilst in the same room as the girls, until he is 6 weeks post op.
There have been some stories on here of boars performing amazing acrobatics to reach females, with obvious results.
 
A few years ago - before I found this forum I bonded s bereaved boar with 2 sows.
I followed the best advice I could find but the piggies had their own plans.
On first meeting Titus was beside himself with excitement and Tamar the older sow decided she liked his cage better than hers so she just walked in followed by her daughter Merab.
No problems and 3 happy piggies.
Hope yours goes as well.
Keep us posted
 
Tigger&Eeyore said:
Hi all,

I have a single boar, Eeyore (2 years old) at the moment after my second piggy sadly passed away recently.
I am adopting 2 girls tomorrow (2 years old) and have Eeyore booked in to get neutered next Thursday. I will be leaving them apart for 6 weeks obviously.

I’m looking for some advice on what I can do in the next 6 weeks to increase the likelihood of a successful bonding when they are eventually introduced together.

When I first introduced my 2 boars, 1 was in a separate cage in the same room for 3 weeks with a sheet over cage so they could talk to and smell each other but not see each other. When they then came to be introduced in a neutral environment it was a huge success.

I’m thinking I keep them a good distance from Eeyores cage for the first 2 weeks so they can’t see each other, bit closer for weeks 3 and 4 so they can see each her but not touch and maybe change some items between the cages so they get used to the smell and I can observe their behaviour. I then thought weeks 5 & 6 I could put their cages right next to each other / joining so that they can touch noses and interact.

All advice very welcome :)
Click to expand...

Hi! You can simply keep them next to each other with interaction right from the word go, provided that you make sure that he cannot get into the girls' cage. Boars can be amazingly agile, athletic and persistent if a sow is in season. That way, they have much more time to get used to each other, which will hopefully boost the chances of acceptance from the sows. He's also got more time to get over his first overexcitement of smelling sow pheromones.
 
Hi all,

Thanks for replies! I’m pleased to hear that they can be housed side by side from day 1 (which is tomorrow - so excited!)
I had an idea which I wanted to run by you. I’m conscious that they will both be in C&C cages which don’t have a roof and from what you’ve said there is every possibility that Eeyore could jump over (as hard as I find this to imagine)! He will be overly excited though that’s for sure!

How about I keep them in a smaller pet shop cage within a larger C&C cage and keep them secure within the pet shop cage when no one is home to watch them but then open the smaller cage up to the larger C&C cage when someone is home (evenings and weekends). The smaller pet shop cage would be much more secure than the C&C cage.

What are your thoughts?
 
To be honest I wouldn't take the risk.
Is it possible to add a roof of some sort just to Eeyore's cage?
Even if you are home, if he does get into the girls cage, it may well be too late by the time you intervene - it really can happen in a matter of seconds!
 
Could you not attach a partial roof (so 2 grids) to the top of his cage where it meets the girlies? I have a C&C cage and due to having a cat I've had various lid set ups I've played around with :)
 
Hi all,
I’ve got a sheet covering the top for now and will add a roof today - I just need to get some cable ties. Will it be enough just to put a roof on the side of the cage he is sharing with the girls?
The introductions seem to have gone well since get arrived yesterday afternoon (through the cage obviously) but after playing it quite cool yesterday, he is desperately trying to knaw his way through the wire today. He is being relentless and I’m worried he is going to hurt himself and him teeth. Should I be concerned?
 
Hi all,
Any advice on dealing with my boar and the excitement that has come with living next door to 2 gorgeous girls? It has been 2 days and he continues pacing along the shared wall like he is border security. He is incessantly gnawing the cage. He doesn’t seem to be able to relax and sleep for long. He is getting neutered on Thursday (not that I imagine he will be any different!)
Xx
 
Its all the sow pheromones that have sent him into a frenzy! Just make sure that he CANNOT get into the girls enclosure.
 
I’m happy the cage is totally secure and has a roof on the side he shares with the girls. It is cable tie galore!
So I shouldn’t be worried? Will he be like this for the next 6 weeks until he properly meets the girls or is he likely to calm down a bit?
 
Wait until he meets the girls!
That will be fun at first.
He’ll do his best to mate with them but will settle down.
 
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