Is there a "right time" to bond babies ?

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MarthaAndMaud

MarthaAndMaud

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I an currently caring for 3 sows and 2 boars, all identical, with one exception that one has a white foot. These babies are 4 weeks old today.
I also have 3 other pups at approx 1 week old. 1 sow and 2 boars. These are all different colours. For ease of re-homing, as it will make it easier if they are not offered as identical pairs I would like to bond the pups with the older ones. Of course there will be a few weeks before I can remove the boars from mum but once this has been done, is there any "right time" to introduce the 4 baby boars in hopes that the identical ones will pair with one from the other family?

I hope this makes sense!

Claire
 
Hi Claire

I think it's sometimes down to luck rather than judgement - some of them get on, some don't, no matter what age. I had two very young ones (5 - 6 weeks) from different litters that I've tried to bond but to be honest I don't think they're doing to stick - they just don't like each other, even at that age they're rumbling and pretending to be big boys!

No harm in trying them once they're big enough to be away from Mum - but perhaps my two were too similar in age / size / character. Older boar and v. young boar is supposed to work well too but I guess this isn't the point!

I'd be tempted to leave the 2 new boars from the same litter together and they will probably have more chance of making it as a bonded pair? But I see the problem with the other litter all being identical!

Good luck

Sophie
x
 
Thanks Sophie. I'll just introduce them all on neutral territory in a few weeks time and just see how it goes I guess.

Tried to bond Fossil the single sheltie the other day but it was a huge disaster. Fossil just turned with intentions to kill. Maybe I could try one of the twins with another lonely boar that I have of about 4 months old. Only he's a big piggy. He just stood there and took the full force of Fossil's cruel intentions so he might be Ok with a smaller companion.

What fun and games!

Claire
x
 
I mix boys in at 3-4 weeks when they are seperated from Mum, I try to keep sibling pairs togther as they have a good chance of getting on but with boys you never know!
As Sophie said younger boy and older boys can work well but when the younger one reaches six months or so they can go through a hormonal hump as I call it which can cause them to fall out.
I would not put them all topgether as a fiour though as in groups the bonding and how strong it is will not be very clear, Kiki and Snowy were in a group of 4 and did not seem that bothered about each other kiki was always a little stroppy to Snowy but after dating with a different pig it was clear Kiki really needed to stay with Snowy as she was far more attatched than expected.
You same coloured boys weill have 2 weeks to wait before they will be joined by younger boys in this time they will sart establishing dominance and settling a few differences, if then you add 2 more boys this process has to start again in quadrouplet (if that is even a word!) as all the boys will have to sort out a pecking order. If the brothers have good relationships before they are put i a four and the four breaks down you run the risk of the brotheres not getting on again.
It is a tricky one, I can see your point from the re-homing point of view but i do try personally to keep sibling pairs together. They sort out ominace issues early but sometimes it does happen that they are so fairly matched in size and character they fall out. Boys are never easy!
I do make sure though that they are housed in their pairs a good while before they are re-homed so I have a good idea of how they get on as i worry that they might fall out when they go to their new home if they have not been 'road tested' as a pair first if housed in a group before that O0
I have a single baby boys here that is about 2 weeks (who I will try and re-home as a copanion to an older boar or pair to an older boar here) so if you find you have them falling out etc I do have a little boy that could be dated with if necessary.
good luck
 
i always have girls but i believe siblings are more than likely to get on well together than two strangers. really hoping things work out which ever way you go. sending hugs and good vibes :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
stargrrlclaire said:
how did you get on?
Click to expand...


From experience I can now honestly say there is no right or wrong time to bond babies. Basically if they're going to fall out, be it young or old, they will do it anyway.

The buff piggies, apart from one of the sows, have now all be re-homed and went to their new homes as an identical pair.
Thanks for asking.
Claire
xx
 
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