Need some advice.

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rainbowstarsx

rainbowstarsx

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Okay.
So Damon has been on his own since April, and he has started to become quite lonely. He doesn't mweep and he's very quiet. So I'm thinking of getting him a friend.
I don't want to get him neutered, I really don't want to risk it with him as he's my little baby :)

I've looked at rescues, pets at home and on preloved, and haven't really seen anything. I am disgusted at Pets@Home for putting their prices up - £25 each.
I'd love to rescue, but there's no single piggies, and the only 1 in the RSPCA they want to pair with a female (he's neutered)
I've found a lady who lives around the corner from me on Preloved, who is rehoming 3 boys and she would rehome to me 1 of them.

Now, I'm asking for your advice.
Damon is 8 months old, I got him in November and he was 8 weeks, therefore I'm guessing he is more 8/9 months. The lady said that "Squeak" is 8 months too.
Will they be out of their teenage hormonal stage?
I'm worried about them fighting, although I have learnt from my past mistakes, and I know to introduce them slowly.
I have a 2 tier cage, and am also thinking of C&C too, with them having as much space as I can give them.

Do you think this is a silly idea? Can you give me any more advice?
Thanks so much everyone in advance.

Sam x
 
Hi Love, would she consider 'dating' so they can at least meet each other and see if they can bond at all ? maybe you could take around a neutral clean cage for them to meet? it would have to be large tho......... gosh i'm just thinking......
I'd have a chat to her, say you'd consider but you really need to know if they'd be happy, you don't want to get him and then find out neither is happy :(
sorry.............. just my thought

GOOD LUCK LOVE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
After struggling with this myself recently, I can only really recommend a boar date. So like Glynis said pop him to the lady down the road and try him out with one, two or maybe all three and see which one he gets on with.

They WILL be at their hormonal stage and it will be tough, but perservere.

If they don't get along you'll be left with two grumpy piggies in two cages/hutches.

I hope he finds a friend soon though.

Good luck :)
 
Both boarswould be at a very difficult stage - 8-10 months old is often the most hormonal phase.

So if you want to try, I would strongly adivce only if you can date the two boars on neutral ground.

Otherwise I would keep my eyes open and wait, knowing that with every passing week it will be one hormonal week less you have to get Damon through - and that his chances of successfully bonding him will correspondingly go up!
 
I just really don't know what to do. I know Damon would be better off with a friend, but I'm not sure if I could cope if they fought.
I'm trying to look for any babies or older boys, therefore I can at least hope they'll be old enough to not fight.
 
rainbowstarsx said:
Okay.
So Damon has been on his own since April, and he has started to become quite lonely. He doesn't mweep and he's very quiet. So I'm thinking of getting him a friend.
I don't want to get him neutered, I really don't want to risk it with him as he's my little baby :)

I've looked at rescues, pets at home and on preloved, and haven't really seen anything. I am disgusted at Pets@Home for putting their prices up - £25 each.
I'd love to rescue, but there's no single piggies, and the only 1 in the RSPCA they want to pair with a female (he's neutered)
I've found a lady who lives around the corner from me on Preloved, who is rehoming 3 boys and she would rehome to me 1 of them.

Now, I'm asking for your advice.
Damon is 8 months old, I got him in November and he was 8 weeks, therefore I'm guessing he is more 8/9 months. The lady said that "Squeak" is 8 months too.
Will they be out of their teenage hormonal stage?
I'm worried about them fighting, although I have learnt from my past mistakes, and I know to introduce them slowly.
I have a 2 tier cage, and am also thinking of C&C too, with them having as much space as I can give them.

Do you think this is a silly idea? Can you give me any more advice?
Thanks so much everyone in advance.

Sam x
Click to expand...

8 months is a very risky age to introduce males to one another. If you're doubting it and having to ask, then I think you already know the answer. If you're prepared to have two lone males then go for it and give the little one a good home but as a pairing, I'd suggest having a serious think about Damon's lifestyle, ask yourself is he acting normally? Eating, drinking, grooming fine? Does he whistle for attention?

A lonely pig will go off their food, not care about their general health and can become needy and attention seeking. If he's just hiding away in his house but still acting like a normal pig, I'd say he's coping well with being on his own and not lonely at all. They don't actually possess the emotion to feel lonely anyway, it's just because they're a herd animal people believe if they're on their own, they'll feel lonely, it just isn't the case and your boy is likely perfectly fine on his own and it's usually the owner putting their own emotion into it.

If you are concerned that he's going off his food etc, then he IS suffering by being on his own and will need a 'friend' of a much younger age. If he's an out-going, chatty, hyperactive pig, then he'd need a young submissive/nervous pig to live with. If he's in-fact submissive, nervous and withdrawn, he'll be fine with a pig who HE could look up to, in a sense, for reassurance and safety, or even a pig who has the same attitude as he does, but still younger than him as it's much safer for both.

Sorry this is long-winded. I do like to be thorough in my replies so I know I've said everything that's necessary :)
 
I don't know if this helps, but when my piggie's friend passed away she was only 4; we were convinced she'd pine & were ready to get another for her, but actually she was fine, & only recently died aged 7, so spent 3 years alone. I am not saying Damon should live alone, he is far too young for that, but maybe for a few month he would be okay until you got a baby boar?
As long as he is eating & drinking he will be fine; it will seem quieter as he won't have anyone to chat to. It seemed quiet when we lost the first one, but our lone piggie actually thrived as she was the underpig before if you see what I mean :) Give him lots of lap time & cuddles, rearrange his pen a few times to keep him interested, I am sure he will be fine until you think he is a little more "mature" & ready for a new friend!
 
I've actually only heard him mweep once the whole time I've had him.
He was bought with another, and I introduced 2 others and they all fought. Therefore I'm nervous about risking.
I think that "lilmisscavy" has made my decision - I think I will wait until he is a little more mature, I'd love to get him a female, but a spayed sow is like gold dust, so I've been told.

He is totally fine, just really quiet.
I've had a lone piggie before and he used to make lots of noise, and be really talkative. It's just strange not hearing a peep from him.
Thanks so much x
 
I think there are a few Rescues that only have neutered piggies, so you may be able to find him a girly instead :) in which case they may make a hell of a racket together :)) Good luck!
 
I have very recently had the same issue. My piggie, Fuzzy, had his pal, Peanut die unexpectedly in February and because Fuzzy was the more dominant pig i wasn't sure about getting him a friend. But then I heard about boar dating. Fuzzy is nearly 2 by the way. I took him to a rescue called The Potteries in stoke on trent and he was matched up with a six week old boar called Tyler and they're getting on very well. I would give it a couple of months and maybe look into this option as its just nice, in my opinion anyway for them to have a friend to chat to and cuddle up to.
 
rainbowstarsx said:
I've actually only heard him mweep once the whole time I've had him.
He was bought with another, and I introduced 2 others and they all fought. Therefore I'm nervous about risking.
I think that "lilmisscavy" has made my decision - I think I will wait until he is a little more mature, I'd love to get him a female, but a spayed sow is like gold dust, so I've been told.

He is totally fine, just really quiet.
I've had a lone piggie before and he used to make lots of noise, and be really talkative. It's just strange not hearing a peep from him.
Thanks so much x
Click to expand...

One of my boars, Jasper, he doesn't talk either and I've had him over 2 years. Also, I forgot that another of my boars, Robin, who turned a year old back in May, was with his old cage-mate, Sam, for just a couple of months before Sam passed away. With Robin's personality, I couldn't house him with my other two lone males (who are brothers and had a fight last year resulting in them having to be separated) because he's just got a really dominant attitude about him that annoys the other males lol, so he's had to be on his own since last October, but it doesn't bother him at all. He lives outside with Oliver across the patio from him, Harvey and Jasper to the left of him and if one whistles, they usually all whistle lol. They can smell each other more than anything else so Robin knows the others are there just without the risk of fights :)
 
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