New boar as companion for older boar

Little Piglets

Little Piglets

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 8, 2018
Messages
263
Reaction score
150
Points
310
Location
US
My boar is about 5 months old (he's huge though) and has been on his own for awhile, though he was introduced to pups on/off and is friendly (always does the ear tug thing to newcomers).


Finally found him a companion. Young boar maybe 4-5 weeks old that was with it's brother that looked identical to him. They seem to be hitting it off atm. My older boar did the ear tug thing, rumbles a bit, half-heartedly chases, etc.. Right now, they seem to have bouts of playing/chasing/popcorning, so fingers crossed. No chattering or nipping (yet).


Anything I should be on the look out for? Particularly, subtle clues?
 
There is a guide on here about boars and dominance. I don’t know how to attach links to it, sorry.
As long as no blood is drawn and there isn’t a full on fur flying fight, then leave them to it.
Make sure you have two of all equipment - two bowls, two bottles, two hay piles. Make sure to use open ended hidey houses so that no pig gets cornered. Also ensure their cage is big enough - Boars need more room than sows so their recommended cage size is larger
 
Little Piglets said:
My boar is about 5 months old (he's huge though) and has been on his own for awhile, though he was introduced to pups on/off and is friendly (always does the ear tug thing to newcomers).


Finally found him a companion. Young boar maybe 4-5 weeks old that was with it's brother that looked identical to him. They seem to be hitting it off atm. My older boar did the ear tug thing, rumbles a bit, half-heartedly chases, etc.. Right now, they seem to have bouts of playing/chasing/popcorning, so fingers crossed. No chattering or nipping (yet).


Anything I should be on the look out for? Particularly, subtle clues?
Click to expand...

Hi!

It sounds like it is going well.

Please read these guides here. You should find them very helpful:
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

This is for the coming months when your baby is coming into the big hormones, too. The guide also contains plenty of tips on what you can do to minimise problems during puberty.
Because of the age difference, you have upped the chances a bit in that only one boy is hopefully suffering a big hormone surge at any given point and not both.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
Cage is an interim cage atm. Moving things around for C&C space (2 boars in one, 4 pup sows + mom in another; different ends of a larger room unless it becomes an issue then it'll be different rooms).

@Wiebke You stated "you have upped the chances a bit in that only one boy is hopefully suffering a big hormone surge at any given point and not both. " Are you saying the odds have decreased or increased, due to the age difference?

Yeah, my older boar is surprisingly gentle, so hopefully that translates well into the union. Every time I've taken the new guy out (he needed a bath and lap times) my older guy stands on a pipe near the door and makes a commotion until he's put back.
 
Little Piglets said:
Cage is an interim cage atm. Moving things around for C&C space (2 boars in one, 4 pup sows + mom in another; different ends of a larger room unless it becomes an issue then it'll be different rooms).

@Wiebke You stated "you have upped the chances a bit in that only one boy is hopefully suffering a big hormone surge at any given point and not both. " Are you saying the odds have decreased or increased, due to the age difference?

Yeah, my older boar is surprisingly gentle, so hopefully that translates well into the union. Every time I've taken the new guy out (he needed a bath and lap times) my older guy stands on a pipe near the door and makes a commotion until he's put back.
Click to expand...

The chances are greater and the risk is somewhat decreased when you haven't got two boys hitting all the testosterone spikes at the same time.
 
Got them in the larger cage and they seem to be hitting it off. Have some 3" pipe sections that are big enough for smaller gp but right at the limit for the adult boar, so he won't go in them though he technically can fit. Piping is about 2 feet long and while they are playing, the little guy runs in one end, and adult instead of chasing behind immediately runs to the other end and ends up there exactly as the little guy exits. Pretty funny tbh as he's clearly anticipating what the little guy is doing. If the little guy stops in the pipe, the older boar will stop, put his front legs on the pipe, then wait until the little guy moves inside then rushes to the other end. Dunno if he's feeling the vibrations or going off sound or maybe both. He's getting wiser though.

Put a freshly cleaned hammock back in (adult boar is familiar with it and he usually marks it) and he's letting the little guy climb in it when he's not in it. Have mutal bum sniffing and the little guy is starting to follow him and vice-versa. The little guy is still skittish and doesn't seem to understand what a veggie is yet (he won't eat anything veggie-wise yet that I've seen, though he's eating hay and drinks) whereas my sow pups were eating from the hand pretty early and all wheek like crazy for veggies, opening the fridge, coming home, etc.. Have to wonder how much the little guy was actually handled as he's way behind my girl pups.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top