Opinions wanted please

[kayjay]

Can I please have everyone's opinions on what's best to do with Fudge

He's about 8/9 months old now and lives alone. I want to get him bonded with a friend but am going round in circles on what's best to do

1. Get him neutered and adopt a rescue sow
2. Buy a baby boar and introduce
3. Adopt a rescue boar and attempt to bond them

I've been on Barmy4Boars website and she reckons it's possible to bond two older boars but I'm not sure..

I've been recommended a vet in Warrington that a rescue uses for neutering, but I'm afraid there'll be complications...

Babies are great but when he gets older will they fight....

Any advice very welcome

 

[karenrgpr]

With babies its uncertain whether they'll fight- no guarantees. I sometimes pair up adult boars here but they go with the warning that fighting is possible though not likely as personality is developed. That said I had a pair of 12 month old brothers that started fighting.

No surgery is guaranteed trouble free. I've only had problems with post op abscesses which are easy to deal with. My own boars are all castrated and living with sows. One previously lived with a boar who he was paired with as a baby. When he was left on his own I had him castrated to live with a group of sows which he loves.

You can 'bond' older boars if you find the right matched pair, I disagree with all the forcing the issue stuff. You could go to a rescue and try to match him with a mild mannered boar with the understanding that you can return him if things go wrong when you get home, give yourself say 2 weeks.

Good luck

 

[gothchick1515]

I agree there is no guarentee but mine have never had a problem they chase a bit but not full on rowing! i would always go with the baby idea its my first port of call before operations x

 

[sars1359]

we put a baby ( Liquorice) with JD the other week and they got funny at first but theyre fine now

 

[kellyandpiggies]

I agree with Karen. Trying out a rescue sounds ideal

Uncle Ton has been with both an adult (Jin) then was on his own for just over a year then paired up with a baby (Guinea). Both times he got along fine.

If you know what your fella would like and could put up with then that helps

Good luck!

 

[kayjay]

He's very laid back and cheeky..... goes absolutely mad if he catches a whiff of the girls, so I suspect he'd prefer a girlfriend. My preference would be to adopt a boar to pair him with but if he was neutered I'd adopt a sow rather than pairing him with my current girls and upsetting their twosome

 

[hils78]

If I were you : I would have him castrated because I've seen what happens when a newly bonded pair of boys get a wiff of a girl!
I picked up my sisters boar when I went to visit her & I was wearing the same clothes that I was wearing when I gave one of my sows a cuddle 5 hours previously. Well Stingo went crazy & then went for a hump fest on poor little Pumpkin.

If you've room for an extra hutch (although you've already got him in a seperate one anyway so I suppose you do have the room) go for 2 more girls!

 

[minky]

I had my boys first from 8 weeks of age, they got along fine until i had the girls and Nigel would never leave sammy alone and was trying to hump him all the time it got to one afternoon they had a fight where i reluctantly had to seperate them, i tried again after they were apart but within minutes they were at it again

I had Sammy done just over a week ago i dont regret it at all because at least he can be with the girls as he just seems so unhappy on his own. Nigel the other boar isnt that bothered but i shall in time probably get him done

at the end of the day its your choice you know your boy better i like the idea that he can happily live with the sows

Good luck whichever you decide

 

[sammyroo]

I bonded two adult boars successfully  a few months ago, BUT:

a) We do not have, and will not get, any sows

b) Bonding took time and patience.

If our two are anything to go by, 'blind-dating' adult boars is a complete waste of time - OK, you may be really lucky and find two who take to each other at once, but our two would not have done. If we had tried to introduce them the first day, without giving them time to get used to each other at a distance, we would likely have been left with the impression they were going to hate each other - yet after three weeks, they became good friends.

If you are keeping sows as well, then you are probably better to have your boar(s) neutered and put each one with his own sow(s).

 

[spaz]

I was in the same situation as you with my Spaz. I got him a baby boar. I havn't tried it, but I don't see a problem with getting a baby sow. Except them making babies. You could always neuter him, but I would be scared something would happen. I think by getting a baby you would have a greater chance of success. Good luck!