Piggy dilemma

[gus and jack]

Well I had a bonded pair of boys wo got on really well, then I introduced a baby boar into the cage next door with my other boar, (separated by a grid wall) It sent my bonded pair a bit loopy and they had a bit of a scrap and one of the boys got bitten. I separated them and I've tentatively tried to reintroduce them. They can't seem to settle, they were together for a whole day (in a pen next to my bed during the night) but even though they didn't resolve to fighting there was plenty of regular teeth chattering. When I first introduced them they didn' chatter at all, they rumbled and humped each other but they were friends and in the same cage within a week of introduction.
I don't want to push the matter too mch because if they've already had a scrap the likelihood is they'll have another one if I rush them. My other idea was to get them neutered and get them a girlfriend each since they are both about 1. The problem is my OH really doesn't want me to have any more pigs because I have 4 already and they live inside. He doesn't like sharing the flat with animals.

Anyone got any syggestions for the re-bonding or some suggestions in trying to persuade my OH. I'm completely stuck. I don't like keeping them in cages on their own even if they share a comon wall.

 

[Sian]

Sorry to hear this. I wouldn't have thought the baby boar would have caused them to fall out as you have him separate & hear your single boar? :-\

Could you introduce one of these boys (from the once bonded pair) with your single older boy & the baby to the other boy (from the once bonded pair)? Thats the only compromise I can think of to keep your OH sweet

 

[gus and jack]

I did think about splitting the other pair but after thinking about it I didn't want to split an already bonded pair in the hopes that I would end up with two pairs when I could quite as easily end up with 4 pigs all on their own. Blooming pigs, well I say that and it was my fault for not thinking about where I put the new pig. It was definately the new pig that upset them even though they were separate. They could still see and smell each other as well as interact through the grids. It made the bottom pig of the bonded pair want to dominate the baby which made the boss pig want to kick his cage mate into touch for daring to rumble around the cage. I've mentioned getting the boys done a few times to my OH but he's not having any of it at the minute. May take me quite a while to bring him round and I'm not sure he's going to go for it.

 

[Sian]

Oh I see, I didn't realize you had already bonded baby with the other pig. Oh dear! Sorry I can't help, hopefully someone else will have another suggestion. :-\

 

[MemberY]

A similar thing happened to me. Lennie and Timmy were sort of bonded (well it wasnt all sweetness lets say!) and I got another 2 bonded boars, but they live above my other two. I dont know if it was the smell of the new boys that started my two off fighting or wether it would have happened anyway, but they did and now live apart but next to eachother, so peace reigns once more ;D
I would honestly say that now they have fallen out, the hope of them living together happily is poor. I would keep your newly bonded pair together and see how Gus and Jack get on at floor time together, but keep them living apart for now. If floor time presents no probs in a few weeks time then it may be possible to re bond them in a completely clean cage.
Good luck