Sow bonding

[Mon59]

Hi,

I have read the guides, particularly that sow bonding can be difficult.

Also read some very sad new posts about losses in the last few days. I was told to start a new thread rather than jump on somebody’s grief.

I have two girls aged about 3 years. One has developed a very nasty UTI and possible stones . A further trip to the Vets tomorrow and I am already heartbroken, and not at all hopeful for outlook.

What would be the best ‘option’ for a companion for my remaining sow . The guides say sow bonding often fails.

A neutered older boar?
An unneuterered boar ? remaining pig already spayed
A younger sow
An older sow ?

Some advice would lessen the possible outcome because I love both of them. Sorry if this is a silly question covered somewhere else.

Perhaps a story from someone with a 2 sows who faced this dilemma “?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this. Fingers crossed there isn’t bad news on the horizon and that she makes a good recovery.

The reality is that while an older sow can be less willing to accept new company, your sows aren’t particularly old so it is not possible to say that a bonding is likely to fail. Many sows are happily rebonded following the passing of a friend.

When bonding it comes down to compatibility first and foremost so there isn’t really a way to know for sure what will work until you try. With that said, a younger sow or a boar would be the pairings with the best chances.

 

[Mon59]

That’s very helpful . Thank you.

How do you go about bonding ‘on trial’ ? I understand neutral territory etc, but if you get a new pig and it fails, do you just leave them separated ?

That’s why I wanted the most likely new mate. There is an excellent GP rescue near me and I could get another very easily that I liked ….but what ?.

I couldn’t face losing the other one .

 

[Piggies&buns]

The most likely doesn’t mean compatibility - we can say a boar is the most likely but she could reject any number of boars before finding the right one.

If you can go to a rescue centre with your girl and allow her to pick her own new friend via speed dating then you are reducing risk of failure - You quite simply will not bring home a piggy your piggy has not accepted (it doesn’t 100% guarantee a successful bonding ie if they then can’t form a hierarchy, but if you’ve got acceptance then it obviously much increases the chances). You then bring them home in separate carriers (they won’t be bonded so can’t come home together), and continue bonding them yourself at home.

If you go to a rescue and pick up a piggy yourself without taking your girl, then this has all the risk of any on spec bonding.
You bring a new piggy home and will then have to see how it goes.

If the bonding fails, then you can either keep them side by side or return new piggy to the rescue and try another. You would have to ask the rescue what their policy is - they may be fine with a side by side arrangement, equally they may have other options they’d prefer you to try.

 

[Mon59]

It’s not about bonding yet but appreciate the advice.

Vet has given more antibiotics today and further tests ordered (scans or X-rays) Apparently stones in females not as potentially bad as boars which makes sense. Stones or recurrent cystitis most likely. No unusual anatomy on examination.