Timing of adding to my boars

[alexr]

Hello,

For a while I’ve had a slightly unusual boar set-up. I have a boar pair called Hamish and Herbert. I also have two boar singles, Rupert and Algernon, who came as a pair but swiftly fell out.

Hamish, my old man, lives with Herbert but has happily spent time each day with the singles. This has worked well but at the back of my mind, I thought I should try and find friends for the singles. Especially as I noticed Hamish and Rupert seemed to be getting very close but this would have left Herbert as a lonely pig.

So, after pondering on this, I decided to take a risk the other day and brought home a single 4 month old boar. Initially, I introduced him to Rupert as he seems to be calming down from his aggressive teenage phase.

This went very well and they were able to live in the same cage that evening. I don’t want to speak too soon, but I have high hopes for this pairing.

Now I have two issues/questions:

1) Algernon is displaying great frustration and jealousy at being on his own and is constantly bar biting. I would like to find him a friend and there are a couple of single boars at the local rescue. I’m particularly tempted to try the old boar as Algy is still quite fiesty and he seems to respond well to Hamish. I’m hoping to find a boar with a similar temperament. Do you think it’s ok to do this soon or should I wait until I am confident Rupert is getting on with his friend in case I need to try the newbie (name still undecided) with Algernon?

2) Obviously Hamish has his special friend in Herbert but he loves spending time with Rupert and Algy. I have let him meet Rupert and the new piggie once and that was fine but I didn’t today as I don’t want Rupert to reject the newbie. Do Hamish’s meetings with his pals need to stop once they’ve got new friends? I feel so sad about this as they squeak for each other but I do want what’s best for all the boys.

Many thanks

Alex

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! You have to go with your gut instinct re. how stable the bond between Rupert and the newbie is and how dominant he is. At this age you should have got an impression because the bonding will have awakened his hormones.

To be honest, I would expect the meetings with Hamish having to stop with new companions because they could prove destabilising. Also be aware that each meeting with a new piggy is the start of a bonding process.

 

[alexr]

Hi! You have to go with your gut instinct re. how stable the bond between Rupert and the newbie is and how dominant he is. At this age you should have got an impression because the bonding will have awakened his hormones.

To be honest, I would expect the meetings with Hamish having to stop with new companions because they could prove destabilising. Also be aware that each meeting with a new piggy is the start of a bonding process.

Yes, it’s been a bit of a tough decision to make. I had pondered on getting Herbert, Rupert and Algy neutered so they could all have wives when Hamish sadly departs.

I have been very nervous about finding boars for Rupert and Algy as they both inflicted nasty injuries during their fall out and have both been very fiesty. However, I noticed Rupert has really started to calm down recently so I felt inclined to risk trying another piggy. It was either that or allow Hamish and Rupert to live together and find a new friend for Herbert but I didn’t think that was fair to him.

Rupert has been surprisingly calm with the newbie. Lots of humping and chasing to begin with but then sitting happily together. He does sometimes chase the youngster but not in the horribly aggressive way he used to chase Algy. Still early days and I worry what will happen when the youngster gets hormonal

I think a young boar may be the wrong choice for Algy. I’m thinking a firm but fair older chap like Hamish who will gently keep him in line is what’s needed.

I suppose I could try the older rescue boar with him and if that doesn’t work, I’ll just have to hope that somewhere amongst six piggies there are 3 harmonious pairs.

I do hope they aren’t all sad at not playing with Hamish. At least they are all next to each other so they can chat away. The set up has worked for a long time and I’ve always endured he plays with his cage mate last so they are settled for bed. He’s so lovely, he seems to get on with any pig. Sadly, no one else likes Herbie even though he’s the biggest of the lot.