Trio of boars

[Rachel88]

Hi all,
I was hoping you could offer some advice, we have a trio of boar brothers(Gizmo, ziggy and cookie) and unsurprisingly this evening things have taken a turn and they are no longer happy to just chill with each other and we have noticed a nip to both Gizmo and Ziggy’s ear. Cookie is the one causing upset/trouble so we have separated him into an adjacent area, although he’s not happy with it and is trying his hardest to get back to his brothers
We have their mum Winnie who has recently been bereaved, would it be best for us to neuter cookie and put him in with her? We have been looking at getting her a cage mate as she’s getting lonely but just really not sure what to do. Or would he be better suited with another boar?
Shes so gentle I worry that it won’t work out detergent them, also I know he has to be separate for at least 6 weeks after, will she be ok alone for that long.
Any advice greatly received thanks

Here’s some pics of our monkeys, Gizmo, Ziggy, Cookie and Winnie

 

[Siikibam]

Yes you could neuter him and put them together after the six weeks. In the meantime they could live alongside each other with interaction through the bars. Piggies communicate using body language as well.

The only thing you’d have to worry about then would be that you have to keep her away from the boar pair. Any whiff of her scent could cause a ruckus and fall out between the bonded pair. So if you can’t put the mum and neutered boar in a separate room then you have to house them at opposite ends of the same room. As a last resort you could stack the cages and have sow and boar pair at the bottom.

I’m afraid most boar trios don’t work out. But at least you have a plan b of sorts. If you can, please put the sow adjacent to the separated boar. But make sure he CANNOT escape and get into her cage. A determined piggy can surprise you with its Houdini moves.

PS you can’t know if it will work until you try to bond them.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,
I was hoping you could offer some advice, we have a trio of boar brothers(Gizmo, ziggy and cookie) and unsurprisingly this evening things have taken a turn and they are no longer happy to just chill with each other and we have noticed a nip to both Gizmo and Ziggy’s ear. Cookie is the one causing upset/trouble so we have separated him into an adjacent area, although he’s not happy with it and is trying his hardest to get back to his brothers
We have their mum Winnie who has recently been bereaved, would it be best for us to neuter cookie and put him in with her? We have been looking at getting her a cage mate as she’s getting lonely but just really not sure what to do. Or would he be better suited with another boar?
Shes so gentle I worry that it won’t work out detergent them, also I know he has to be separate for at least 6 weeks after, will she be ok alone for that long.
Any advice greatly received thanks

Here’s some pics of our monkeys, Gizmo, Ziggy, Cookie and Winnie

Hi!

I am very sorry for the fall-out. Teenage hormones can take over, especially with all three boys hitting them at the same time...

By all means consider neutering. Allow Cookie to spend his post op wait in an adjoining cage to Winnie with interaction through the bars (in a different room to his brothers!), so they can renew their realationship and make friends again through the bars. That should majorly improve acceptance and prevent pining for Winnie.

Here is our very comprehensive neutering information: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

 

[Rachel88]

Yes you could neuter him and put them together after the six weeks. In the meantime they could live alongside each other with interaction through the bars. Piggies communicate using body language as well.

The only thing you’d have to worry about then would be that you have to keep her away from the boar pair. Any whiff of her scent could cause a ruckus and fall out between the bonded pair. So if you can’t put the mum and neutered boar in a separate room then you have to house them at opposite ends of the same room. As a last resort you could stack the cages and have sow and boar pair at the bottom.

I’m afraid most boar trios don’t work out. But at least you have a plan b of sorts. If you can, please put the sow adjacent to the separated boar. But make sure he CANNOT escape and get into her cage. A determined piggy can surprise you with its Houdini moves.

PS you can’t know if it will work until you try to bond them.

Hiya thank you for responding
Winnie is currently in the living room and the boys are in the kitchen so separate rooms but no door between the too.

Cookie is currently adjacent to the boys set up and that are going mad trying to get to each other, so I’m worried that if I put him near Winnie he’ll get worse and as you say Houdini his way out. now our other two don’t seem to be leaving each other alone either and we definitely have the space to separate them

We brought Winnie and her cage mate from a shop, stupidly, and she turned out to be pregnant and not wanting to put the boys back into that environment we thought we keep them - no knowing the trials and tribulations we faced.

thanks again Rachel

 

[Rachel88]

Hi!

I am very sorry for the fall-out. Teenage hormones can take over, especially with all three boys hitting them at the same time...

By all means consider neutering. Allow Cookie to spend his post op wait in an adjoining cage to Winnie with interaction through the bars (in a different room to his brothers!), so they can renew their realationship and make friends again through the bars. That should majorly improve acceptance and prevent pining for Winnie.

Here is our very comprehensive neutering information: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Hi Wiebke, thank you for responding and your advice.

We are definitely going to get him neutered and may even get all 3 done. Do you think when he has been taken out of the situation the other 2 settle down with each other? I have only ever had sows so have no experience of boars. We just want them to have the best life possible and if we have to separate the 3 I’m not sure we can give them that

thanks again Rachel

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hiya thank you for responding
Winnie is currently in the living room and the boys are in the kitchen so separate rooms but no door between the too.

Cookie is currently adjacent to the boys set up and that are going mad trying to get to each other, so I’m worried that if I put him near Winnie he’ll get worse and as you say Houdini his way out. now our other two don’t seem to be leaving each other alone either and we definitely have the space to separate them

We brought Winnie and her cage mate from a shop, stupidly, and she turned out to be pregnant and not wanting to put the boys back into that environment we thought we keep them - no knowing the trials and tribulations we faced.

thanks again Rachel

You can put Winnie and your single boy in cages next to each other provided his cage is lidded so he can’t get out. That way both him and Winnie will be able to interact through the bars. But She must always be in a separate room to your boar pair though. if your single boy is neutered and bonded with her, they as a pair will need to be in a separate room at all times as the presence of a sow can cause problems for the boar pair.

Your boar pair may settle back down if they can’t see your single boy.

Neutering your boar pair will not make any difference to them. Neutering only means they can’t make babies, in a boar pair neutering is pointless as it won’t change their behaviour towards each other. The only benefit will be if their relationship fails, then they can be paired with females.

The key with boar pairs after character compatibility is a lot of room - they need a larger than average cage size of at least 150cm x 60cm. Always ensure two or three feeding stations and hay piles. Multiple hidey houses (I always go for more houses than boars) and always handle the dominant piggy first to respect the hierarchy.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Wiebke, thank you for responding and your advice.

We are definitely going to get him neutered and may even get all 3 done. Do you think when he has been taken out of the situation the other 2 settle down with each other? I have only ever had sows so have no experience of boars. We just want them to have the best life possible and if we have to separate the 3 I’m not sure we can give them that

thanks again Rachel

@Piggies&buns has given you the same answer as I would have.

Please note that neutering will not change a relationship or stop the teenage months as testosterone continues to be produces - you will see that when reading the neutering guide, which is taking you through exactly what neutering does and what it doesn't do. I really have made it as comprehensive as possible to allow you to make as informed a decision as possible. I also can't stress the need to find a good vet enough; that is not necessarily an exotics vet but one with plenty of practice in piggy neutering/operating and a good track record.

 

[Rachel88]

You can put Winnie and your single boy in cages next to each other provided his cage is lidded so he can’t get out. That way both him and Winnie will be able to interact through the bars. But She must always be in a separate room to your boar pair though. if your single boy is neutered and bonded with her, they as a pair will need to be in a separate room at all times as the presence of a sow can cause problems for the boar pair.

Your boar pair may settle back down if they can’t see your single boy.

Neutering your boar pair will not make any difference to them. Neutering only means they can’t make babies, in a boar pair neutering is pointless as it won’t change their behaviour towards each other. The only benefit will be if their relationship fails, then they can be paired with females.

The key with boar pairs after character compatibility is a lot of room - they need a larger than average cage size of at least 150cm x 60cm. Always ensure two or three feeding stations and hay piles. Multiple hidey houses (I always go for more houses than boars) and always handle the dominant piggy first to respect the hierarchy.

Thank you for your advice Piggies&Buns

I have have come home from work and the two left together seem to have settled down as had Cookie. I am going to call the vet to arrange for him to be neutered and go in with Winnie.
When he is to be ready to be slowly introduced to Winnie am I to expect the same amount of humping etc?
Thanks again

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes mounting, rumbling etc are all dominance behaviours and they will always continue. It’s just what piggies do!
Ensure when the time comes for introduction, that you follow the guides on how to do a bonding but you can cross that bridge when the time comes.

 

[Rachel88]

@Piggies&buns has given you the same answer as I would have.

Please note that neutering will not change a relationship or stop the teenage months as testosterone continues to be produces - you will see that when reading the neutering guide, which is taking you through exactly what neutering does and what it doesn't do. I really have made it as comprehensive as possible to allow you to make as informed a decision as possible. I also can't stress the need to find a good vet enough; that is not necessarily an exotics vet but one with plenty of practice in piggy neutering/operating and a good track record.

Thank you, I’m going to have a good read through this shortly. The seperation has had the desired affect at the moment which is good until he can be done. I have found a vet clinic in Northampton called the cat and rabbit clinic I believe. It has been recommended on here and also from other rescues in the arena.
Thanks again

 

[Rachel88]

Yes mounting, rumbling etc are all dominance behaviours and they will always continue. It’s just what piggies do!
Ensure when the time comes for introduction, that you follow the guides on how to do a bonding but you can cross that bridge when the time comes.

Great thank you, I’ve only ever had sows so this is all new to me. I don’t I will be on here then the time comes asking for more advice from you wonderful lot just want to make sure I’m doing the best possible for them all

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I’m going to have a good read through this shortly. The seperation has had the desired affect at the moment which is good until he can be done. I have found a vet clinic in Northampton called the cat and rabbit clinic I believe. It has been recommended on here and also from other rescues in the arena.
Thanks again

Best place for neutering! Nye (the little example boar in the neutering guide) has been neutered at the Cat & Rabbit, too, as have any of the boys I haven't adopted already neutered (several of which have also been done there)!
Make sure that you have your boy booked in on a day when Simon is doing the ops.

 

[anyar.dris]

Our main vets is Cat & Rabbit too, and we live in North Wales! We've just been there today and I can guarantee you, Simon and Kim Maddock are the best out of all the vets we've tried (and we've been to loads of them!).