Advice needed...

[Sharon xx]

...Hi there all xx. New here, I'm 45 and from MK, Bucks.

Despite having kept GP's all my life I'm only now for the first time ever introducing a neutered boar to a single sow. [I do have another pair of sows that live together]. The single sow [Petal] is three as is the boar. I was given the boar yesterday by a friend of mine from the RSPCA to see if he'll pair with my lonely girl. Her hutch mate died when she was six months old so she's been alone most of her life really.

They spent yesterday afternoon in the run on neutral ground. A bit of teeth chattering [mostly her], a bit of 'come 'ere lovely I'd like to show you a good time' [him ]. Then settled down to eat hay together. I separated them over night but placed the hutches face to face so they could see/hear/smell each other.

This morning back in the run, less chattering , less how's you father, still in their own 'corners' though like sparring boxers in the ring. Him in the shelter, her in the tube. He occasionally comes out to see if she's got rid of her headache and has changed her mind about the 'no sex on the first date' rule |) but she just runs off and will eventually turn round, front him and give him a hard stare :{ if he's persistent at which point he trundles off back to the shelter to look for more paracetamol mallethead. No biting [yet].

So my question is this ~ does this look promising? Should I continue on as I am, separating them at night and together in the run during the day? When should I attempt putting them in the same hutch? He's very gentle, not really very persistent about getting his wicked way. She's the one who's a bit antsy but happy to put him in his place without fighting [so far]. I'd like to see her choose to actually be with him though of her own volition.

I do have the option to return him and try a different neutered boar if this fails as I foster rabbits for the RSPCA and this boy has come from another lady who fosters GP's.

Thanks so much for reading thus far.

Sharon xx

 

[GPluver]

I'd say keep doing what you're doing I've gone through this twice with 2 of my boars and sows...I just put the boar in with the sow for the day and kept a good eye on them to see if they did all right together, i kept a good eye on them each day for a week to see no biting or any kind of fighting take place, and when i saw none and that they did all right together, i knew i could leave them over night together without waking up in the morning with an injured piggie
Sounds like your pigs are doin' ok together, i'd keep them in the same hutch for just a couple more days to make sure they're going to do ok together, and then it should be ok to leave them over night together

 

[Niki]

Hi Sharon, firstly welcome

What you describe is normal Chattering, mounting, brrring, rumblestrutting (hip swaying), chasing are all normal behaviours.

Sows are usually "the boss" & will make it quite clear to a boar that unwanted advances will not be tolerated either by a swift kick to the chops or a spray of urine to the face - this usually puts off a determined boar

I personally wouldn't separate them if they carry on acting as they are, with no fighting.
They have to become used to one another & will not necessarily be cuddled up to one another immediately or if ever - some tolerate one another, others are totally loved up.
I've had neutered boar/sow pairings where they did indeed love one another yet didn't lay together, it depends on the individual piggies.

 

[Sharon xx]

Ahhh thanks guys. Yes, I did another night apart but they're together tonight and all seems fine. I shall go out again and check later but they do seem quite loved up. Yesterday afternoon things took an obvious change and she started following him and they were doing alot of 'kissing' [tis the only way to describe it]. Then they went into the shelter together [tut tut]. So I knew I was onto a winner.

Niki ~

swift kick to the chops or a spray of urine to the face - this usually puts off a determined boar

~ yep that'd stop me stone dead I reckon lol. She's very good at putting him in his place but she's quite nice about it, nothing nasty,

I'm actually down for another bonded pair from the RSPCA so I'll let you know how that goes. I'll have three pairs of piggies then and one pair of bunnies hopefully.

The site is great and I've learnt such alot. Even bought some different dry food today after reading the reviews done on the food thread. I'll be back.

Thanks again both of you.

Sharon xx

 

[Emma Lou]

Glad to hear you piggies seem to have bonded Sharon x

 

[Lulie]

'come 'ere lovely I'd like to show you a good time' [him ]

LOL! this made me laugh.

Sounds like they are doing ok though, aslong as they don't start biting for blood I wouldn't worry too much.. Piggie arguments look "harsh" to us but really, its just the piggie way.

My boys have been together for about 3-4 months now and I still wouldn't call them bonded. They don't really like each other that much, but they have never injured each other, and that's the most important thing.

Good luck!