Advice Please! Sow And Boar Bonding

[Koko]

Heya!

I recently adopted two baby sows from the rescue where I got my two boars (they had a fall out and had to be separated, hence we adopted girls to pair with them).

One pair gets along really well, like two peas in a pod.
The other pair I am slightly unsure about. The boar, Spud, he seems a little happier with the company, as he wasn't eating as much when he was alone.

But at the same time, it does not seem as though they are super happy together?

Spud seems to get annoyed often when the girl gets too close to him and he does a low rumble sound while rumblestrutting.

Would it be worth asking the rescue if we could try him with a different girl and see if they get along better?

 

[*kate*]

My Colin, who we adopted a few weeks ago, is exactly the same! He wheeks at nothing, squeeks really loudly and rumbles almost constantly whenever Hettie goes anywhere near him.

However, they also sleep together in the same box, a lot of the time, and also eat together so I haven't got a clue what his moaning is all about!

 

[Koko]

My Colin, who we adopted a few weeks ago, is exactly the same! He wheeks at nothing, squeeks really loudly and rumbles almost constantly whenever Hettie goes anywhere near him.

However, they also sleep together in the same box, a lot of the time, and also eat together so I haven't got a clue what is moaning is all about!

Aww unfortunately the two don't seem to sleep together either. Every time I look, they are in seperate hideys

 

[*kate*]

Aww unfortunately the two don't seem to sleep together either. Every time I look, they are in seperate hideys

They have only started sleeping together recently! I personally don't worry about his behaviour, I just let him get on with it! They never fight so I assume they like each other, deep down!

 

[Swissgreys]

To be honest it all sounds perfectly normal to me.
I have a boar sow pair and they rarely sleep together, but are extremely well bonded.The rumbling and slow walk are not signs that he is unhappy or angry - quite the opposite in fact.
I think it is a bit of a misconception that guinea pigs like to cuddle up together - this is usually the exception rather than the norm.
You might find this thread useful:
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

The first part mainly addresses the introduction phase, which you have already done, but the second part shows behaviors that indicate acceptance.

 

[Wiebke]

Not all bonds are totally lovey-dovey. Even well bonded piggies sleep in different hideys; in fact that is the rule and the snuggling up is rather the exception.

Neutered boars, especially freshly bonded ones, tend to lose their 'vocabulary' for a time and it all comes out as rumbling and rumblestrutting. I call these boars "rumble-singers". Nothing to worry about with that. They are just happy to be accepted by a sow and are telling her and the world what strapping lads they are and how much they are fancying her...

 

[*kate*]

Not all bonds are totally lovey-dovey. Even well bonded piggies sleep in different hideys; in fact that is the rule and the snuggling up is rather the exception.

Neutered boars, especially freshly bonded ones, tend to lose their 'vocabulary' for a time and it all comes out as rumbling and rumblestrutting. I call these boars "rumble-singers". Nothing to worry about with that. They are just happy to be accepted by a sow and are telling her and the world what strapping lads they are and how much they are fancying her...