Boar & baby sow

[MrPiggles]

Hi

Has anyone tried to bond a neutered boar with a young sow around 8 weeks old? Our boar is 1 year old and has been neutered for a couple of months. We are hoping to take him to meet some sows this weekend and wondered if anyone knew about the compatibility of this mix and if one sow or two would be best? Thanks!

 

[VickiA]

As with any bonding, mutual liking and compatibility are what really dictates whether a bonding will succeed or not. But the chances of success with a young sow are usually pretty good.

where are you taking him for the bonding? My word of caution would be if it’s not at a rescue, then I would actually recommend a full quarantine before introductions, as rescues usually quarantine for 2 weeks before offering bondings, to ensure that the piggy has no infections. Breeders are not so scrupulous and as e have seen evidence that some breeders have issues with fungal infections I’d be wary of goingfor an introduction without first quarantining any new arrival.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Has anyone tried to bond a neutered boar with a young sow around 8 weeks old? Our boar is 1 year old and has been neutered for a couple of months. We are hoping to take him to meet some sows this weekend and wondered if anyone knew about the compatibility of this mix and if one sow or two would be best? Thanks!

Hi!

At this young age bondings are usually successful as the baby girls are desperate for company but it all depends on whether they like each other ultimately; it is not 100%. Whether it is one or two girls is for you to decide.

You can find a video of 2 year old Dylan meeting ca. 8 weeks old Begw (who is the size of a ca. 3 weeks and who was surrendered into rescue as a no longer wanted boar) in our bonding guide in the baby bonding section.
Please give the babies plenty of space when bonding; the cage with Dylan is on the small side as it was an emergency foster adoptation-cum-quarantine (which Dylan shared) due to the mis-sexing and I was sure that Dylan was a very gentle 'daddy boar' from him minding a newly separated 3 weeks baby boar before. The baby boar dating video in the same section is more like it.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Please always double check the gender of any new piggies. If you are not adopting/rescue dating at a good rescue with a mandatory quarantine, then you have to be aware that there are some potential pitfalls for new piggies. In sows, there is always a certain risk that they may be already pregnant if they have been with a boar over 3 weeks due to bad practice or mis-sexing at any stage from the for sale or supply breeder for the pet shop to the pet shop itself.
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

Our list of recommended rescues that mostly offer rescure dating for single/bereaved guinea pigs to allow them to have a say in who they like and want to live with: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

 

[MrPiggles]

Thank you both that's really helpful and yes your right it all comes down to compatibility. We will see how he gets on with his rescue dating. I'm sure meeting so many lady pigs will make his day!