[Piggies&buns, post: 2196850, member: 130015"]What would be the minimum recommended space between the cages of a pair of boars and a pair of sows? Is a 3ft gap between too close, I think it probably is, but just want to check? Would sows on top of boar cage be ok?
Would a second pair of boars and a 3ft gap be too close?
I obviously would not do a single thing that would jeopardise the relationship of my boys and particularly given they are at that difficult age (although they do have a good relationship at the moment) - 8 months and 9 months. Think I just need to get the possibility out of my system![/QUOTE]
Hi!
Sows should be out of sight and reach of pheromones from boars.
This means:
- ideally as far apart as possible or in another room; 3 ft should be just about OK as it is out of sharp sight range.
- the boars above the sows (pheromones don't rise)
- or if next to each other with an opaque divider that is higher and wider than the cages.
If you have young pre-puberty boars coming into a room with sows, then they it is not such a big problem (apart from days with strong seasons) as they will grow up being used to the presence of sows.
However introducing sows into a boar room or introducing teenage or adult bonded boar pairs into a sow room can indeed cause major problems up to fights and fall-outs.
If you keep boars on the same level as sows, you might want to consider neutering, especially if you have family or holiday sitters you can't trust 100%. Neutering does NOT calm down boars, but it can prevent accidental pregnancies if there is an unplanned break for freedom or somebody gets the daft idea that it would be lovely to let the piggies meet in your absence. It happens more often than you'd think!
I have boar pairs in my room of sows and mixed groups, but for that reason all boars are neutered. The table with the boar pair cages is above the ground floor and the boars are either adult neutered failed sow bonders or their (at the time of introduction) sub-teenage companions, which I have neutered as soon as possible. My current baby companion only gets supervised ground floor roaming time until he is safe. The babies still go through all the typical teenage hormone stage; neutering doesn't change that.
Mixed gender pairs (i.e. sows living with a neutered boar) fall under the sow rule.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
