bonding boars

[hollie123]

Hi, i am trying to bond 2 pairs of males to see if they will happily live together in one large enclosure rather than 2 hutch and runs. 1 pair are 3 and 1 years old, been together for the past 9 months or so, and the other pair are both 6 months.
I have so far let them have a sniff around on the floor together, i then put them in a 'neutral meeting place' where we had a bit of teeth chattering and plenty of humping, and now I have put all 4 of them in an indoor cage that neither pair has lived in before and that I disinfected beforehand. The teeth chattering is still there at times and so is the humping - one minute they are happily eating in the cage and ignoring each other, next something sets them all off and they start chasing each other again. Is this behaviour normal?

 

[lauralucy]

i dont personally have boys living together but i know its rare to get more than a pair of males to live together.

how big is your cage? and how long have they been in it together for?

 

[hollie123]

the cage is 120cm in length, I'm sure sure of the width as cant find tape measure, but its a ferplast cage - the one with the double doors opening at the front. All toys, bowls, water bottle etc are neutral. This is only their temporary accommodation though to bond them, if bonding is successful they will be living in a converted bird aviary that we are in the process of building ramps and shelves etc in for them to live in - i wanted to do the bonding indoors though and not outside so i could keep a close eye on them.

 

[lauralucy]

i think thats to small to have 2 boys in let alone 4, thats bound to cause arguements.

i'd be tempted to bond in room with a floor not carpet (kitchen/bathroom) when you have a day to keep an eye on them. but they have plenty of space.

 

[hollie123]

and only started bonding them today - started this morning with them out on the floor together and put them in a cage together around lunchtime. Have been keeping a close eye on them all day

 

[piggyfan]

It is very rare that more then two boars will live together. I really would not try to bond four as they may all fall out and have to live separately.

 

[hollie123]

many thanks for your help, I'm currently awaiting a phone call back from our local piggy rescue. I already have a group of bonded boars (4 adults) which is why I was trying these 4 together - and I have bonded several other sows and boars into groups using the same methods I am using now, its just the all being calm and then chasing after each other that I havent encountered before so thought I would ask if it is normal. I have left a message though with the lady that is great at bonding piggies to ask her advice, she must be out for the day though as havent heard anything back yet and left the message earlier

 

[shiny]

I think you will be lucky to avoid arguments with 4 in a 120cm cage. We use that cage for our boar pairs & still get a bit of chasing etc now & then. If you have a very large aviary then I think you might manage it but the risk is that you will upset the existing bonds between the pairs by introducing them to each other. A hierarchy of 4 males is going to be pretty hard for them to work out!

 

[hollie123]

as ive already said the indoor cage is only to get them bonded indoors, trust me if I could drag the aviary indoors to give them the extra space to bond them indoors then I would - i however have 2 small children so cannot spend my day outside watching them whilst I tried them together as a 4 piece out there, and as I like to closely monitor them whilst bonding I do it indoors. The cage offers plenty of space for them to get to know one another for a bit, they will go outside this weekend if the weather picks up like it says it is going to be - I also have an indoor run which will be used too.