Failed Bonding, What Next?

[wind1]

Having failed at bonding my 2 boars, I now have them living separately, one cage on top of the other as there is no room for them to be side by side. Sylvester is nearly 5 and Percy is about 18 months. Sylvester I believe is perfectly happy on his own, he was bullied by Percy and became very withdrawn, hiding under the ramp in the cage all the time. He is now back to his happy self. It's Percy I'm concerned about, I don't know if he's happy on his own. Being so young I think it's unfair to leave him living alone for the next few years. I have only had him since August, I picked him up from someone who had him on his own, she told me his cage mate had died, but also told me later that he had fallen out with his son. He has a large chunk missing from his ear. I would be reluctant to try and bond him with another male, especially whilst I still have Sylvester as they would be able to smell each other with the cages so close together. My other thought is to have Percy neutered and get him a girlfriend. Would this work with Sylvester being in close proximity or would his smell unsettle them? I don't know what to do for the best.

 

[Reenie]

If possible, the best solution would be to find them both buddies. Have you a rescue which could let you do 'dating'. I would personally go with neutering and getting them piggy wives, as you can expand those groups at a later stage, while boar pairs is as big as it gets. I would expect if you got Percy a wife, and left Sylvester on his own, he might be upset by the female pheromones wafting his way. You could also go with two pairs of boars, but, as I said, you could never expand either group. Good luck with whatever you do. Oh - if you do get piggies neutered, you need to wait at least 6 weeks before putting a female with them, as accidents can still happen during that time. (you may already know that, but I thought it best to say anyways)

 

[Wiebke]

Having failed at bonding my 2 boars, I now have them living separately, one cage on top of the other as there is no room for them to be side by side. Sylvester is nearly 5 and Percy is about 18 months. Sylvester I believe is perfectly happy on his own, he was bullied by Percy and became very withdrawn, hiding under the ramp in the cage all the time. He is now back to his happy self. It's Percy I'm concerned about, I don't know if he's happy on his own. Being so young I think it's unfair to leave him living alone for the next few years. I have only had him since August, I picked him up from someone who had him on his own, she told me his cage mate had died, but also told me later that he had fallen out with his son. He has a large chunk missing from his ear. I would be reluctant to try and bond him with another male, especially whilst I still have Sylvester as they would be able to smell each other with the cages so close together. My other thought is to have Percy neutered and get him a girlfriend. Would this work with Sylvester being in close proximity or would his smell unsettle them? I don't know what to do for the best.

Hi!

We could help you better if you please added your country, state/province or UK county so we can work out the best and safest option based on your local possibilities.

Single boars can live happily next to boar pairs as well as mixed pairs; it is boar pairs whose bond can be broken by sow hormones. However, which way you want to go largely depends on whether you have got access to one of our recommended good standard rescues that offer boar dating at the rescue so you can make sure that your boars like each other and get on or whether you have access to a good neutering vet in order to keep the risk of post-op complications down. You also have to factor in a full 6 weeks post-op wait to make sure that boar is 100% safe to go with a sow (the baby in my avatar is the unplanned present from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine) and she is not the only case I know of. Just to prove that particular point. While coss gender bonds, once initial acceptance from the sow has happened (and not all will!), are the most stable of bonds, they are neither quick or risk-free.
These are aspects that you want to research carefully. If you find that you can get to a boar bonding rescue, you may also consider to find your old boar a laid-back older companion that he is much happier with.
You will find more information plus the relevant links to recommended rescues and vets in several countries in this guide here (in the what next chapters): Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[wind1]

I really don't want to risk any more boars with either of them. I really do think Sylvester is happy so I'm not worried about keeping him on his own. I do have a rescue nearby that bonds rabbits and they have guinea pigs so I expect they will bond them too. I just don't want the smell of Sylvester bothering a new female or Percy and making them squabble. I can't move Sylvester any where else.

 

[wind1]

Hi!

We could help you better if you please added your country, state/province or UK county so we can work out the best and safest option based on your local possibilities.

Single boars can live happily next to boar pairs as well as mixed pairs; it is boar pairs whose bond can be broken by sow hormones. However, which way you want to go largely depends on whether you have got access to one of our recommended good standard rescues that offer boar dating at the rescue so you can make sure that your boars like each other and get on or whether you have access to a good neutering vet in order to keep the risk of post-op complications down. You also have to factor in a full 6 weeks post-op wait to make sure that boar is 100% safe to go with a sow (the baby in my avatar is the unplanned present from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine) and she is not the only case I know of. Just to prove that particular point. While coss gender bonds, once initial acceptance from the sow has happened (and not all will!), are the most stable of bonds, they are neither quick or risk-free.
These are aspects that you want to research carefully. If you find that you can get to a boar bonding rescue, you may also consider to find your old boar a laid-back older companion that he is much happier with.
You will find more information plus the relevant links to recommended rescues and vets in several countries in this guide here (in the what next chapters): Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

So Percy (once neutered) and a female would be ok then. I think that is the option I want to try.