Finding our bereaved boar a new pal

G

Gingerspider

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 27, 2021
Messages
148
Reaction score
98
Points
245
Location
Lancaster
Hi. We have a newly bereaved boar that we would like to find a new pal.
I have a few other threads on the sad, quick passing of our boy Kurt.
Martin seemed to deal with the death surprisingly well (and his sniffles have also thankfully gone) the first day without his mate, he was popping around during floor time, like nothing ice ever seen and even came up to the bars on his back legs, like Kurt used to and I've never seen him do that.
Today he seems a little less happy. Hes still eating, although less enthusiastically and just looks sad. We are keen to find him a new pal as soon as we can.
The vet advised (especially with Martin being a bit of a rumblestrutter) to look for a very young boar but we are struggling with rescue options locally. I don't want to go down the pet shop route.
We don't have a C&C cage, although we do that the c&c type set up play run downstairs for running about minus the base. We are happy to buy a new set up (and were in the process before Kurt passed) and now wondering if we get one with an option for a divider or look to bring a piggie home in their own pad, placing it next to Martins cage before hopefully moving them in together after trialling bonding in the play runs ect.
I've read the guides which are super helpful but quite overwhelming and I'm anxious that we should find him a friend as soon as possible but don't feel we have many options.
Appreciate any advice. Many thanks.
 
Gingerspider said:
Hi. We have a newly bereaved boar that we would like to find a new pal.
I have a few other threads on the sad, quick passing of our boy Kurt.
Martin seemed to deal with the death surprisingly well (and his sniffles have also thankfully gone) the first day without his mate, he was popping around during floor time, like nothing ice ever seen and even came up to the bars on his back legs, like Kurt used to and I've never seen him do that.
Today he seems a little less happy. Hes still eating, although less enthusiastically and just looks sad. We are keen to find him a new pal as soon as we can.
The vet advised (especially with Martin being a bit of a rumblestrutter) to look for a very young boar but we are struggling with rescue options locally. I don't want to go down the pet shop route.
We don't have a C&C cage, although we do that the c&c type set up play run downstairs for running about minus the base. We are happy to buy a new set up (and were in the process before Kurt passed) and now wondering if we get one with an option for a divider or look to bring a piggie home in their own pad, placing it next to Martins cage before hopefully moving them in together after trialling bonding in the play runs ect.
I've read the guides which are super helpful but quite overwhelming and I'm anxious that we should find him a friend as soon as possible but don't feel we have many options.
Appreciate any advice. Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Its probably worth mentioning two that when Kurt and Martin came to us they weren't bonded really and although they never had any major bust ups, its fair to say that they probably tolerated eachother, rather than became friends. Martin did however become quite protective of Kurt when he was dying and this was the only time they ever laid in the same part of the cage together. He was quite tender towards him then, which makes me wonder if they liked eachother more than they let on?
 
I think the best thing to do is to get in contact with rescues and see if they have any single boars. Ideally you’d take him dating but under the current circumstances, I don’t think they’re working in that way at the moment.

A young boar could be a good match, but then so could an older boar. It comes down to compatibility rather than age. You also have to consider what would happen when the young boar reaches his teenage months. This can be a trying time even for the best bonded boars.

Hopefully he will be okay for a little while longer as you look into rescue boars. But if he’s really pining then you have to do what’s necessary for his welfare. Good luck and I hope you find a friend for him soon.
Rescue Locator

You can’t base a good bond on whether or not they lay together. My boars have only been in the same hide maybe three times in the 3.5 years I’ve had them. But I know they’re really good friends.
 
Thanks for that. I've spoken with our local rescue who said they don't allow single boars to be removed with other boars. The lady there said all if hers live separately. They were very strict on set ups (rightly) which we would need a 5 by 3 minimum, which we are in the process of changing. She advised we would only, with vetting be allowed to adopt if they were kept separately. I'm going to think it over and get back to them.
 
I wouldn’t go with that rescue to be honest. I don’t see why they should be kept living separately, what is the reasoning behind it? There are plenty of boar pairs on here and you yourself have seen a happily bonded boar pair.

Do contact the rescues on the link I sent you. I wouldn’t discount those that are a little further away.
 
My boy (on the left) was on his own for some weeks last winter in lockdown and we spent that time sitting with him more, handling more (with a snuggle-sack or folded fleece for lap time so he could hide) and I used to carry him round outside in the garden and talk to him about all the happy times we'd had. We were both very sad when Ivy died. He lost his fear of us... and he'd been nervy since he arrived here a couple of years ago! My aim was to make him feel less alone but also to give him things to think about when he was on his own at night. We also used a hot water bottle at night placed against the outside of the cage which heated one of the plastic walls, and he used to lean against this and take comfort from the warmth. He now also has one of those brilliant snuggle-safe heat pads which he loves! Now George has friends we don't get much of his time - he's too busy rumbling around - but he still lets us stroke his cheeks without running away. You have both suffered a loss, so make the most of this time together 💕
 
Aww. I have to say I have seen his behaviour change massively. Hes just been exploring the whole front room, coming right up to both of us, making little exploratory noises and popping. Usually he is hiding and shoves off as fast as he can when we approach. Hopefully we can spend the time bonding whilst we find a buddy for him.
 
Unfortunately a lot of people recommend a younger boar, as they are accepted at first. But once the hormones kick in and they challenge for hierarchy, it can all change for the worst.

I do wish you the best of luck with the bonding, but as your new boar is 8 months old, do have a plan B ready. He is well into his hormonal months. Have you had a read through the bonding guides on here?

At any age, personalities can clash. I have some boars living with each other that I never thought would get on, and some now in a different bond because their previous relationships broke down.
 
Yes, been reading the guides. Getting everything prepped. If they don't get on, they don't get on but at least we will have tried. At the moment he is our own rescue locally (and still an hour away) so we will give it a try.
 
They'll surely be excited to see each other anyway. It lets them know they're not the last piggie in the whole world and if it doesn't work out at least they'll have something in the future to look forward to 💕
 
We picked Len up today and he was so sweet and affectionate, I thought, oh brilliant, he will fit with Martin.
Started the bonding (with a divider) and they have just been rumbling, teeth chattering, showing teeth and countering at eachother for a solid 45 minutes. Martin looks a bit more scared and is keeping more of a distance and the newby seems very confident and keeps trying to get through the bars. How long do I let this go on for?
 
Are they on neutral ground? Or have you put Len in Martin's territory? Because neutral ground is kind of what you need.
Rumbling - low level - to be expected.
Teeth chattering/showing teeth - erm, not good sign although it happens but if the chattering gets loud don't get your hopes up.
If you put them in together you would expect to see some mounting and one squealing in submission before they settle. I have no boar/boar experience but only boar/sow and sow/sow. They decide pretty quickly whether they are going to get on or not. I'd be wary about fighting unfortunately from the sound of it.

When George and Zara met that was the first time we'd ever seen the chattering and teeth showing ('yawning') and it descended into a desperate furball fight. But George/Louise was completely different - one look and it was true love. You could just see it. Unfortunately Louise and Zara are a bonded pair so it was both or nothing. He's now with Flora: if Zara was a Red and Louise a Green then Flora is an Amber. He rumbled a lot, chattered very quietly every now and again, she didn't submit to mounting but she didn't challenge and they have settled together as companions. They sleep in different areas but recently when Flora had a dicky tummy overnight the first indication was that she and George spent the evening together in one of the hideys - he looked after her. Sometimes she gives a little rumble back but you can tell that they don't mean anything by it, it's just her way of saying 'well, we can all rumble George!' George and Zara don't fight through the bars now but they won't get on. I tried them in the garden together in a large space with no other pigs and as soon as they got near each other it kicked off again and George scarpered. They need a bit of time and a chance to try and sort things out between them, but if your first impression is that it won't work out I think you're probably right. Try and imagine what you would be thinking if there were a queue of potential partners to try... would this influence your view of how things were going? Sometimes the pressure of trying to find a match can make us look for a chink of positive in what is actually a less than ideal pairing. Good luck though x
 
Free Ranger said:
Are they on neutral ground? Or have you put Len in Martin's territory? Because neutral ground is kind of what you need.
Rumbling - low level - to be expected.
Teeth chattering/showing teeth - erm, not good sign although it happens but if the chattering gets loud don't get your hopes up.
If you put them in together you would expect to see some mounting and one squealing in submission before they settle. I have no boar/boar experience but only boar/sow and sow/sow. They decide pretty quickly whether they are going to get on or not. I'd be wary about fighting unfortunately from the sound of it.

When George and Zara met that was the first time we'd ever seen the chattering and teeth showing ('yawning') and it descended into a desperate furball fight. But George/Louise was completely different - one look and it was true love. You could just see it. Unfortunately Louise and Zara are a bonded pair so it was both or nothing. He's now with Flora: if Zara was a Red and Louise a Green then Flora is an Amber. He rumbled a lot, chattered very quietly every now and again, she didn't submit to mounting but she didn't challenge and they have settled together as companions. They sleep in different areas but recently when Flora had a dicky tummy overnight the first indication was that she and George spent the evening together in one of the hideys - he looked after her. Sometimes she gives a little rumble back but you can tell that they don't mean anything by it, it's just her way of saying 'well, we can all rumble George!' George and Zara don't fight through the bars now but they won't get on. I tried them in the garden together in a large space with no other pigs and as soon as they got near each other it kicked off again and George scarpered. They need a bit of time and a chance to try and sort things out between them, but if your first impression is that it won't work out I think you're probably right. Try and imagine what you would be thinking if there were a queue of potential partners to try... would this influence your view of how things were going? Sometimes the pressure of trying to find a match can make us look for a chink of positive in what is actually a less than ideal pairing. Good luck though x
Click to expand...
They were in a playpen with fresh fleeces so shouldn't have had any marking ect.
It was VERY noisy. I put the hides back in because Martin looked scared and theu both just hid in there. I've put them both back in their separate pens upstairs in the same room and Len is now super skittish.
I know these are all behaviours they might do but just for the sake of knackering the poor things out I wondered how long they could continue like that.
I've was going to attach a video but it won't let me?
 
Anywhere which one piggy will see as part of their territory should be avoided for doing a bonding.
Until they they are physically put together in neutral territory without a divider between them, then you won’t know how things are really going to go. When they are put on neutral territory to carry out the bonding, then it needs to be seen through to conclusion (whether that is success or failure) and not interrupted unless it is very obvious things aren’t working out. It will still take a further two weeks of permanently living together in the same cage for them to fully create their relationship.
Video has to be uploaded to a third party site such as YouTube first, and then a link posted here (we can’t have video directly on the forum as it costs so much money to be able to host video)
 
Thank you.
We weren't able to fully bond today because the new extra large c&c didn't turn up in time, so we used the panels, downstairs with new fleeces and a divider as we couldn't leave them there all night and didn't want to break up the bond. When the new cage turns up on Monday we will get able to do it properly then.
In the mean time Martin has his usual haunt and we've got some new cortex and set up a pen for Len in the same room
 
Still no sign of the new cage 😔
Len is proving a little difficult, poor thing. He was friendly and relaxed when we first took him home but he's spent the last day absolutely terrified, not coming out of his hidey. Hes also now violently chewing the cage bars in one place. Tried all sorts and can't get him to stop. I wonder if he's trying to get to Martin? (Who is in a cage above him)
All a bit distressing really!
🤞 the cage arrives tomorrow and we can start the bonding process and 🤞🤞 they get on, otherwise I'm not sure where to put poor Len as he seems desperate to be with other piggies.
 
I hope the cage arrives soon.

When piggies are single, they need to be kept side by side (not one above) as they cannot interact unless they are side by side. His chewing may well be because he feels he is alone at present. Is there any way you can move them side by side for tonight/until the cage arrives?
 
Piggies&buns said:
I hope the cage arrives soon.

When piggies are single, they need to be kept side by side (not one above) as they cannot interact unless they are side by side. His chewing may well be because he feels he is alone at present. Is there any way you can move them side by side for tonight/until the cage arrives?
Click to expand...
Sadly not. We have two different cages until the new one arrives. It was meant to be here on Friday, so just making do with the best we can. Will get them properly sorted as soon as tomorrow 🤞
 
Perhaps try putting a little bedding from the other cage with the other pig's scent on into each of the cages? I don't know if this will help, hinder or just distract?
My bar neighbours are always very interested in a bit of hay from 'the other side'!
 
Cage arrived. Meet up started. Len chased Martin around so relentlessly he threw himself off the balcony, nearly strangled himself on a hay rack and tried to blind jump out of the cage so we've had to stop it. Hes terrified. Poor Len just wants a friend but Martin isn't having any of it. Don't know what to do now as I'm scared to put them next to eachother in case Martin gets too stressed.
 
I’m sorry things haven’t gone well.
It would be worth putting them next to each other but cover the divider with something so they cannot see each other - but can still hear, smell etc. Over the course of a week, slowly remove the cover until they can see each other more and more, and then see how things go.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry things haven’t gone well.
It would be worth putting them next to each other but cover the divider with something so they cannot see each other - but can still hear, smell etc. Over the course of a week, slowly remove the cover until they can see each other more and more, and then see how things go.
Click to expand...
That's what we've done. Such a distressing thing to see.
 
Just to add Martin is now very sleepy, not moving a lot and has rapid breathing. I am absolutely terrified the stress of it all has made him come down with what killed poor Kurt. I'm finding the whole thing so stressful. I just want to do right by Martin, the poor little thing
 
When George and Zara had their 'altercation' I was worried about George being stressed next to her. But the cages are set up so they can have time at the bars or time away from each other. George sussed quite quickly that he was safe in his half but Zara made sure by spending a few days acting tough at the bars - flinging herself at them with bared teeth a few times, then just banging them with her nose. She did the same when Flora first arrived - charging the bars with open teeth (what a greeting!) but then everything settled down again. She is not so popular with hubs who is very fond of George but she can't help being how she is.

I hope Martin feels OK when things settle - it's been a rough ride for him 💕
 
Free Ranger said:
When George and Zara had their 'altercation' I was worried about George being stressed next to her. But the cages are set up so they can have time at the bars or time away from each other. George sussed quite quickly that he was safe in his half but Zara made sure by spending a few days acting tough at the bars - flinging herself at them with bared teeth a few times, then just banging them with her nose. She did the same when Flora first arrived - charging the bars with open teeth (what a greeting!) but then everything settled down again. She is not so popular with hubs who is very fond of George but she can't help being how she is.

I hope Martin feels OK when things settle - it's been a rough ride for him 💕
Click to expand...
Thanks. Good to hear we aren't the only dysfunctional piggie family. We had to get up in the middle of the night and move Lens cage downstairs. He was strangling himself trying to get through to Martin, had completely macerated the cage bottom and chewed halfway through the bars. Martin was cowering in the corner and hasn't touched his breakfast. I'm worried about his health now with his breathing and his itching hasn't stopped with the vets treatment. I feel like I have to put Martin first and may have to find Lennie a more suitable home with other piggies that want to play with him. Really worried about the stress this has put Martin under and the effect on his health. Who knew life with piggies could be so stressful!
 
Gingerspider said:
Who knew life with piggies could be so stressful!
Click to expand...


I feel your pain - i had a bit of this with my belle who was left on her own in december - trying to find a friend for her during a lockdown was very daunting. Eventually, the 5th try was a hit so it is worth persevering but so stressful.

Have you got a rescue that can do residential bonding? Or at least supervise the bonding for you?

Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top