Housing For Two Not Quite Bonded Boars

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JamesC

JamesC

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Following on from Fighting Boars

It looks pretty likely that we'll need to keep our two boys permanently separated, in which case I know their current living arrangements aren't adequate. I would like to try keeping them both as next door neighbours with a fence to separate them.

So, if we went for a C&C type home for them, could anybody provide a recommendation? I'm not sure what size is appropriate when they both have their own section, and how best to keep them close but have a fence between them. Ideally it'd be a removable fence just in case we ever wanted to try reintroducing them, or something else changed.

Cost isn't a major issue, just want them to be as happy as possible with their new setup really.

Thanks
James
 
I have my two boys in a 2x7 C&C. When one of them fell ill it messed up the bonding and they started to fight. So I had to put a divider in. I just used another two grids, held in place by cable ties. Then it's just a snip to remove them again.

However, one of them really wanted to get in the other half so he was chewing the bars. I had to secure a plastic photo frame over the bars so he couldn't get at them to chew.

I think a 2x3 section would be fine for them.
 
Thanks, will have a look at the c&c stuff.

It's worth pointing out we're moving them from outside to inside (been wanting to for a while but now we have to as they're fighting). So all of this is very new, coroplast, c&c, fleece bedding, my head is spinning slightly trying to work out what to do, with the added complication of thinking we have to keep them apart.
 
Feel free to keep asking questions. Alot of members here have C&C cages, or their own variations so we're happy to help where we can
 
Thanks! So if we go for a 2x6 c&c and put two dividers along the middle. Then if it seems that there's hope of reconciliation we can always take the middle ones away and they'd have a lovely big space.

So then the idea for the base is to get a big sheet of coroplast and cut it so that you can fold it up at the sides?
 
@JamesC Yep, coroplast is the best thing to use, it also looks near and tidy.

I couldn't find coroplast (correx) when I was making my first C&C so I used a big piece of lino. I have resorted to a shower curtain too, if an emergency.
 
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Ok, sounds like a plan is coming together, thank you!

So on top of the corplast/correx do you go straight for fleece or something else in-between to soak everything up?
 
Personally I use puppy training pads. Not great for the environment but it really soaks up the pee.

Some people use newspaper but I find that doesn't soak up pee at all.

Others use towels under the fleece or something similar. They just swap them every day or two and pop them in the washing machine.

I have fleece on top of the puppy pads. Then in areas where they like to sleep/pee/poop I have smaller pieces of fleece which I swap out as often as they're needed. I use a bit of VetBed in my older boys cage. It's like fleece but is alot softer, it looks like a piece of sheep. He has arthritis so it helps his feet when walking around.

One part of the cage (1x2 grids) is their hay area. I have puppy pads on the bottom, a bit of woodshavings, a layer of not as good hay for them to pee in, then I put in a few handfuls of nicer hay every day for them to eat.

Some people don't have a hay area and will use a hay rack/bag as the hay does tend to get spread around and is a bit messier but my boys like to burrow under it, and sleep in it so I put up with the mess.

Some people have the whole C&C as hay and no fleece. Whatever works best for you and your pigs. I would love the idea of a full hay cage but there's no way of disposing of it weekly. I can just to say squeeze my few bin bags in the bin each week now.
 
I don't use coroplast for the base. My OH made a wooden tray. Or you can simply place the grids and connectors on a waterproof sheet/shower tray on the floor or table and that's the base sorted. I then have puppy pads on top my base and fleece on top. Dead easy to clean out.
 
brilliant thanks! I think we'll try fleece with towel underneath to start.

So in terms of the fleece, just anything like this? Was expecting it to be slightly more expensive!

Hang on, link not working will post it shortly!
 
Yep, just like that. You can get bigger ones from places that sell household stuff like duvets and bedding.

You just need to give them a few washes before using them as the pee doesn't go through at first. It must be something they do to them when they make them.

And when you wash them don't use fabric softener as that does the same and stops the pee going through.

I got a laundry bag to use in my washing machine as it stops any stray bits of hair or hay getting in the pipes and clogging it up.
 
and if I go for something like this kit I could just arrange the cage in whatever way works best (e.g. either 6x2 or 4x3) ? Does this look ok?

 
Yep, perfect. Some grids don't have 9 holes across so you need to be careful as they can get their heads stuck if the holes are bigger.

Whichever size works best for you. Mine is raised off the floor so I can only have mine 2 grids wide, otherwise I can't reach in to clean the corners.
 
Brilliant.so I've ordered that plus the fleece blanket to get started with, will try to find a bigger blanket this week.

Just need to find somewhere to buy correx now, though wood might be an option.

Thanks for all your help.
 
You can get polar fleece on ebay for reasonable prices. I now have LOADS!
 
Thanks, no dogs or cats here so I'll go without the roof. I currently have one in the indoor run and one in an outdoor hutch which I've put indoors. I put the two side by side earlier so the two lads could see each other and Monty immediately started his teeth chattering thing as soon as he saw Joey. I'm not feeling very positive about a reconciliation, so it looks like the divider is going to be necessary sadly.
 
They've been in their new home for a week now and seem quite happy, there was some chattery teeth at first but now they seem to be getting on ok through the dividing bars.

Monty seems to spend a lot of time chewing at the dividing bars though, should I be doing anything about that? I don't want to do anything to stop them interacting.
 
When I separated my lot into 2 pairs we had a lot of bar chewing.
One of my girls had previously snapped her front teeth off from bar chewing (I think) so I put up a piece of correx about 15cm high. They can still see each other and smell each other, but it did reduce the bar chewing.
My plan is, over time, to shave the correx down until it is almost gone.
 
I have 2 boys that I had to separate, I have them in a 2X5 C&C cage with a divider in it. They can interact through the divider, sometimes they chew at it. But I don't think it will be a problem they usually stop and eventually get used to not being able to get to each other. They are now content to just socialize through the divider and seem quite happy with having their own turf, and knowing they can still see each other whenever they want. Your set up should be ok. Just give it time.
 
JamesC said:
Following on from Fighting Boars

It looks pretty likely that we'll need to keep our two boys permanently separated, in which case I know their current living arrangements aren't adequate. I would like to try keeping them both as next door neighbours with a fence to separate them.

So, if we went for a C&C type home for them, could anybody provide a recommendation? I'm not sure what size is appropriate when they both have their own section, and how best to keep them close but have a fence between them. Ideally it'd be a removable fence just in case we ever wanted to try reintroducing them, or something else changed.

Cost isn't a major issue, just want them to be as happy as possible with their new setup really.

Thanks
James
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C and c would work well, I love it for the fact you can separate and change back with ease if you need too, I think 2x3 each would be good.
 
This seems an ideal thread that has answered a few questions i had myself...
My 2 boys, have been together for the last 14wks and just recently one has been teeth chattering, warning snapping and moving slowly swinging his back end, as well as climbing on top of the other, generally been a pain for my other piggy. (dominance)

I'm very close to having them housed in a 6x2 with 2x2 loft, but about to change it to a 1x2 loft each end with a divider in the middle (effective 2x3 w/ 1x2 loft)

Don't really want to split them up at such a you age, but kinda want to nip it quickly so they don't hate each other.
 
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