Introducing 8 week old baby to 6 month old sow

[Hiitshannah]

Hi everyone,

After the failed bonding of my neutered boar and sow, my sow (Acorn) is very lonely so we are collecting an 8 week old baby next weekend to bond with her. My boar (Butternut) is going on a waiting list for dating at a rescue but as he seems to be doing well I’m not worried about him waiting for a while. There are sadly no rescues near us with any available pigs right away so I’m making the best of the situation because I’m worried Acorn’s not eating enough! I’ve read the bonding and behaviour guides and know I need to ignore quarantine as the baby is so young, but would it still be recommended to allow her to settle in for a day or so living next door to Acorn before the bonding process, or should I put them straight into the bonding pen together?

Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

After the failed bonding of my neutered boar and sow, my sow (Acorn) is very lonely so we are collecting an 8 week old baby next weekend to bond with her. My boar (Butternut) is going on a waiting list for dating at a rescue but as he seems to be doing well I’m not worried about him waiting for a while. There are sadly no rescues near us with any available pigs right away so I’m making the best of the situation because I’m worried Acorn’s not eating enough! I’ve read the bonding and behaviour guides and know I need to ignore quarantine as the baby is so young, but would it still be recommended to allow her to settle in for a day or so living next door to Acorn before the bonding process, or should I put them straight into the bonding pen together?

Thank you!

Hi!

Babies at that young age are so desperate for companionship at that age that the need surpasses any other consideration. Please introduce straight away. You can find videos and pictures of baby intros sprinkled all over our bonding guide and not just in the chapter about baby intros. Please take the time to read it and too look through it. You should find it very helpful. If Acorn is withdrawn, then the likelihood that she will accept a little companion to mother is pretty high.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Butternut can continue to live alongside the sow pair until his time has come. This should prevent him from pining.

 

[Hiitshannah]

Hi!

Babies at that young age are so desperate for companionship at that age that the need surpasses any other consideration. Please introduce straight away. You can find videos and pictures of baby intros sprinkled all over our bonding guide and not just in the chapter about baby intros. Please take the time to read it and too look through it. You should find it very helpful. If Acorn is withdrawn, then the likelihood that she will accept a little companion to mother is pretty high.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Butternut can continue to live alongside the sow pair until his time has come. This should prevent him from pining.

Thank you very much, and I’m glad to hear he can continue to live as their neighbour until we can get him into a rescue for dating.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you very much, and I’m glad to hear he can continue to live as their neighbour until we can get him into a rescue for dating.

Single boars and boars bonded with sows have no other boar to fall out with - it is not their gender as such but a males only bond at risk of fights or a fall-out that is the sticking point.