Introducing sows to castrated boars - advice please!

R

Ru4u5

New Born Pup
Joined
Jun 12, 2024
Messages
6
Reaction score
8
Points
70
Location
United Kingdom
I have two boars who fell out so were separated and castrated with a view to finding sows for them as companions.
I have waited almost 2 months and have now acquired two slightly older sows.
Introductions have gone well so far (in a run - both sows but only one boar at a time).
One sow is more outgoing than the other and doesn't seem to mind either boar. Both sows have been able to thwart all non-platonic attention so far, mainly hiding away.
When in the run alone (just the two sows) they also tend to hide. Possibly as they're not used to me (I got them Thursday - today is Tuesday).
My concern is how amorous the boars are towards the sows. They are relentless in their pursuit and have gone from being quiet to constantly wheeking when anyone is passing. They appear obsessed and almost hysterical!
Am I expecting too much too soon? I get the feeling it's almost inevitable that they'll get their way with the sows even though that may not be what they want.
Or am I over-thinking it?
Any advice you can give would be most welcome and appreciated.
Thank you.
 
I’m assuming your plan is one sow with one boar. Not both sows with one boar and then the other boar left single.
If so you need to pick which boar is going to live with one sow. And try the bonding in that pairing. There is no point in putting both sows with one boar because that won’t be their grouping. By putting them together and then separating you aren’t allowing a bonding to actually happen.

You then put the one boar and the one sow in a neutral bonding pen and leave them to it for several hours. If all goes well then you move them to their permanent cage together. They will continue their bonding for the first two weeks of the relationship.
Then do the same with the other boar and sow - bonding pen and then into their respective cage.
You can’t put them together then separate repeatedly as you interrupt everything and cause them not to bond and have to start all over again . Bonding is a one time event.

The boars are going to be thinking with their man parts, not their heads! Their reaction is going to be very strong but it will calm down over the coming weeks and months
The girls will put their respective partner in their place and will only accept mounting when they are in season. Only a submissive sow will allow mounting when not in season.

Wiebke

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...
  • Like
Wiebke

Thread 'A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)'

This guide is an article series that I have written for Guinea Pig Magazine issues 50-52 (May/July/September 2019).
It is the propriety of GPM and is being shared on here with the magazine's permission.

1 Introduction
2 Sexing Guinea pigs: Where to look and feel yourself
- Textbook pictures
- The hands-on sexing check
3 Boar Pairs
- Common misconceptions
- The tricky teenage months
- the 'Golden Boar Age'
-...
  • Like
 
Yes, sorry for not explaining - one sow and one boar together.
Your advice is also very welcome.
I'll put one of each together and go from there.
One question - if a sow aggressively rejects the boar (no biting just wheeks a lot and a bit of chatting) would you say that's a no from the bonding point of view?
 
Ru4u5 said:
Yes, sorry for not explaining - one sow and one boar together.
Your advice is also very welcome.
I'll put one of each together and go from there.
One question - if a sow aggressively rejects the boar (no biting just wheeks a lot and a bit of chatting) would you say that's a no from the bonding point of view?
Click to expand...

Be careful using the word aggressive! If there is nothing other than noises and wheeking then that certainly is not aggression nor rejection/failed bonding.
Aggressive rejection ie a full fight, pulling hair etc would be a failure.

The guide I linked in above explains what behaviours you are looking for when bonding.

Here is another guide which will be useful
boureki

Thread 'Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs'

1 List of dominance behaviours in ascending order of aggression
2 What may cause this type of behaviour in boars?
3 When do you see these behaviours in sows?
4 What can trigger fall-outs?
5 Further helpful guide links


I thought it may be handy to have a sticky on typical dominance behaviours for a reference - hopefully it may help humans understand guinea pigs and their behaviour a bit more and hopefully prevent some avoidable problems!


1 List of dominance behaviours...
  • Like
 
Ru4u5 said:
I have two boars who fell out so were separated and castrated with a view to finding sows for them as companions.
I have waited almost 2 months and have now acquired two slightly older sows.
Introductions have gone well so far (in a run - both sows but only one boar at a time).
One sow is more outgoing than the other and doesn't seem to mind either boar. Both sows have been able to thwart all non-platonic attention so far, mainly hiding away.
When in the run alone (just the two sows) they also tend to hide. Possibly as they're not used to me (I got them Thursday - today is Tuesday).
My concern is how amorous the boars are towards the sows. They are relentless in their pursuit and have gone from being quiet to constantly wheeking when anyone is passing. They appear obsessed and almost hysterical!
Am I expecting too much too soon? I get the feeling it's almost inevitable that they'll get their way with the sows even though that may not be what they want.
Or am I over-thinking it?
Any advice you can give would be most welcome and appreciated.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Hi
It is perfectly normal for boars to go overboard when they meet sows for the first time.

A sow accepting being humped upon meeting implicitly accepts a boar as he more dominant leader. Dominant sows will refuse being mounted until they come into season.

Please differentiate between normal dominance behaviours which are the very heart of a hierarchical guinea pig society and agression or (more likely) fear-aggression hich can result from insecurity, being pushed too far, being trapped or from a disagreement over who comes top escalating. Dominance behaviour you have to tolerate. Bites between boars and sows are very rare; they are usually instinctive defence bites but there can be tussles - which is usually a sign of a failed bonding. Sows don't bite; their equivalent is a mouthful of painfully ripped out hairs - still, it is a cvery clear thumbs down vote.

Since one sow is ok with either boy, I would concentrate on the other and see whether she is getting on with the less dominant of your fallen-out boars - just the two of them in the bonding pen the next time. You may see whether they can make friends through the divider overnight or for a couple of days before you commit fully. That will allow your boys to get past the worst of their hormone spike.

Here is our detailed step-by-step bonding guide with videos and pictures, which takes you through all stages with the attendant behaviours (positive and negative). There are also chapters on special aspects and dynamics characteristic for various bonding scenarios , including cross gender bondings:
Wiebke

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...
  • Like

Wiebke

Thread 'A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours'

1 Introduction
2 Entries in alphabetical order
A
- Attention seeking and begging
B
- Back foot swipe
- Barbering (eating hair)
- Bar biting and rattling
- Begging: see Attention seeking
- 'Biting' Behaviours: Biting, Nibbling, Nipping, Tweaking
- Body language
- Border watch/lie-in
- Bullying
- Bum digging: see Poo stealing
-...
  • Like
 
Having bonded a lone boar into a herd of sows I can attest to the chaos that ensued.
Micah went into a testosterone overdrive and was soon put in his place by his new wives.
It was noisy and chaotic until they all settled into a happy herd.
Hope all goes well for you.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi
It is perfectly normal for boars to go overboard when they meet sows for the first time.

A sow accepting being humped upon meeting implicitly accepts a boar as he more dominant leader. Dominant sows will refuse being mounted until they come into season.

Please differentiate between normal dominance behaviours which are the very heart of a hierarchical guinea pig society and agression or (more likely) fear-aggression hich can result from insecurity, being pushed too far, being trapped or from a disagreement over who comes top escalating. Dominance behaviour you have to tolerate. Bites between boars and sows are very rare; they are usually instinctive defence bites but there can be tussles - which is usually a sign of a failed bonding. Sows don't bite; their equivalent is a mouthful of painfully ripped out hairs - still, it is a cvery clear thumbs down vote.

Since one sow is ok with either boy, I would concentrate on the other and see whether she is getting on with the less dominant of your fallen-out boars - just the two of them in the bonding pen the next time. You may see whether they can make friends through the divider overnight or for a couple of days before you commit fully. That will allow your boys to get past the worst of their hormone spike.

Here is our detailed step-by-step bonding guide with videos and pictures, which takes you through all stages with the attendant behaviours (positive and negative). There are also chapters on special aspects and dynamics characteristic for various bonding scenarios , including cross gender bondings:
Wiebke

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...
  • Like

Wiebke

Thread 'A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours'

1 Introduction
2 Entries in alphabetical order
A
- Attention seeking and begging
B
- Back foot swipe
- Barbering (eating hair)
- Bar biting and rattling
- Begging: see Attention seeking
- 'Biting' Behaviours: Biting, Nibbling, Nipping, Tweaking
- Body language
- Border watch/lie-in
- Bullying
- Bum digging: see Poo stealing
-...
  • Like
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for this advice - it's been very useful! I'll post again as the bonding progresses.
 
Merab said:
Having bonded a lone boar into a herd of sows I can attest to the chaos that ensued.
Micah went into a testosterone overdrive and was soon put in his place by his new wives.
It was noisy and chaotic until they all settled into a happy herd.
Hope all goes well for you.
Click to expand...
Thank you! That's very reassuring!
 
Thank you to everyone who has provided advice. Here are some pictures of the cause of my stress and joy! 😂
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20240815_161247_Chrome.webp
    Screenshot_20240815_161247_Chrome.webp
    58.4 KB · Views: 1
  • Screenshot_20240815_161158_Chrome.webp
    Screenshot_20240815_161158_Chrome.webp
    57.5 KB · Views: 1
  • IMG-20240412-WA0002.webp
    IMG-20240412-WA0002.webp
    66 KB · Views: 1
  • 20240412_111439.webp
    20240412_111439.webp
    85.5 KB · Views: 1
Ru4u5 said:
Thank you so much for this advice - it's been very useful! I'll post again as the bonding progresses.
Click to expand...

I've had plenty of 'husboars' over the years with one to up 13 wives over the years and lots and lots of successful and unsuccessful bonding attempts; especially when I started adopting stuck in rescue difficult to bond piggies for a time.

We are here for any questions. My tip: if you have several options, always start with the most difficult to bond piggy so they have the largest number of choices and work down from there. It is the sows who run the show in the guinea pig world, not the boars.

Wiebke

Thread 'A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)'

This guide is an article series that I have written for Guinea Pig Magazine issues 50-52 (May/July/September 2019).
It is the propriety of GPM and is being shared on here with the magazine's permission.

1 Introduction
2 Sexing Guinea pigs: Where to look and feel yourself
- Textbook pictures
- The hands-on sexing check
3 Boar Pairs
- Common misconceptions
- The tricky teenage months
- the 'Golden Boar Age'
-...
  • Like
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top