Introductions, is it too soon?

[Lucy Roper]

Hi guys I'm just wondering if I can add my 3 sows to our guinea shed. We have been through the mill with our gorgeous 4 month old boars which are now separated due to fighting. We have 3 young sows to pair them with following their neutering (+5 weeks) which is booked for 2 weeks time. The girls are currently living inside and getting used to handling etc as we didn't want to just throw them into our lives, and introduce them to the boys all at the same time. My question is, will they be able to live in a separate pen in the other side if the shed from the boys so they can get used to being out here? Or will it stress them all out. The boys are very peaceful and go out daily in separate runs all next to each other. I just don't want to cause any drama but I think the girlies will enjoy the guinea shed and the garden. Thanks x

 

[Siikibam]

I think it should be okay. I would try to have the boars living left to the sows they will be bonded with. Just make sure that they can’t escape and get in with the girls. You’d be amazed what a boar can do if they smell a sow nearby.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It should be okay.

You just be absolutely certain the boys cannot get out of their pens though. Boars can become rather agile when a girly is around. Ensure they can’t jump on hideys and get over barriers etc.
Ensure you wait the full six weeks after neutering before attempting any bonding.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys I'm just wondering if I can add my 3 sows to our guinea shed. We have been through the mill with our gorgeous 4 month old boars which are now separated due to fighting. We have 3 young sows to pair them with following their neutering (+5 weeks) which is booked for 2 weeks time. The girls are currently living inside and getting used to handling etc as we didn't want to just throw them into our lives, and introduce them to the boys all at the same time. My question is, will they be able to live in a separate pen in the other side if the shed from the boys so they can get used to being out here? Or will it stress them all out. The boys are very peaceful and go out daily in separate runs all next to each other. I just don't want to cause any drama but I think the girlies will enjoy the guinea shed and the garden. Thanks x

Hi!

You can introduce sows into a room with single boys. They can live alongside them safely as they don't have a companion to fight and fall out with. However, you have to be aware that boars can be amazingly determined and athletic, especially when sows are in season, so you have to make very sure that the boys can't get out of their cages by climbing, jumping or wiggling between or underneath any grids.
The arrival of sows is bound to cause a great stir, but being able to live alongside during the mandatory 6 weeks post op wait can help towards better acceptance and to mitigate the first male overexcitement during the bonding (i.e. non-stop mindless humping).

Please take the time to read our relevant guides. I would also like to make you aware that baby Tegan (2011-19) in my avatar is the surprise legacy of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine); just to make the point that it can really happen as late as that and that is is really worth not cutting any corners when the last days are dragging on...
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Lucy Roper]

I think it should be okay. I would try to have the boars living left to the sows they will be bonded with. Just make sure that they can’t escape and get in with the girls. You’d be amazed what a boar can do if they smell a sow nearby.

Thank you for the advice, the girls pen is on the other side of the shed. I'm really hoping that they will be happy with their girlie partners. The girls are only 9 weeks old so we haven't put them in the run outside yet. I'm not 100% sure when they're allowed to go out on the grass? I'll move the girls into the pen after the boys have been neutered. Any tips introductions and pairing them up? We thought the ones who are a little more shy should go with a confident piggy?

 

[Lucy Roper]

Hi!

You can introduce sows into a room with single boys. They can live alongside them safely as they don't have a companion to fight and fall out with. However, you have to be aware that boars can be amazingly determined and athletic, especially when sows are in season, so you have to make very sure that the boys can't get out of their cages by climbing, jumping or wiggling between or underneath any grids.
The arrival of sows is bound to cause a great stir, but being able to live alongside during the mandatory 6 weeks post op wait can help towards better acceptance and to mitigate the first male overexcitement during the bonding (i.e. non-stop mindless humping).

Please take the time to read our relevant guides. I would also like to make you aware that baby Tegan (2011-19) in my avatar is the surprise legacy of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine); just to make the point that it can really happen as late as that and that is is really worth not cutting any corners when the last days are dragging on...
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Thank you, I have read all of that already. I'll be leaving it 6 weeks Just in case. I'm happy that they can go outside with them though as it's all set up and they can acclimatise to the outdoor sounds, smells and other piggies .

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the advice, the girls pen is on the other side of the shed. I'm really hoping that they will be happy with their girlie partners. The girls are only 9 weeks old so we haven't put them in the run outside yet. I'm not 100% sure when they're allowed to go out on the grass? I'll move the girls into the pen after the boys have been neutered. Any tips introductions and pairing them up? We thought the ones who are a little more shy should go with a confident piggy?

Start with your most dominant/difficult boar and work your way down from there. At that age, the acceptance rate is very high. But I would recommend to give the baby girls a little refuge only they can get into if the humping is truly incessant for a day or two until the boar finds the on switch to their brain again...

 

[Lucy Roper]

Start with your most dominant/difficult boar and work your way down from there. At that age, the acceptance rate is very high. But I would recommend to give the baby girls a little refuge only they can get into if the humping is truly incessant for a day or two until the boar finds the on switch to their brain again...

Ok that's doable, I can split their pen if needed and we will be keeping a close eye. Do you think the intro should be in a neutral place or will it be ok in a clean pen as they will be used to the small of the shed and piggies already?

 

[Siikibam]

It needs to be neutral. So preferably somewhere none of them have been and left their scent.

 

[Wiebke]

Ok that's doable, I can split their pen if needed and we will be keeping a close eye. Do you think the intro should be in a neutral place or will it be ok in a clean pen as they will be used to the small of the shed and piggies already?

Any intros should be in a neutral space that is not part of their normal territory and rather than splitting up the pair, use a small tunnel or cardboard box as described in the bonding guide to not interrupt the bonding.