My Neutered Boar And His (previously) Best Sow Friend Seem To Have Fallen Out - Please Help

[Mairi Mac]

Hi All,
I was recently in the situation where my 4 females turned out to be 3 girls and a boy. All the girls were pregnant. I got the boy, Bailey, neutered because he seemed to have bonded closely with Martha. I had to separate all the girls once they started to have their babies, to keep track of who was who, what age they were etc. They all lived fairly happily in their family groups until I was able to rehome the boys then the girls. I found lovely families for my two other female piggies and their baby girls. I just wanted to keep Martha and Bailey. Martha was the last to give birth (3 girls and a boy). The boy was rehomed at 3 weeks to a family who had boars already, and then the baby 3 girls were re-homed last week. Since the babies have left Martha and Bailey, they seem to be keeping away from eachother, And, particularly Bailey seems very sad. Martha still potters about, takes food from me etc but I'm worried about Bailey. Any adivce would be greatly appreciated. I feel I have done the wrong thing by my piggies. I feel 2 are much more managable for me, rather than keeping the babies.

Mairi

 

[pig in the city]

Hi All,
I was recently in the situation where my 4 females turned out to be 3 girls and a boy. All the girls were pregnant. I got the boy, Bailey, neutered because he seemed to have bonded closely with Martha. I had to separate all the girls once they started to have their babies, to keep track of who was who, what age they were etc. They all lived fairly happily in their family groups until I was able to rehome the boys then the girls. I found lovely families for my two other female piggies and their baby girls. I just wanted to keep Martha and Bailey. Martha was the last to give birth (3 girls and a boy). The boy was rehomed at 3 weeks to a family who had boars already, and then the baby 3 girls were re-homed last week. Since the babies have left Martha and Bailey, they seem to be keeping away from eachother, And, particularly Bailey seems very sad. Martha still potters about, takes food from me etc but I'm worried about Bailey. Any adivce would be greatly appreciated. I feel I have done the wrong thing by my piggies. I feel 2 are much more managable for me, rather than keeping the babies.

Mairi

It sounds as if you have done the right thing. Its early days, its a big change for them both. Hopefully Bailey will be back to normal soon

 

[Mairi Mac]

Thank you,
It's good to hear that I've not done the wrong thing. Maybe I just need to give them time.

It sounds as if you have done the right thing. Its early days, its a big change for them both. Hopefully Bailey will be back to normal soon

 

[Wiebke]

Hi All,
I was recently in the situation where my 4 females turned out to be 3 girls and a boy. All the girls were pregnant. I got the boy, Bailey, neutered because he seemed to have bonded closely with Martha. I had to separate all the girls once they started to have their babies, to keep track of who was who, what age they were etc. They all lived fairly happily in their family groups until I was able to rehome the boys then the girls. I found lovely families for my two other female piggies and their baby girls. I just wanted to keep Martha and Bailey. Martha was the last to give birth (3 girls and a boy). The boy was rehomed at 3 weeks to a family who had boars already, and then the baby 3 girls were re-homed last week. Since the babies have left Martha and Bailey, they seem to be keeping away from eachother, And, particularly Bailey seems very sad. Martha still potters about, takes food from me etc but I'm worried about Bailey. Any adivce would be greatly appreciated. I feel I have done the wrong thing by my piggies. I feel 2 are much more managable for me, rather than keeping the babies.

Mairi

How long post-op is Bailey and how long have they been separated for/introduced again?
Has Martha been in season since the re-intro?

They will likely settle down together, but they won't be having the close bond that you were imagining. It is likely that Bailey's favourite was another of the sows and that he is missing her.