Newly Bonded Boars. How Long To Wait Before Lawn Time?

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Although I have bonded many pigs over the years I always get the jitters when it comes to boar bonding. (give me those bossy "can't live with other pigs" sows any day!) even tho I have had several successes.

My situation is this, at the start of the year I had 8 lovely pairs of boys, all aged 5 or over. Sadly I have now lost 5 of them so am down to 3 pairs and 5 singles My plan is to bond the singles into 2 pairs, leaving for now, one lone piggy.

I first attempted Hazelwood with Frost but this didn't work out. So now Hazelwood is currently bonding with Bloomfield and everything is going really well and has been from the start It will be two weeks tomorrow.

During this time they have not been out on the grass as a change of environment can cause scent marking, rumble strutting and general excitement, in one or both of them which can trigger defense aggression in the other and I really don't want to upset them when everything is coming along so nicely. I made the mistake a few years ago of putting newly bonded boars out on the grass too soon and they fell out and had to be separated.

Boomfield is now 7 and a really lovely chap but has always found it difficult to get along with others. However, he seems to really like Hazelwood and is ok with him being top pig I really want him to have the company of a good buddy for his twilight months so dont want to mess things up.

How long do you think I should wait before trying them in a run?

 

[Wiebke]

Although I have bonded many pigs over the years I always get the jitters when it comes to boar bonding. (give me those bossy "can't live with other pigs" sows any day!) even tho I have had several successes.

My situation is this, at the start of the year I had 8 lovely pairs of boys, all aged 5 or over. Sadly I have now lost 5 of them so am down to 3 pairs and 5 singles My plan is to bond the singles into 2 pairs, leaving for now, one lone piggy.

I first attempted Hazelwood with Frost but this didn't work out. So now Hazelwood is currently bonding with Bloomfield and everything is going really well and has been from the start It will be two weeks tomorrow.

During this time they have not been out on the grass as a change of environment can cause scent marking, rumble strutting and general excitement, in one or both of them which can trigger defense aggression in the other and I really don't want to upset them when everything is coming along so nicely. I made the mistake a few years ago of putting newly bonded boars out on the grass too soon and they fell out and had to be separated.

Boomfield is now 7 and a really lovely chap but has always found it difficult to get along with others. However, he seems to really like Hazelwood and is ok with him being top pig I really want him to have the company of a good buddy for his twilight months so dont want to mess things up.

How long do you think I should wait before trying them in a run?

Anytime you like as they seem to be stably bonded. If you wish, use their smelly hideys to make it feel more like their territory, but usually the dominance phase is over after two weeks as a rule of thumb unless you have proof to the contrary.

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Anytime you like as they seem to be stably bonded. If you wish, use their smelly hideys to make it feel more like their territory, but usually the dominance phase is over after two weeks as a rule of thumb unless you have proof to the contrary.

Thankyou. I thought 2 weeks was the general rule so may be over worrying. They are definitely decided about who is top pig. They will lye down close to each other but not touching and sometimes further apart. When veggies arrive they will stand up side by side at the bars and don't squabble over who gets what. The only teeth chattering is brief and happens if Hazelwood brushes past Bloomfield and when this occurs they both skip away from each other to avoid conflict.

 

[Wiebke]

Thankyou. I thought 2 weeks was the general rule so may be over worrying. They are definitely decided about who is top pig. They will lye down close to each other but not touching and sometimes further apart. When veggies arrive they will stand up side by side at the bars and don't squabble over who gets what. The only teeth chattering is brief and happens if Hazelwood brushes past Bloomfield and when this occurs they both skip away from each other to avoid conflict.

It sounds like a good and stable bonding to me. By far not all piggies will actually snuggle up, but lying close to each other is a very good sign!

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

It sounds like a good and stable bonding to me. By far not all piggies will actually snuggle up, but lying close to each other is a very good sign!

Yeah I'm very pleased with how they are getting along. Once this weather improves I will be bold and pop them out in a run!

 

[eileen]

ive just bonded two boars today,i will be putting on the lawn run tomorrow if the weather is dry !