Oo Grumpy With My Single Boars

[lauraboara]

Before you mutter to the screen well it is not their fault, I do appreciate that but crikey they are frustrating at the moment. I have 2 lovely bonded pairs of boys (Cheeky+ Thorn / Sudoku + Barney) and 2 naughty single boys Tea Cake and Keith who did live together but then fought and caused wounds as Keith challenged for leadership - he is a bold little chap.

Keith has been on a bonding holiday to a rescue met loads of boys and got on with none of them. But he is 7 / 8 months old so not totally unexpected. The best thing for him would seem to be neutering and then joining a sow - but that really means I would have to let him go as I would prefer to have a sow free home to avoid aggravating my settled boy pairs. . I would then have room to adopt a settled pair (>18 mths) of boys though?

Tea Cake who is older, 2 and a bit, has been on an even longer bonding holiday and apart from a near miss has also failed to bond with other boars. He is very dominant, lots of teeth clattering from the outset which freaks out his dates. The rescue has been super supportive but really they are running out of options for now. Tricky.

My indoor accommodation (enough for 4 bonded pairs of boys - I wish!) is not set up for side-by-side living. So any ideas piggie people? To neuter Keith and face having to part with him to meet a wifepig or not? What to do with Tea Cake? Hold out for the most laid back boar to be available for dating? Thanks for any thoughts / experiences.

 

[Wiebke]

I am sorry that no boy has found a suitable mate on his dating trip - and not for lack of trying! It is certainly worth giving Tea Cake another round of candidates when Jo has enough suitable new youngsters or laid back boys around. Generally, nearly all boys have found a new mate within two rounds of dating.

It is very difficult to say as to Keith - parting with him for his own best is still a very painful thing even though you are doing it for the right reason (as I know from having done it with my Caron last summer). You will not stop missing him even if you get regular updates from his new home and know that you have done exactly the right thing - as have I in terms of Caron; she is much happier in herself and with her new friends these days.
On the other hand, he is currently at the most difficult time for bonding. Is it worth holding on for a few months until he has settled down some more and has a much better chance of settling down with a boarmate?

 

[gizmo01]

boars can be a pain in the arse and at the same time massively rewarding the amount of fights I've had to put up with. at the then of the day its their choice in partner and when it works (when not if) its magic. Keep optimistic

 

[lauraboara]

I am sorry that no boy has found a suitable mate on his dating trip - and not for lack of trying! It is certainly worth giving Tea Cake another round of candidates when Jo has enough suitable new youngsters or laid back boys around. Generally, nearly all boys have found a new mate within two rounds of dating.

It is very difficult to say as to Keith - parting with him for his own best is still a very painful thing even though you are doing it for the right reason (as I know from having done it with my Caron last summer). You will not stop missing him even if you get regular updates from his new home and know that you have done exactly the right thing - as have I in terms of Caron; she is much happier in herself and with her new friends these days.
On the other hand, he is currently at the most difficult time for bonding. Is it worth holding on for a few months until he has settled down some more and has a much better chance of settling down with a boarmate?

Yes I will try again with Tea Cake - he has dated some BARC piggies too, unsuccessfully, so I have to accept this is not going to be straightforward or quick! Thank goodness there are rescues that will keep trying to help. It is just frustrating that you can't speak to these single boys and say "Look I am travelling around, trying to find you a friend, I am letting you choose and also offer another rescue piggie a loving home in the process - get on with it!" But obviously that is not quite how it works....

Thank you for reminding me about Caron's story - lots to think about. It might be worth waiting for him to settle but he is a very strong character so I think he may always challenge other males. But on the plus side he seems totally unfazed about being on his own - he chats on to my other boys and is v cheerful. ummm.

 

[Wiebke]

Sadly Tracy from Rugby Rescue is no longer around for you to go on the waiting list for spayed sows - they wouldn't have upset a boar household as they don't come into season. But she was the only rescue that did it.

 

[Goth Mummy]

Oh how difficult for you.
Could you hold on for a few months to see if Keith calms down? I have 3 boars at 7 months old and they are just crazy with hormones. It must be so frustrating for you to be going to all this effort and neither of them finding friends