Question about boars please...

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Claire1973

Claire1973

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I have a question I'd like opinions on really. I am currently fostering two boars for our rescue who were both neutered 2 weeks ago. Snoopy and Barry. I was told by the rescue that they were fighting a lot and might need separating soon. Now I am inexperienced with boars together - I have my own 2 neutered boars all with females so I'm not sure what to look for. I have noticed them mounting each other, chasing and a lot of rumbling and sparring where they appear to be kissing - heads up but mouth to mouth..Barry is the dominant pig. Obviously a bit of tension there but no blood drawn or anything, in fact they do snuggle together as well. They are in a cage with lots of toys tunnels a big tray full of hay and two fleece snuggles. I was planning to introduce gentle Snoopy to my lonesome female Gypsy when it's safe and we would keep them as a pair but Barry would have to go back to the rescue and join the herd they have of 13 - but if (as I suspect) this is all normal behaviour between two boars then should they stay together and find a new home but stay together? If i try Snoopy with Gypsy and it doesnt work out will he accept Barry again? (this is starting to sound like the jeremy kyle show lol!) By the way, they are in the same room as females so if they can smell them I realise this can cause squabbles - however it just doesn't seem to be any worse than I'm describing, so if rehomed where there are no other pigs they might be even calmer? Not sure whether to ask the rescue to rehome them together if anyone wants a pair of boys?
 
Hi, I'm no expert by any means but I have two unneutered boars who live happily together and I've seen them exhibit the same kind of behaviour that you mention, particularly when their house has been cleaned or a big plate of veggies has arrived!
They don't chatter teeth at each other but Patches (the dominant one) does chase Bubbles, mounts him from side and rear, rumbles at him and steals his food, he also occasionally nips his ears resulting a few loud squeaks but no more than that.

They also snuggle up together and are always together no matter where they are.

I think you should monitor them for a while longer and see what develops.
 
Thanks - yes they are teeth chattering sometimes :... But my group do that at each other over food as well, but it's no more than squabbling over the first dibs at what's on offer! :-) will be able to monitor them a bit more anyway as Snoopy won't be ready for introductions to a female for another few weeks will he?
 
I would say personally if the teeth chattering has already begun all its goign to take as a little bit more tnesion than normal and they will need seperated at some point although there is no way of predicting when. They obviously tolerate each other well but when hormones rise they get very dominany. In my opinion both would be better with females. The difference in their pigsonalities when they live as nature intended is unbelievable.
There is of course no harm leaving them together buit I think with females it would make for much happier piggies.
 
How old are they? If they are around 4-14 months, then the problem could be teenage hormones kicking in. Ihave three boars atm, two unneutered living together and one neutered with four wives (atm - could rise lol). The boar that lives with the girlies is just over a year old and spends a lot of time rumblestrutting with the ladies. The unneutered pair are kept in the same room, but not too close, and they are chilled out. But they do sometimes mount each other, and some teeth chattering goes on too, but usually only if one decides to be top pig that day. Always have two hidey spaces, and make sure that food can be accessed at from different sides is a good tip, or put it two piles. The hormones haven't settled down yet if it's only two weeks from neutering, so it may take a while.
 
I'm new to boars having had mine for 2 months, but my 2 do all of this chasing, mounting and teeth chattering etc. They are 8 months old so at the hormonal stage. Teeth chattering is usually fine until it gets louder and they start drawing blood. Mine haven't drawn blood yet luckily so I think they are fine, they seem to work things out and sleep together at night so must make up every night!

I also found that putting big piles of hay in the cage makes them forget about fighting and they eat hay instead.. They need 2 of everything and sometimes that isn't enough. They both have food but sometimes one brother wants the exact food his brother is eating and will drop his food to take his brothers. I scatter feed their veg so they can be at different ends of the cage to eat their veg which stops fighting too :)
 
My boys squabble a bit....teeth chattering, loud squeeks, rumblestrutting the lot.

It really worried me at first, but they get along just fine 95% of the time. The tension normally kicks in if Gino catches Jamie un-awares ( J is quite a nervous pig) by running up alongside him or popcorning over him lol! I think its more Jamie telling him to "get off!" more than anything.

On one occasion, I have had to put a partition between them for an hour or so. But this was totally my fault, for putting Gino back in the cage first after cleaning it out. Hes the dominant pig and I made the mistake of putting Gino back in first, then it took me 5 minutes or so to sort Jamie out and put him back in. By that time Gino had scent marked everywhere, and Jamie coming into his territory kicked off a whole heap of trouble lol!

Boys will be boys :(|)
 
I would monitor it a while longer, i have experienced bad teeth chattering and if they're genuinely ok together this can blow over but it really is 'suck it and see'. Even if you need a partition temporarily or a bit of a time out, doesn't mean they need splitting up forever, they're often more closely bonded than you know, especially if they will snuggle together. Two of my boar fell out and had to be seperated for a few days, i then reintroduced them and it did blow over, it's mainly down to hormones. Boars who can't stand each other will end up drawing blood and chatter loudly all the time. If it's sporadic it's normally hormones and the fight to be top pig, particularly between the ages of 4 to 15 months.
 
Personally, I would have a chat to the rescue that you are fostering from for advice. They should be able to offer some help or a solution. If you are fostering, then you are not alone in dealing with this problem. :)

Maybe they might be better recovering from their operations separately? :)
 
Boars will have the odd argument and as long as it's not prolongued chattering and no blood is drawn, they will probably settle. The key things are space, two of everything even though they usually want the one the other has got anyway and lots of distraction from toys, food, hay, cosies etc.

I have four and the bicker in their pairs from time to time but usually things blow over. Occasionally taking one out for 'time out' a la SuperNanny works to calm things down if there is some over enthusiastic humping or such going on.

Even in a four at floor time mine will only have a quiet rumble at each other and they are all mid hormones right now!

Be prepared to seperate but watch and wait and they may well weather the storm and be happy together.
 
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