Rescue Boars should we bond

TheGuineaPiggeryat9

TheGuineaPiggeryat9

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Hi, I have agreed to take on 2 older boars from my partners family member who’s unfortunately passed away recently. We have been told that they were originally 2 pairs but one of each pair has now passed away. They were informed that they are around 4/5 years old not to bond them as they were too old. As I currently have 5 sows and have never had boars before. I wouldn’t want to put them through being neutered at this age but is it correct that they are too old to be bonded? They are in separate cages at the moment but when I have them I will be putting them next to each other but separated in a c&c cage. I am considering getting a younger boar each to bond with them if that’s the only option but with already 5 sows and now these 2 boars I don’t want to overload myself so if they can bond it would be a better option for myself but obviously I will do what’s best for them. Thanks for reading.
 
They most certainly are not to old to be bonded - piggies can be bonded at any age. Definitely go ahead and put them on neutral territory and try to bond them. At that age, companionship will be very important to them and bonding older boars can sometimes be easier.

Boars need a bigger cage though so ensure the cage you have for them, when bonded, is a 5x2 C&c.

You would be wise to keep them away from your sows though. You don’t want them escaping and getting in with your sows, nor do you want issues with them smelling sows
 
They are not too old to bond. If it doesn’t work out between them, they could always live as neighbours to fulfill the interaction needs.

I would say be careful if they haven’t been around sows before. The pheromones May cause issues with their (potential) bond.
 
Yes as above, if they don’t want to be together, you don’t need to get more piggies to bond with them - the two of them can just live as neighbours in side by side cages. This gives them the interaction between the bars that is needed.
(I have a pair of 1 year old boys who fell out and live happily as neighbours. I do also have an older bonded pair of boys who are 5 and a half years old).

To add, if they don’t bond, then they need a cage which is a minimum of a 3x2 c&c each, ideally they’d be in a 4x2 each.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
 
When they’re on neutral territory have a glove and a dustpan at the ready incase they have a roll around fight.

Open ended hides are a must too xx
 
Hi

It is always worth a try; if not, they can give each other companionship and stimulation through the bars. Unlike sows, whose hormone output remains high and who generally become more difficult to bond/re-bond the older the get, boars mellow with age as their testosterone output gradually fizzles out be 4-5 years of age. They actually become easier to bond and often value companionship over dominance. However, they still need to click on a personal level and want to be with each other; the law of clashing personalities still applies.

Please take the time to read our very detailed, step-by-step bonding guide which takes you through all stages with attendant behaviour and special boar dating aspects as well. Keep in mind that the intro may last just a day but that the whole bonding process takes about 2 weeks until they have fully established a new group in a new territory.
Here is the bonding link again: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

More practical information on boars and boar bonds:
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
 
Good luck, it would be lovely if these two old boys get along together in the later years 🤞
 
Thank you all for all the advice I will let you know when I get collect them and how I get on. I have had very good success with the bonding of my sows so fingers crossed for the boars. At the moment my sows are all outside and these will be inside and we are in the middle of making a outside outhouse into a Guinea piggery 😂 I am setting up a Instagram page to document the process @theguineapiggeryat9 xx
 
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