What Next For My Two Boars

[hannahlb]

Hi everyone

We had two boars who were very well bonded, but one died a few months ago. We got a baby boar to live with the surviving one, but unfortunately they have now had a fall out (a proper fight with blood) and live apart. We have tried repeatedly to reintroduce them (over the space of about a month), but they definitely do not get on!

Both boars have been boar dating unsuccessfully - the older one (Bubble) paired up with a younger male at a rescue, but when we got him home, the younger one (Mars) could maybe smell the newbie or something and starting doing that angry clicking thing and then that set Bubble off and he then fell out with his new cage mate too! So he had to go back to the rescue, as hard as that was.

My question is, what now?

We considered getting both boys neutered and pairing them up with a sow or two each, but after speaking to the vet, I think Bubble is too old and we don't want to risk it, he's nearly five.

So what can we do? We also considered getting two spayed sows, but wouldn't it be risky to get girls, pay to get them spayed and then find out that one boar doesn't like his new girlfriend? Or getting one sow spayed for Bubble and neutering Mars? Or getting a boar for Bubble and neutering Mars so he can have a girlfriend? It's just so hard, we don't know what to do!

At the moment, Bubble and Mars live in a 6 x 3 C&C cage, with a divider down the middle so they can interact and rumblestrut at each other to their hearts content!

Any advice or suggestions would be very much welcomed

Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone

We had two boars who were very well bonded, but one died a few months ago. We got a baby boar to live with the surviving one, but unfortunately they have now had a fall out (a proper fight with blood) and live apart. We have tried repeatedly to reintroduce them (over the space of about a month), but they definitely do not get on!

Both boars have been boar dating unsuccessfully - the older one (Bubble) paired up with a younger male at a rescue, but when we got him home, the younger one (Mars) could maybe smell the newbie or something and starting doing that angry clicking thing and then that set Bubble off and he then fell out with his new cage mate too! So he had to go back to the rescue, as hard as that was.

My question is, what now?

We considered getting both boys neutered and pairing them up with a sow or two each, but after speaking to the vet, I think Bubble is too old and we don't want to risk it, he's nearly five.

So what can we do? We also considered getting two spayed sows, but wouldn't it be risky to get girls, pay to get them spayed and then find out that one boar doesn't like his new girlfriend? Or getting one sow spayed for Bubble and neutering Mars? Or getting a boar for Bubble and neutering Mars so he can have a girlfriend? It's just so hard, we don't know what to do!

At the moment, Bubble and Mars live in a 6 x 3 C&C cage, with a divider down the middle so they can interact and rumblestrut at each other to their hearts content!

Any advice or suggestions would be very much welcomed

Thanks!

I am very sorry for your problems! You are obviously a very caring mum and have tried your best!

At the moment, I can see two options for you:
- let your two boys live alongside each other
- contact the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton, as they specialise in cats, rabbits and small rodents and are one of the very safest places in the country for a successful and problem-free neuter or spay, especially as they have long term practice by neutering and spaying all guinea pigs for RNGP Welfare Rescue in Rugby for about 15 years (sadly, the rescue has closed down last year; it was the only one in the country with a spaying policy) and have got one of the highest success rates in that particular area.
They have emergency spayed my Cariad (a much more invasive operation than a boar castration) at a similar age to Bubble and at only 700g - and Cariad sailed through her op. It would be worth getting their expert opinion re. which would be the best way forward for you in respect to any operations. We have got members from your area who go there as well, so it should be within your reach. Mars would certainly be worth neutering, but for Bubbles, you may want a consultation with an experienced vet.
http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/

Please be aware that you will need to factor in a full 6 weeks post-neutering wait for boars before they are safe to be bonded with sows. I have got the daughter of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar living with me, just to prove that particular point and have since heard of some more cases. Again, as with all piggy bonds, dating for mutual liking is the key stone for a happy partnership. Once initial acceptance has happened, cross gender bonds are the most stable of pairings possible.

 

[Kerrie74]

I sort of had the same problem only we adopted two boars from the rescue and when we got them home they seemed ok, however they started fighting and cut each other up, so after posting on the forums and getting Wiebke's advise, we are now going to have Cesaro neutered so he can go with if not all of the sows at least one of them, he's currently in a cage next to the sows and the younger boar is in a cage next to our older boars and seems ok, but we will be trying to find him a baby boar to try and bond with when the rescue has some.

It's always sad when piggies don't get on or fall out.

I hope you work something out for your boys.

PS - Welcome to the forums

 

[hannahlb]

Thanks for the advice and welcome Do you think neutering is the way forward for both of them then?