Introducing Two Boars - Didn't Turn Out How We'd Hoped

Mottle Tuft

Post   » Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:08 pm


My two sows fought terrible at first. One had to go to the vet twice because of it. They worked it out and eventually were fine together. I learned a lot and when introducing the third we had a place sectioned of for her in the cage. They could see and smell each other but not fight. They also had lots of floor time together and when she started living with them permanently it was a pretty smooth transition. Good luck!

flutterbye

Post   » Sat May 01, 2010 6:39 am


codyNpatches - Yes when I first got piggy rash I did think 'mites?', I also thought bf's aftershave, new shampoo, etc. etc. ha ha. We did treat them as babies JIC anyway, but my piggy rash is proper hives when they rub too hard against me - 15mins or so after putting them down it eases & disappears. Just my luck! Ha!

Halva & PPS - Yes I agree with you both, when I tried the first intro there were two hiday houses set up - these were promptly removed when Dougal chased BamBam into one & BamBam had nowhere to run. In the main cage I have a large fiddlesticks tunnel & a towel draped over one corner so they think they're hiding but still have the whole area to get away from each other.

Update: Thankfully no bloodshed, but these two are certainly not loving each other. Dougal spends all day brrring at BamBam, even though BamBam's not challenging 'as much', if BamBam's lying having a sleep Dougal will come over and brrrr at him to get up and go away!

BamBam's still whinging about the whole thing, he sees Dougal coming over to him & trots away whinging... I wish this would stop as it's a huuuuuge guilt trip on me!

My main concern at the moment is that BamBam's not himself - he's not wheeking for his veggies (which he has ALWAYS done, whenever he sees me, for hours before it's actually veggie time!). He's having to spend his day sheepishly trotting about his cage with Dougal bothering him all the time.

I had a word with them both last night (neither seemed to be paying much attention), and told them that if BamBam didn't start wheeking for is veggies again by this time next week, we'll have to go to plan B (side by side cages). I did say in an earlier post that the individual happiness of each pig is important to me, and I'm not getting that 'contentment' vibe from either of them at the moment. I know it's early days (today is 5th day together) but I would have hoped for harmony to have prevailed by now - wishful thinking?!

Mottle Tuft

Post   » Sat May 01, 2010 8:10 am


I know it's early days (today is 5th day together) but I would have hoped for harmony to have prevailed by now - wishful thinking?!

It took mine awhile to get along, maybe over a month. There was a lot of chasing, and nipping. After awhile I realized they had stopped. It was really hard for a awhile but once they accepted each other things got a lot better. This was females though so it could be different.

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clairey

Post   » Sat May 01, 2010 8:13 am


Is Dougal wheeking for veggies? There seems to be a designated primary wheeker per cage generally. It could be that Dougal has inherited wheeking rights through being the alpha.

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BeanieBaby11

Post   » Sat May 01, 2010 8:39 am


All I can say is, it takes time. No matter how much conflict there is now, your pigs will be happier in the long run to have the company. My girls had bloodshed five times but now, after four weeks, they even share a food bowl. Please do not give up.

flutterbye

Post   » Sat May 01, 2010 10:46 am


clairey - Dougal doesn't wheek for veggies, I've only heard 2 or 3 wheeks from him since we've had him - we don't think he's been kept with other gps before so perhaps he's used to silence.

When BamBam was paired with Pebbles, Pebbles was the main wheeker, and BamBam would join him in chorus, it was wonderful to hear. When Pebbles passed away, BamBam took up the baton and wheeked louder for his veggies than he'd done before.

Now that Dougal's in with him, it's as if he feels he has to be quiet - perhaps out of fear of being brrrrr-ed at, or mounted. I'm missing hearing the wheek wheek when I come in the living room, and know this is out of character for BamBam.

Before the intro I hadn't heard any teeth chatters from either pig before, not even from BamBam when he was with Pebbles - now both are chattering like those wind-up plastic teeth toys, and it's not nice :-( Dougal's even chattering at me when I put my hand in the cage, which I'm taking very personally at the moment he he!

I'm hearing what you're saying - patience... time... everything will be fine... This'll be my mantra for the time being then! Thanks everyone for your support x

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Halva
Supporter in '10

Post   » Sat May 01, 2010 6:24 pm


I do not have cuddly piggies - at least not with each other. It has taken mine years, literally, to get to the point where they will congregate together. They will now lie close together but never, ever touching. There is a definite pecking order and they will squabble and bicker over food, space and a multitude of other thing. Yet, I know that they are unhappy when they are apart. Recently when Amber was separated on the other side of a grid to recover from her op, they definitely pined for each other.

I guess I learned that I had to let them show me what their normal was and I could not define it for them. Their setup does not look like complete harmony from the outside but it works for them.

It might take some time for your pigs to settle down but I'd persevere for a while. If no one is losing weight, you are probably ok. Your setup sounds good. I swear by those fiddlesticks houses cause you can put them in the middle of the cage and they have loads of room for someone to exit in a hurry!

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govikes98

Post   » Sat May 01, 2010 10:41 pm


The humping will continue, pretty much for a long time! When our more submissive pig gets after the dominate one and goes for the face, I cheer him on!

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Feylin

Post   » Sun May 02, 2010 12:49 am


You can weigh them at the same time each day- if one of them is loosing weight steadily then you need to separate. Otherwise, just let them be.

I hear you on the whining being too much! Mine used to do that. Constant whinging about his brother getting too close. This is totally fine to leave them be doing, though.

flutterbye

Post   » Sat May 29, 2010 9:47 pm


Update: Whilst these boys certainly don't 'love' each other, they've developed a tolerance and respect for each other. Most gratifying for me is that BamBam's started wheeking for his veggies again! First time he did it I cried!

They still scuffle over turf, but no blood has been shed. BamBam's learnt he can run faster than Dougal anyway so when Dougal asserts his authority BamBam just gets out of his way and brrrs at him from a distance.

Thank you to all who helped me keep my nerve when I was loosing it - it WAS worth it in the end!

Pics as requested (hope I do this right!)

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flutterbye

Post   » Sat May 29, 2010 9:58 pm


P.S. For anyone that may be frequenting this site living in Wales, UK, my Bam Bam was on TV!

BBC's X-Ray programme were doing a feature on how people are keeping exotic pets more and more because they don't have the time to walk a dog twice a day etc. but don't realise the responsibility they're taking on, and on the day they were filming at my exotics vet's clinic BamBam was in for a check up!

Blink and you'll miss it, but he was there - on TV! Watch out Hollywood hehe!

Myndy

Post   » Sun May 29, 2011 12:45 am


I am having intermittent problems with my boars.
The get along fine 99.9% of the time and the .1% they draw blood.
There have been no major injuries yet. The yet is what is worrying me.
After they fight and if they have calmed down should they be separated? It happens quickly and probably only lasts 13 seconds
What are the things that mean to permanently separate them?
How should I preceed from here?
Currently one looks like he got punched in the lip and other's foot looks like it used it to punched someone in the mouth.
Neither are showing any signs of pain just a couple of cuts.

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