The end of a friendship

[Alex (and the 5Bs!)]

Oh dear oh dear, Betty, Boris and Babs were getting on well with the new arrivals Bertie and Beryl. They all seemed to be fine in the run together. However, Boris has been showing Beryl a lot of attention and I think it made Bertie jealous and he decided enough was enough and started a scrap with Boris with no warning signs! It was v scary and I had to separate them, getting bitten in the process. Poor Boris had a cut lip in a couple of places which I bathed for him. Bertie came out of it unscathed. Was horrible! Looks like they won't be able to play all together again

Alex

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

I'm very sorry to hear this Alex, the smell of girls often causes trouble between boys. As you know I have had to seperate two of my boys who scrapped even without the small of girls. Boar relationships are very delicate. Please don't feel too sad. After a few days, and sorting out alternative living arrangements I saw that my boys were perfectly happy living nexty to each other. It was sad but not the end of the world. Perhaps you could use some kind of divided run to allow them to play at the same time, but in safety. This is something I want to do with mine!

[Karen Rexraver]

Hi Alex

Mixing two boars with a harem of sows was a disaster waiting to happen to be honest, neutered or not they will still be territorial and dominant, and what you had happen, invariably will be the result.

Rule of thumb one neutered boar to however many sows.

I would not attempt to put this group back together, even just for run time, it is very upsetting for them as they have to start their social interactions and pecking order all over again.

Karen

[sally]

I don't have any girls, but did have 3 boys together for seven months - one older and 2 babies. One day, out of the blue, Trouble (very appropriate name!) and Flash decided that they both fancied Wilson in a big way (I tried explaining that he was also a boy!), had a huge scrap, and poor Wilson came off worse with a cut lip. I gave them some cooling off time, and tried putting them out in the run together with their breakfast, but food was the last thing on their minds - they just wanted to fight, so that was that. Trouble had to be taken out, and he now has his very own baby boy, and sems to be doing much better as a pair. I think he misses Wilson, though. Sometimes I catch him looking across wistfully! Poor boy!

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Sally thanks for sharing that story. Glad it had such a happy ending... with each piggy being paired up. 2 does seem to be the golden number with boys and even that can be trouble as I have found myself! Would love it if you would consider allowing me to pop your experiance of trio's on my boars website? www.barmy4boars.co.uk please feel free to say no. I won;t be offended but I'm always looking for other peoples experiances to help visitors make up their own minds if they are trying to decide whether to try 3 boys together etc.

[oompaloompa]

shame, poor you

[gizmo01]

ok now obvious 3 boars unless brothers aint gonna work what if you keep two pairs together as in two bonded pairs?