Up to my ears in pigs, advice needed

[t&ds mum]

Thanks in advance for any replies

So I now have six pigs due to getting a new friend for my long term pig (after her best mate died) and not realising the newbie was pregnant.

I have just had them checked at the vet and all four babies are male!

I have decided to keep them all (but obviously separate from the ladies).
What I'm wondering is will it get them riled up and aggressive to be in the vicinity of females (even if they can't physically get to them)? Will 4 boys be ok together if they've grown up together? I was planning to add on to my existing cage so they would be able to see the girls.

They are nearly 3 wks so do I have to separate them already?

[piggerz]

The boys do need to be seperated from the females at 3 weeks of age. If they will be next to the girls cage, make sure the boys side has a lid on it to prevent them from crawling over the cage bars to get to the girls. I know that sounds weird, but boys get weird when the females are in heat, and they will attempt to get to the girls, even if it means crawling over the cage divider.

The 4 boys, even though they are brothers, may begin to fight when they reach puberty. You may wind up having to seperate into pairs, and they will need very much space.

Hope this helps.

[Ziggy&Herald]

Yes, they will need to have a very large cage. I have 5 boys in a divided 3X7 but I still think it's too small. They get along fine, but it kind of seems like it's not enough.

Some boys can live next to girls without fighting, but many can't. They don't have to be able to see the girls for them to start fighting, just the smells.

I would definitely opt for a lid for the boys if you do try to house them next to each other.

[Ly&Pigs]

Separate the males when they turn 21 days old.

[paula.m.moore]

As far as whether or not they will get aggressive in the vicinity of females - I have males and females in the same room and had this same concern when I got my females.

When the girls are in heat the boys might drive each other (and you) crazy with rumble-strutting, mounting and general bickering, but my experience has been (knock on wood) that they won't hurt each other. It's just that the dominance game gets more intense during that time. When the girls are not in heat it's business as usual.

People will probably tell you it depends on the pigs, and that's very true. Some of my boys have no problem with the females (heat or no heat) ever. Two of the boys do and they do the majority of the bickering and squealing and general driving Paula crazy.

If they've grown up in the presence of females I think you will have a better chance of them being used to it and all getting along without causing any harm to each other.

Like everyone else has said, though, you will need a very large cage for four boys. It might be easier to keep them in pairs.