Disaster has finally struck...

[weaseldropping]

As some of you may know, we have put two neutered boars in with three established girls. So far, they have all been living outdoors in a gigantic run with tons of grass to eat and they have all been getting on fine.

This last week I have started putting them into the hutch at night as it has been getting a bit chilly and foggy. The hutch is 16 square feet.

Georgette, the youngest girl has suddenly got very nervous about being handled and screams whenever she is picked up - she especially hates it if I put a hand under her bottom. Renee, her mum, has come over all "feminist" and bolshy, and Ophelia is just plain terrified of everything. My husband just called me out of bed (mild flu) to have a look at them - he told me that there was a terrible lot of noise coming from the hutch so he decided to put them in the run - except Georgette who he simply couldn't catch and didn't want to traumatise by chasing, so he left her there.

Since then Jonny has forced himself in a thoroughly sexual manner on to Ophelia approximately one every two minutes. He tried it on Renee, and nearly got bitten, and when he made a dash for Georgette, he found her mum Renee was ready to attack him. Ophelia has been taking the brunt of it, and is not happy.

I have put Jonny in another run to cool off, and his brother Flash has made one half-hearted attempt on Ophelia.

I am assuming that Ophelia has come into season, and the change of location into a smaller hutch overnight has left the boys a bit disturbed.
Ophelia is a very unhappy pig right now, and the other girls are not far behind.

Is it worth putting Jonny back in again in a few days? I guess this will all blow up again next time Ophelia comes into season and I am thinking that maybe last week was Georgette's turn. I don't think he'd get very far with Renee - but I can see a bit of a bloodbath on its way...

Any suggestions, please????

 

[cavy-cool-crazy]

There's no point in separating them each time one comes into heat. It only lasts for up to 24 hours. Eventually Jonny will get the message that the girls don't want to be mounted by the fact that he keeps getting nipped, and he may simply chase them instead of mount them. Either Jonny will give up or the girls will step down and let him mount them. If blood is drawn then separate, but if they are just annoyed and keep nipping then keep them together.

Charlie is like this with my girls as well. Lottie is never mounted because she sprays everyone who goes near her back end, Jazzie puts up a fight but eventually gives in, and Tuppy puts up an even bigger fight but also ends up letting everyone mount her.

 

[weaseldropping]

We tried putting Jonny back in, and everyone else got very annoyed with him.
I had to intervene when he tried to mount Renee - she turned on him like a tiger!
I gave everyone a close inspection, and I must say that Jonny's aim was not very good at all - all three girls were in a horrible sticky mess and were very upset about the whole business. I have buddy-bathed the girls together with Flash - that was an experience!!!!! They liked being blowdried a lot - kept putting their faces in the warm air and just sat still enjoying it all. They smell a lot better now as well....

Well, Jonny had just moved in next door and is now living with my mum. Luckily we have just obtained a 2 foot by 4 foot indoor cage, so he is in the lap of luxury - and we will consider a friend for him in due course - see how mum gets on first as a first-time cavy slave.

 

[Rachy1412]

Sorry to hear that it didn't go well! I only have one boar living with my females but when he tries to mount the dominant female when shes not in season all hell breaks lose! I hope you can find him a good friend!

 

[JennG]

I'm sorry it didn't work out. I was so wanting it to. Well I hope your mom enjoys him. I'm sure with your guidance she'll do just fine. Good luck with the rest of your herd.

 

[weaseldropping]

Thanks for that!

I am printing out the GuineaLynx dietary info for Mum now, and she is all set up with the cage, hay, pellets, a Romaine lettuce and us next door!

Actually, this could be a really good thing as my mum really hates vegetables herself, and we do worry about her diet. She is such a responsible pet owner that little Jonny is going to have the best life ever - with unlimited veggies. She is also a relic of the second world war and hates waste, so she is going to have to eat up the pig's left-overs! I know it usually works the other way round...

 

[weaseldropping]

Hey, maybe I can even get her to join in on the forum!
She is just starting to be a "silver surfer" at the age of 75!!!

 

[JennG]

My mom doesn't have any piggies yet. (I'm working on her.) But she has a little dog named Gizmo. She's signed up on here as AngelPig3. But I don't think she's ever posted, just comes on to lurk. Glad to hear that Jonny will be a good influence on your mom.

 

[weaseldropping]

We have been suggesting for a while that a pet would be a good thing for her, but she didn't want to as she is getting on in years a bit. At least this way she knows that we will take over again if there is a problem, and Jonny can easily go to the cattery in his cage when we all go on holiday - the rest of the herd go into a hutch opposite the cat's cahe - he would miss them otherwise!

 

[JennG]

Gizmo is my adopted brother. I swear that dog is so spoiled. Any time I take my mom to Walmart, she has to get him a new squeaky toy and he knows it. After everything is brought into the house, he'll sit in the kitchen doorway with his tail a waggin'. If she doesn't pay him any attention, he'll start rummaging through the bags to find it himself. Silly dog!! I'll have to post a picture of him. Trust me. We have plenty.

 

[weaseldropping]

Great news - all four remaining pigs have calmed down back to normal - no more running around like lunatics screaming whnever anyone walks by.
Jonny is clearly sulking - mum was worried that he wasn't eating when she looked at him, but seeing as how he's finished three romaine leaves and three handfuls of hay, I'm not that worried!