I want to put my "Odd Couple" together

[Booth]

Hello!

We have two pigs, and they each live in the largest commercial cage I could find - one for each of them. But after reading this site, I'd like to build a really big cage and put them together.

Here's my question: Thor is a one-year-old neutered boar and Brownie is a four-year-old intact female. They play together mostly nicely during floor time, with some agressive mating behavior (poor Thor is running on instinct, I suppose.) Do you think they could live together in a big C&C system?

 

[tashagurl]

They should be perfectly fine together. Thor will probably harrass your sow a bit but she will give as good as she gets. It usualy takes a few days for them to calm down. If they are in your bedroom like mine are I wouldnt put them together for the first time anywhere close to bedtime. Trust me they will keep you up all night.Good luck!

 

[Booth]

Well, I just let them have an hour together in the new cage. Thor was mounting Brownie like crazy, and she didn't seem to mind... maybe she's in heat. BUT, after a while she froze up and made a noise I've never heard a pig make (in my four years as a pig owner)... it was like a fast chirping noise. It creeped me out so I separated them again.

Any idea what that was?

 

[GuineaTV]

My sow makes a burbling noise when she's being mounted & chased by a boar (neutered). She only makes that sound in that situation, and chases and plays back. Maybe your sow's just having a good time!

 

[ChadWPB]

Most of the time neutered boar/sow pairings work quite well. Building a large C&C will also help keep the peace. How large a cage did you build?

I find that neutered boar/2 sow trios work extremely well.

 

[Booth]

Right now, they have a 6-by-4 foot C&C with their original commercial cages (the biggest I could find) appended. So they each have their own "bedroom," and then a public living room. They can go between their cages and the C&C at will.

It seems to be working well. They like to go back to their cages to sleep, and take care of their waste, so the C&C stays pretty clean.