Introductions Introducing a Young Boar to a Bonded Pair

[Dichotomy83]

After a successful quarantine, its time to introduce Spike to Milo and Pepper.


I put the animal playpen out on neutral carpet area and put the 3 in there to meet. Its been about 30 minutes and so far all seems good (I think?). Theres been rumblestrutting, mounting, and teeth chattering. None of those are happening in excess, though.

However, its been VERY noisy in their pen! Lots and lots of squeaking, mostly coming from Milo (the alpha). The squeaks seem to go in waves. It's quiet squeaks that will suddenly escalate and then die down again.

Im sure that the noises are likely dying down due to exhaustion! Its been a long 30 minutes of rumbling, mounting, marking, and talking!

Anyways, my questions. How long should I leave them in this pen before putting them in their newly cleaned and rearranged cage? Does this seem like a successful meeting? Is it supposed to be this noisy?

 

[Dichotomy83]

Update:

Its been near an hour now, and theyre still noisy boys!

They must be getting tired by now. Milo is sitting and starts to squeak louder when Pepper tries to come near. Hes actually rumbleSITTING, lol. His back end sways but he isnt getting up. Every once in a while Spike (the newbie) will let out a lone rumble. Pepper (my puberty filled teenager) keeps trying to instigate something between either Spike or Milo. Spike seems to be okay with his bottom rung on the totem pole (at least for now....he isnt in puberty yet though!)


When should I move them to their cage?

 

[Peggysu]

You can move them into the cage when you feel comfortable. If you don't feel comfortable yet, then wait a little while till it quiets down a little more..

 

[Ly&Pigs]

If they are getting along and it's been over an hour then I'd go ahead and put them in the cage. Usually fights occur in the first few minutes.

 

[Dichotomy83]

So, they're all in the C&C cage now.





Almost immediately upon arrival in the new cage Milo and Pepper (original bonded pair) engaged in a tumbling fight. It lasted only a split second though, and wasnt even long enough for me to react and separate. No bloodshed.





There was more noise and chattering from all 3 pigs (but primarily the original pair), but it was minimal.





Currently Pepper is sleeping in the spacious cozy cottage, Spike is in the grass hut, and Milo is out in the open sleeping near the hayrack.




The interior of their cage is comprised of:

2 pellet dishes on opposite ends of the cage

1 hay rack

1 veggie dish

1 "Fun"nel crinkle tube

1 Cozy cottage

1 straw hidey



Technically thats only 2 hideys for 3 pigs. But I figured they could always hide in the crinkle sack if need be. The cozy cottage is huge (1x2 grids) and could easily fit all 3 pigs. I was hesitant to add another hidey because I feel like it would clutter their floor space. Do you think this is okay? I could always add more things if it seems they arent sharing the space well.



Their cage is in our bedroom, just off our living room, so it should be pretty easy to hear any potential squabbles. In fact, I think it might be a very noisy night here tonight!

What things should I look out for in the next few days as signs that there might be problems in the future??

 

[Peggysu]

You need three of everything!! That includes three food dishes, three hay racks and three hideys and three water bottles. You can always make a towel tent that way no one gets cornered. The more you have in there right now will help lessen the squabbles.

As for what to listen for, well it's probably going to be noisey. I would just make sure there isn't any blood shed. If they are teeth chattering and then they go up on their hind legs with with teeth out, an attack in most likely going to occur. Make sure to have a towel next to the cage incase you have to separate, this will startle them and keep you from getting bit.

 

[Dichotomy83]

Hmm...okay.

So I took out the crinkle tube and now there are 3 hideys in their space. I also was able to use another grid to build a second hayrack. Two water bottles are up now, as well.



I dont have a third grid for a hayrack, or a third water bottle, so that part will have to wait until tomorrow, at least.


For those of you with multiple pigs, do you always keep up that many sets of things, or only until you are sure they get along?


When it was just Milo and Pepper the only thing they had doubles of was hideys, and they got along just fine.

 

[Dichotomy83]

So Im sitting in my room observing them in the cage, and it seems like rather than the two bonded boys ganging up on our newbie...the bonded boys seem to be at odds!


Any tiny squabbles Ive seen are actually between Milo and Pepper. Milo is taking a passive stance and only being noisy if Pepper approaches, but it seems like Pepper is trying to dominate everything! (Milo was previously the alpha)


Between the food (2 dishes), veggies(2 dishes), fresh hay (2 spots) and alfalfa cubes (Spike is still under 6 months) I have everything separated so there are 4 different places that they can "eat". Plus two water bottles.



Nobody is bleeding (although someone pulled out a tiny tuft of Milo's long hair....Im thinking it was Pepper). How long can I anticipate the noise to last?



Also, do you think its okay if Im out of the room for about 45 minutes to finish a movie?

 

[Dichotomy83]

Update:

Still dealing with some issues between Milo and Pepper. They went at eachother again while I was in bed. The first time lasted less than a second. This time was a bit longer and I ended up throwing a blanket at Milo and pulling him out of the cage for a minute. Milo had "blood spots" on one part of his back where a tuft of hair got pulled. (It was definitely not a bite, I could see the follicle spots).


Anyways, theyre back together again and its not quiet, but not loud. Im hoping it wont happen again. If I have to separate again....do I pull out the aggressor (Pepper)? Do I take Spike out even though hes not participating in the fighting?


Should I leave them be?


When do I know when I need to seperate?

 

[Catayn]

I'm going throught the same thing around here, but no fights.
I have 12 water bottles and food bowls for 2 piggies. Yes, I am exaggerated. 5 little houses, 6 pvc tubes and 8 cozies. Just trying to make sure everyone can have a little of everything. But they seem to be working it on their own.

 

[akstrohm]

I definitely recommend towel tents. You don't necessarily need three food dishes, hay racks, etc., but in your situation it sounds like this is a good idea. If there is blood again, I would remove one of the pigs that is fighting. What size is your cage?

 

[Triggs]

You need three of everything!! That includes three food dishes, three hay racks and three hideys and three water bottles. You can always make a towel tent that way no one gets cornered. The more you have in there right now will help lessen the squabbles.



You don't need a bowl per pig, or hay rack per pig. Or even water bottles. There's safety. And taking care of your pets. Then there's just too far. My 3 pigs have 4 pigloo's (only due to the size of their cage) and they all sleep in the one together, Drink from the one water bottle, Eat from the one bowl. So I took all the others out. I was sick of full pellet bowls and water bowls not being used. :crazy:

 

[2pigs2kids]

You don't need a bowl per pig, or hay rack per pig. Or even water bottles. There's safety. And taking care of your pets. Then there's just too far. My 3 pigs have 4 pigloo's (only due to the size of their cage) and they all sleep in the one together, Drink from the one water bottle, Eat from the one bowl. So I took all the others out. I was sick of full pellet bowls and water bowls not being used. :crazy:

It's not going too far at all. You're lucky if your pigs share nicely...mine do too, but that is not the case for all!!

 

[Catayn]

I'd rather go too far, just to make sure and prevent possible tragedies.

 

[fieryone]

If there isn't any major bloodshed then let them be. When I introduced my neutered male to my females he squalked for almost a month when anyone went near him. Now one of my females still nips at him and it's been over 2 months. A bite mark with a small amount of blood isn't enough to separate. My male still sometimes gets a little bite mark with a tiny amount of blood on his nose when he's bugging the ladies too much.

 

[Dichotomy83]

To answer questions: the cage is 5x2. Currently up are: 2 hay areas, 2 water bottles, 2 pellet dishes, 3 hideys, 3 veggie dishes.




Well, its morning. Everyone is living.

It sounded like Pepper and Milo jumped at eachother about 2-3 more times throughout the night (that I heard, but Im a pretty light sleeper). Each time was a split second instance, though. And the teeth chattering dissipated pretty quickly.

What we "think" is happening is this:

Milo is used to being alpha pig. Pepper (pretty willingly) submitted to this when it was just the two of them.

Enter Spike.

Pepper sees Spike as someone he can dominate. Milo honestly doesnt seem to care about Spike being there. However, when Pepper rumblestruts and chases Spike around and gets a little too close to Milo, then Milo gets mad. And Milo and Pepper go at it for a second.



Well, it was a noisy night here. Lots of talking and only tiny bouts of fighting. Today I saw no blood on any pigs, surprisingly no tufts of Milo's hair pulled out anymore. Right now theyre eating their veggies. Milo and Pepper are happily sharing from the same dish and Spike is pulling his veggies into a hidey and eating them there. Poor guy is probably traumatized.




Should I count this as some kind of improvement?

 

[akstrohm]

Hopefully they will settle down. Some people think that boars do best in even numbers.

If it's possible to expand to a 2x6, I would do so.

 

[Dichotomy83]

I cant easily expand right now, but could make arrangements to do so if need be.


Their pen will definitely be expanded (whether theyre getting along or not) once we move into a house. This isnt going to happen for another year or two, though.


Things are pretty quiet and peaceful now. If things continue to settle down, we should be okay. If not, I'll find a way to expand.