Options: Introducing 2 Adults

Below:Prince & Spam were Introduced as adults & now get on well, living together happily

Two adults can be introduced successfully if this is done gradually and carefully in some cases. This is so rewarding & as you are pairing up a lonely pig with another lonely pig is a lovely thing for everyone involved. Both pigs are happy and so are you! Here is how to do it... With thanks to Janet & her pigs Basil & Mutley for the accompanying photographs!

1)First take each guinea pig in turn and sit them on a blanket on your knee. Let the other guinea pig sniff the blanket after the first guinea pig has gone back in his cage.

2)The next day sit both guinea pigs on your knee together. They should not fight in this situation, even if they do not eventually get on together.

3)The next day take both pigs out of their cages and introduce them on neutral territory.

Don't be alarmed by the noises and behaviors you see… they will be establishing which pig will be boss. Mounting (demonstrated by Basil & Mutley left) and bottom sniffing (below left) is normal. Have a blanket ready to throw over the pair of them should they start to fight– as this will help you separate them without getting caught accidentally by teeth & claws!

Please note: Do not try to house more than just a pair of boars together. They will not get on. Pairs of boars who are kept near to sows can fight with each other because of the smell of the sow.

In spacious quarters, with lots of distractions in the way of hiding holes and the likes boars have the best chance of getting on well together.

Meet Basil & Mutley and the rest of Janet's boars in the Your Boars Gallery & learn more about them.

Linda's Biscuit and the late Bubble were introduced successfully as adults. Read their story in the Your Boars Gallery.

We now believe that, though it is slightly more difficult to pair up adult boars in the fist place, that if this is done successfully following the steady processes described here it offers the best chance of a SUSTAINED partnership. Its our Number 1 option!

*Click on an image to enlarge*

Barmy4Boars is happy for you to copy & save information on this site for your own personal use. However please do not publish or transmit images or information from this site without asking us first.

www.barmy4boars.co.uk

Below:Prince & Spam were Introduced as adults & now get on well, living together happily

Keeping Boars: The options

Introducing a second pig will make a lonely pig much happier! You can tell this very clearly, not only through their behavior as they tend to become more active, confident & vocal... but through their eating habits!

Guineas who live with a second guinea are less fussy about their food & eat whatever's in the cage, even if previously they wouldn't entertain it! Perhaps its because they think the other guinea will eat it if not!

All my guineas have gained a few oz's since the introduction of a friend! I always provide a second dish of mix to reduce competition at eating times & so that the under-pig of the relationship does not go without food because of the dominant pig!