|
|
Post by chellebelle on Jun 14, 2014 21:53:54 GMT
Hi Everyone, I need advice. I have 3 sows and 2 boars. We decided to breed them, I have homes lined up for most of the babies once they're born. I've done tons of research on here and on other sites, also talked to experienced breeders. Well I have 2 cages so I put 1 boar in with 2 sows and the other boar in with the last sow. They've been together since April 13th. All 3 sows are noticeably pregnant, I felt kicks in 2 of the sows and very faint ones in the 3rd sow. It's time to remove the boars as it's nearing the sows earliest due date and I am not 100% sure when exactly they did the deed. Well today I bathed both boars and cleaned out their cage, even scrubbed the food bowls and water bottles so that nothing smells of sow. They are in a different room and everything. Well when I put them together they were both rumbling and strutting around then the teeth chattering started. One of them bit the other one, no blood, but it scared me so I put a divider in the cage. Is there any way they will be able to be cage mates again like they used to be?
Also when I tried to put the 3rd sow back in with the other 2 they were fighting too. They were chasing each other around and biting each other, also with teeth chattering and rumbling. I really wanted to put the sows together so they could raise their pups together. Would I be better off leaving the 3rd sow in her own cage until she litters? I don't want to stress them out too much.
What would you guys recommend for me to do??
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jun 15, 2014 9:26:10 GMT
Hi
Sadly not all boars will re bond once they have been with sows. Its just natures way. Its a risk you take when you breed with boars who were previously housed together. Try letting them live next to one another for a few days, then you can try reintroducing. But we aware it may not work.
As for the sows, not all sows like to be in with others when pregnant, moving them like this can be very stressful on them and their pups. I would personally NOT put the third sow who was taken away to be bred, back with the others.
Kayleigh
|
|
|
|
Post by chellebelle on Jun 16, 2014 4:46:39 GMT
Thanks Kayleigh for the advice. I will try reintroducing the boars in a few days, they are in a c&c cage that I have divided in half. They can still see and smell each other. They've been acting all buddy buddy through the bars. So I'm hopeful that they just need to calm down some.
Do you think I will be able to put my third sow back in with the others once she litters? Or would it be best to wait until after the pups are weaned? I don't want any of them to be unduly stressed, but I would like all my sows to live in the same cage. The 3 of them got along fine before being with the boys. Do piggies forget about cage mates after a couple months?
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jun 29, 2014 19:52:00 GMT
Hi
I find sows can be a bit iffy once bred if separated, The only thing you can do is try. If you allow the sow to litter alone, wait until the pups are 4/5 weeks old (once boars if any are removed) then try putting them all back together.
I dont think they forget about cage mates no.
How are they all doing?
|
|
|
|
Post by chellebelle on Jun 30, 2014 18:24:53 GMT
Hi, I tried the boys together again and they started right off with the teeth chattering. So I just put the divider back. They'll just have to live side by side, I knew it was a possibility when I paired them with the girls so I have plenty of cage space. I still have the girls separated, I let the 2 that get along litter together and they're doing fine. The one that's by herself also littered, for now the divider is still in and I put coroplast on it so they couldn't see each other. When I didn't have it there they were chattering and trying to fight through the bars. I took it off after they littered and the sow that is by herself tried to bite the pups when they stuck their heads thru the bars. So I put it back. I will try again when the pups are all weaned but maybe they just don't like each other anymore. Idk. I have the cage space to keep them separate if I have to but I'd really like them to be together. Out of all their litters I only have 1 boar  and the sow that's by herself I really want to keep one of her daughters (she's super pretty) and so she won't be by herself after the pups are weaned. |
|
