Top 100 Cavy Breeders

lovemypigs · New Member Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

Hi All,
I'm just after a quick bit of advice really. I have a sow who is due to give birth in the next week or two & she is housed with another pregnant sow (she is a couple of weeks behind her in pregnancy). They are both housed with the boar (Dad!). The boar has been castrated a wwek ago now.
I was hoping to keep them together (obviously I know I will have to seperate the baby boars from the girls at 3 weeks) but was wondering if you think they will be ok together. I can't find any info in books as most times the boar is still entire & for obvious reasons has to be removed as the sow can conceive again almost immediately.
I wasn't sure if the male would attack the new young boars? Or all of the offspring?
He had to be seperated from his 'brother' at 10 weeks as they didn't get along, to be honest I have doubts that they were litter mates or that they were even brought up together as they fought as soon as I got them home. He gets on fine with both sows, except he thinks he is a 'stud'!!

Sorry to write an essay!! Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
(this is my 1st litter due, so am trying to do things right & an VERY excited!!!)

Carrie · New Member Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

I had a boy who was verry good with his sons when I took them out of mum n sisters cage. he would be excited at first from the small of the girls on them but once he realized they weren't girls Wink

he was a very good dad! Big old Rex boar he was. If your boy is agresive by nature it may not be a good idea. Hope it goes well!
Carrie Very Happy

lovemypigs · New Member Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

He's aggressive with his 'brother' but then again his brother is the same with him, but really I don't think I should expect anything else as they live with girls. You know what boys are like- in all species!!!! But in general he is quite happy to be bossed about by his ladies!!!

Liz · New Member Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 9

Hi,
I would think your boar will be perfectly fine with the pups, cavie boars do not attack babies even if they are not theirs, the problem you face is that he will still be fertile (and for quite a while after) so will cover the sow in the hour after she has littered. This is the time when a baby can get injured by accident.
it is not a good idea to keep two pregnant sows together as they tend to 'help' with the newborns and this will trigger their own pups to be born early, which is never a good idea, that said there is always exceptions to the rules!
Personally i would split them for now and just as a point i never split my baby boars and sows from the mother sow before 6 wks and i have never had a sow conceive, they just don't allow it and i think it is better for sow (who by the end of the 6 wks is glad to see the back of them) and the pups as they are, i find better able to cope with others piggies later on in life as they are socialised and mum teaches them manners !
Hope all goes well!
Liz

P.s. sows don't always get on either when they have their pups especially first litters, you may find your boar gets attacked or your pregnant sow.

Breeders of Roan, Tri /Bi and Rex.

lovemypigs · New Member Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

Thanks for the good advice. I will do some hutch swapping!!
Strange how everything you read is different & people's advise also differs.
I didn't know about the other sows litter risk coming early but I presume it must be the hormones released & stimulated when the young try to suckle.
Feel sorry for Turnip the Dad, 1st loses his balls now he's going to be on his own Sad

!!!

Thanks all for the advice.