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Small pets

Advice on 8 week old boars ( brothers )

16 replies

rosieposey · 06/07/2014 19:22

Ok so we bought home our two baby boys today ( Wilbur and Bruno) aged 8 weeks. They are going to be indoor chaps and seem to be settling into their cage well.

Im not sure about feeding them though? they have dried muesli but how often should we feed them greens/roughage? Do we leave their dried food down all day along with their hay? There is so much conflicting advice on the internet such as not to feed them peppers but i see on here quite a few people do - any advice much appreiciated.

They are super cute and one of them ( Wilbur ) has been popcorning away, It's all such a worry - I want them to be happy and settle in asap as we are looking forward to lots of cuddles.

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phantomnamechanger · 06/07/2014 20:02

we've got 2 boars too - they are now about 11 weeks and we've had them 2 weeks. They love peppers, not so keen on the green ones, They seem to be thriving on them. They also love romaine lettuce but leave the white central bit, broccoli, apple and parsley - mine wont eat tomatoes and are not keen on cucumber either. They tend to only eat their pellets overnight when theres nothing better on offer.

they just love grass and shout everytime they see us - they are very chatty and fun to watch running about in their run and popcorning

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rosieposey · 06/07/2014 20:03

I got the chirruping confused with popcorning - they haven't been running about ( popcorning i think ) just chirruping bless them. I hope that means that they are happy ( or at least beginning to settle in ).

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rosieposey · 06/07/2014 20:04

I got the chirruping confused with popcorning - they haven't been running about ( popcorning i think ) just chirruping bless them. I hope that means that they are happy ( or at least beginning to settle in ).

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phantomnamechanger · 06/07/2014 20:06

there are some very knowledgeable piggy mums on here, I was exactly like you 2 weeks ago - are they ok, are they eating enough, warm enough, weeing enough, pooing enough - its worse than a new baby!

the conflicting advice is confusing - I'm still confused over some saying they love orange and Satsuma and others saying no citrus as it makes their mouths sore Hmm

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rosieposey · 06/07/2014 20:06

Posted too soon! Ok well i will try them with peppers and see how they like them - they are quite strong for such little ones :-)

I have some broccoli that i will try them with as well. Do you leave their dried food down all the time or make sure that they have fresh green food at all times too?

Thanks for the reply, it's all a bit new to me.

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rosieposey · 06/07/2014 20:07

I've got some strawberries too but was worried about giving them sugary food.

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phantomnamechanger · 06/07/2014 20:08

there are you tube vids of the different noises they make and what they mean - i never knew they would make so many different sounds -popcorning is little leaps in the air when excited/playing - v cute

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phantomnamechanger · 06/07/2014 20:13

I tried mine with a strawberry, they were not interested

yes I do leave the pellets out all day (not when they are in their run), I tip out whatever is left when I refill it so they have fresh, as they tend to poo in their bowl the little tikes

as I said they don't seem to devour the pellets eagerly if they think there may be veg or grass on offer, but they are usually mostly gone overnight.

I have yet to see either of them drink - they have a bowl and a bottle which I refill several times a day - I was worried about them not seeming to drink but lots of people say they never see theirs drink either and they get liquid from grass and veggies. they certainly wee plenty so must be ok.

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phantomnamechanger · 06/07/2014 20:15

you probably know, but make sure they have something to gnaw on too - rope or wooden toys or a small branch from a fruit tree - ours love leaves off the apple tree too.

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rosieposey · 06/07/2014 20:21

I have one of those wood houses that is for them to hide in and nibble - I have an apple tree so might try that.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/07/2014 20:30

Congratulations on your piggy boars- boars are lovely and cuddly but there are things you need to bear in mind with males.

They'll reach their Terrible Teens about 12 weeks, when they hit maturity. They might get squabbly while they decide who is alpha pig. There's lots of ways to make this transition smooth (and lots of boar threads on here) .
Main thing is SPACE - they need room. I've just had a wander through Gumtree, some of the "huge cages" scarcely have enough room for the pigs to take three steps.

Space out the food- we use big plastic picnic plates for veg and shallow dog bowls for pellets, each with a space for them to walk round. I use water bowls (that they ignored) but I've bought bottles (which is also ignored) but you need to offer water daily.

The one house per pig + a spare works well, and always cut two doors so one pig can't trap the other.

Dried food (I use Burgess Excell is changed each night and always there, as is fresh hay. I find it easier to do this and night time, then supper/breakfast veg)

Your pigs will appreciate a variety of new foods, just offer a small amount of a selection. I give carrot(with leaves) parsley, red/orange/yellow pepper (mine won't eat green), a leaf of cos lettuce or romaine .
So not all salad or all root veg. Fruit yes, but only a small amount. A grape,a strawberry, slice of melon, banana piece.

Brassicas (brocilli,cabbage,kale,cauli) only small amounts, it gives them wind Blush
Sprouts for Christmas -of course !

You can pick them grass, dandelions leaves, clover until they can go out, (Make sure you build up their grazing time)

And : Food In, Poo Out, these animals poo for Britain.

I got GP3 as a 6 week boar to match with my GP1. There was a transition period where GP3 became Alpha Pig but it was smoothly done.
GP3 did keep trying to bonk GP1 but he got a Hmm look and GP1 walked away.

GP1 died last week, I cannot feasibly put GP3 (who is a year old and weighs 1350g Shock ) with a tiny boar. So I'm getting some sows for him. He'll side-by-side until he's been neutered and past his safe period.
He's sleeping in my DD room, just a couple more days alone, then Fingers Crossed he'll have pigs to chat to.


They'll take a while to settle, your boys are in a new home, new sounds. They are prey animals, they never change, no matter how old or how accustomed they become, they always think that they will be somethings lunch. Maybe at night put a cover over their cage (just something lightweight, a sheet or something)
But that's part of their character that makes them gentle , I guess.


Any other queries, just shout out Wink

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mumtosome61 · 06/07/2014 20:32

Long time piggy Mum here - we have four boars we've had since babies - they are now all two.

Don't worry about not seeing them drink water - it takes them a while to get used to the sounds, smells and sights and they will navigate around. They normally do that when their slaves (us) are asleep when they first come home - I remember I was petrified they were going to dehydrate as it was summer too! They also get liquid from vegetables, and they say to wash them before use to add extra liquid. If you put a little marker on the bottle to see each day, it might put your mind at rest - we did this when one of ours was poorly to check he was using it.

Rule of food is usually as such - meadow hay should be available at all times, as this comprises a lot of their diet. We give ours pellets - started them off on junior ones and kept with the same brand as they love them - Harrington's. We never tried museli so can't comment as they came from a pellet diet.

We give ours veggies/fruit (as in, fresh) once a day or once every two days. We try and vary it up but your boys will have favourites (like humans) - don't worry if they turn their noses up at some bits; as long as they are eating, it's all good :) Try the food again at another date as like humans, they also end up changing their tastes! We usually alternate between; romaine lettuce, kale, broccolli, cucumber, apples, carrots, peppers (all kinds, never had an issue with them), green beans, celery (be careful of plinthy stalks). They also get what we call "treat" food - herbs! They ADORE coriander and parsley - but they shouldn't have too much of it - we don't give it to them everyday.

Hidey holes/houses are brilliant - especially when they are young. We have two of everything in each cage - two houses, two bottles, two bowls. Something to knaw on definitely - especially when they are growing up through infancy and teenage years.

If there is anything else you want to ask, please do - consider myself rather seasoned now - they are my boys and love them to bits! They each have their own personality too, which I love.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/07/2014 21:24

each have their own personality

Ahem - pigonality Wink

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/07/2014 22:40

rosie I bumped the Food Thread for you, enjoy and peruse Wink

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rosieposey · 07/07/2014 08:59

Ah ok - lots of great advice there, I will take a look at the food thread too.

They already have quite distinct personalities, Will is much shyer ( and smaller ) than his brother and i was a bit worried last night as Bruno was out of the little house shelter that is in his cage munching away on broccoli but i saw no sign of Wilf.

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rosieposey · 07/07/2014 09:00

I did take a look this morning though and both boys are out and about having a munch Grin So cute!

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