Absolutely gutted- Fighting boys :(

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waterbaby

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The boys started squaring up to eachother and teeth chattering two nights ago. Yesterday Mike went to put them in the run while I was at work. He noticed a blood on Timones mouth and looked at Pumba too. They both had cuts on the mouth. They are not at all deep or bad cuts, but it is quite obvious they have been fighting.

I am distraught. I feel like we have failed our Piggies. We got them because besides really wanting to share our lives with a pet, we thought we would be giving two rescue piggies a better life, but I feel like we have made it worse.

The pigs have seemed so happy. They have been sociable with us, being playful, and they have really been enjoying their run outside. It seemed that once they had had the space of the run, Pumba was not quite so happy to share the space of the cage with Timone. Obviously they had the mite treatment a week ago, but I havnt noticed any difference in behavior until 2 days ago. The only difference I can see is that Pumba was always the slightly more dominant one before but Timone has slowly begun to 'edge in' on Pumbas turf. Although there have been plenty of times when they have been snuggled up in one house together and when ever in the run they are side by side chirping away together.

I feel so bad. Pumba currently has the cage. Timone is in the run in the same room. We have moved furniture out of there so it is now just a guinea pig room! Wow! These piggies really take over your life dont they! It has a little hutch type thing in there too so he seems fine in there.

We did try them back together last night after cleaning the cage but after about 10 minutes of normality they were baring teeth again and chattering and being very aggresive so had to seperate them. Please somebody tell me we can get these too back together! I will try anything. They have a ferplast 140 at the moment. What if we built them a cc cage with two levels so they have more space? I dont want them to be lonely. Once we had seperated them last night they were calling to eachother and lookin gout at eachother. Pumba seems happy as larry today with Timone but Timone seems to be missing his pal I think. Although almost jumped into my arms to get out of the cage last night :(.

If they have to live separate I will be gutted but definitely will keep them both. It is just making me want to cry.
 
how old are they both? Just wondered if they are going through a hormonal period and are pushing each others luck.

I have no experience in fallen out boys so I cant give advice on that, just thought I would say that you have not failed them, boys can be a bit testosterone and not much sense and nothing you did caused this. Do you have two of everything, maybe extra space would help but will leave that to more experience people to answer.
 
We have been told they are most likely about 12 months but not sure exactly. Yep, they have two of everything.

Thank you for the reply x
 
Boys mallethead

I'm having the same issues with my two, so can totally empathize with you.

I built my boys a 5 x 2 C&C and they still fell out, so what I do with mine (and I am not saying this will work with yours, as all pigs and bondings are different), but I have a grid divider down the middle of the C&C. I put their beds together, either side of the divider so they still lie next to each other.

I can take them out of the cage, and put them in the inside playpen that I have (an ELC ball pit, without the balls) and they can play and interact very happily in there for hours.

They also fell out in the outside run, so that also has a divider down the middle. They lie side by side in that too.

Its just the C&C and the outside cage where I have the issues.

technically, you shouldnt keep putting them together and then splitting them up again because each time you put them back together they have to assert dominance.....But its working for my two, and as long as they are happy with the set up, then thats good enough for me.

I am hoping once Jamies hormones settle (hes the one causing the trouble) at 15 months of age, then I will be able to put them back together. If I cant, then I am happy to keep things as they are as long as they are comfortable with it. If things change and they start to become withdrawn or fed up, then I will look to change things.

How old are your boys?
 
I had the same experience when my three boars turned a year old. Unfortunately nothing would work and I had to separate one from the other two, who both calmed right down and became very close.
 
Not sure of exact age but the rescue had estimated around 12 months.

Sorry to here about the trouble you have been having too x
 
Between the ages of 9 months - 15 months they are very hormonal....Theres approximately 6 months difference between my two, so Gino has been the boss up until about 4 months ago when they fell out.

Stupid thing is, when I put them together in the ball pit its like Popcorn city mallethead They are soooo happy to be together again, but in the cage its all out war after an hour or so :x

Lots of boar bondings are falling out at the moment, the hot weather isnt helping either
 
It might be he weather, my boys have been quite rumbly the last week.

I think if it was me in this situation I would put a divider in the cage and go from there.
 
I just took Timone out of the run he is currently housed in. Pumba was having a good look to see what was going on. Then I put some fresh paper and hay down on the floor and have made it a bit more cosy for him. He approves as he was wheeking and hopping around in there and then Pumba joined in the wheeking too.

I was wondering if I did the right thing separating them, then i saw the little cuts on their mouths and I guess it was the only way? :(

So do you think it would be better to put him back in with a divide? What could I use. I don't think pumba would be all that fussed to be on his own but Timone seems to love company so think it might be better for him.
 
I'm not sure if you have mailed me as i'm on holiday at the minute and haven't accessed my emails.
But i can give you hands on help plus advice.

These being adopted from BARC you have life long support.

Hope we can come up with a solution

Paula
 
I was just about to say that the rescue whom you got them from will hopefully help you. Best case scenario is you end up with 4, 2 pairs! the more boars the better in my eyes! but on a serious note I am sure Paula will help once back off holiday.
 
Oh gosh sorry to hear the boys are having tiffs :( boars rolleyes
Whee had to put a divider in our cage as one of the boys continually humped the other and it was just awful :( But they'd spend most of their days sitting beside the divider chatting away! They also had playtime together which they loved!
Hope you and Paula can come up with a solution !

HUGS AND GOOD LUCK XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
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OK, I wanted to show you how my pigs live separately but together. However, I understand that some people on this forum will disagree with me keeping my pigs this way so please take all opinions into account and see what is best for you and your pigs, but my pigs are honestly very happy like this.

They couldn't live together after a bad bad fight so this is our compromise.

Clive, the dark one is a very grumpy pig so I don't know how he'd take to a new friend, even one he could choose himself. Now that they both over a year old (hormones hopefully passed!) we will think about getting a new friend for each of them, but will have to see. They have floor time together every day and 'cuddle time' every night and usually get on for up to an hour, until Clive starts clacking his teeth. Good luck with your pigs whatever you decide.
 
Thank you everyone. I am feeling much calmer about it all today after seeing two happy pigs this morning at feeding time. Sorry for the emotional response yesterday, I was just really worried for the pigs.

Paula- Hope you have a great holiday. I will email for a chat after the weekend

Bessiehen- your boys look happy together :)

If we can get them back together that would be great. I would fine with them living side by side if I thought that they would be happy like that. I think Timone would need a friend eventually though. Maybe I will have to take them boar dating eventually.

Pumba was popcorning around this morning, he is enjoying the space to himself. Luckily Timone seems to enjoy human company so was happy with some attention from us last night. He is the one who has been put in the run though so I am worried he will think he has been punished.

But yes,more boys would not be the end of the world would it :)
 
Bessiehen - I do exactly the same with my boys. Out of the cage and in the playpen they are fine, so they get as much time together as possible. Cage wise they have a divider down the middle. They dont get on in a caged environment, and even when they do its only for a few hours before things turn nasty.....If its working then there shouldnt be any problems with it, each pig and each bonding is different. And how we manage our pigs is up to us....as long as they are happy no one should criticize :)
 
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