Are my boar pairs stressed because their cages are next to eachother?

[MorskoPrase]

Hello, I have two pairs of boars. Each pair are in different 12 Sq ft. cages. One cage houses my older boars Marvin and Eugene. My other cage houses two younger guinea pig brothers named Cream and Oslo. Their cages were in separate rooms until we moved things around and now their cages are right next to each other.

One of the younger boars, Oslo, is particularly interested in my other pair. He actually ended up getting on top of his hidey house and jumping/climbing over into my other boar's cage. It shocked me when I walked in the morning and saw 3 guinea pigs lounging around in one cage. I fixed this issue so he can't anymore, but he spends all his time in the corner, chewing and trying to catch a glimpse of the other pair. His brother doesn't care much about the other guinea pigs at all, but Oslo is very eager.

My other guinea pig boars don't seem to pay much attention to him. Sometimes they'll wheek at each other but I think that's normal. I'm wondering if it's causing any stress, especially for Oslo. for them to be next to each other. Or do you think the behavior will subside and they get used to being "neighbors"?

 

[Piggies&buns]

If the living arrangement is new, then yes a bit of interest in the neighbours is to be expected. It ‘shouldn’t’ cause a problem long term, but its always something to keep an eye on - it may be absolutely fine when the initial excitement of having new neighbours subsides, but it may also be that actually they can’t live like that and their cages need to be moved further apart/stacked.
@Bradshaw Piggies has multiple boar pairs living next to each other so can help further

 

[Deleted member 139433]

Hello, nice to meet you!

Yes, as @Piggies&buns said, I do have quite a few pairs living next to each other. It is a very testosterone filled room Yes, interest in new neighbours is to be expected, and introducing new neighbours can always be an exciting time for the piggies (though I tend to find my longer term residents don't get as excited as the newbies do) . They do settle down eventually, though be ready for a life time of rumble strutting at the bars....

Yes, it's great that you have sorted the hidey situation. If I have any hides in there (or even tunnels), I place them strategically. My guys love to sit on top of hides, so I have pieces of the C&C attached above them; or they would be jumping into other cages!

Your boys will settle. As you probably already know, never ever attempt to keep any females in the same room (even in a separate cage). Some of my older boys that were once sworn enemies through the bars have mellowed with age and actually live together as a pair now.

As long as your boys have lots of space in their own sections and somewhere to sit away from troublesome neighbours, there shouldn't be any stress caused. Even with my youngest boars, one is very interested in the neighbours and one is quieter and isn't. I have several big piles of hay, and separate hides for boys (they need at least two of everything), I also put hides at separate ends of the cages to allow them time away from each other should they wish.

I don't think your boys sound stressed. One of my boars gets too stressed with another pig in his cage, so he lives quite happy surrounded by his younger neighbours.