Big Fight - Help!

M

munchmonster

Forum Donator 2025/26
Joined
Jul 29, 2017
Messages
2,055
Reaction score
3,202
Points
1,225
Location
mansfield UK
I have 3 piggy brothers who are now 5 months old. I had them as 6 week old babies from a rescue. i had to take one of them away from the other 2 more or less straight away but kept the other 2 together. In the past week things have been getting tense between the 2, lots of rumbling, loud noises etc. I've had a feeling that they have been becoming more aggressive towards each other since last weekend as i have got back from work to find the hidey upside down and woodshavings from their house all over the floor.
Getting to the point, they have just had a major fight, rolling around their house and grabbing each other with their teeth around the neck. I took one of them out and he is currently sitting on my shoulder obviously in shock. I cannot put them back together in case I am not around and something even worse happens. Even worse, I have no other cage to put him in.
Any suggestions from the more experienced piggy owners out there? I promised them I would look after them, but I am now wondering if I should give one back to the rescue to give him another chance elsewhere. That particular piggy is always trying to bite me too.
I feel ive done something wrong somewhere?
 
Firstly the rescue should never have given you a boar trio. It’s quite rare that a group of more than 2 boys will work out once they reach piggy adolescence and the hormones kick in. I feel the rescue has let you down a bit there and it was not your fault.

If blood has been drawn then please do not put those two back together. You could maybe try bonding the attacked one with the other boar and see if they settle better. Or other combinations to see if you can make a “pair”.

There is a wonderful guide from Wiebke here:
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
And another fantastic guide here:
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

You can still keep all 3 but you will need to either house the lone one near the others so he still has company through the bars or consider getting a friend for the lone boy (either another boar, or neuter him and try a sow once he is 6 weeks post op).

Of course if you don’t wish to maintain two cages on a permanent basis then no one will judge you for wishing to return one to a rescue.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Squeakz. I probably did make it clear that one boar is already on his own as he was the first one to fight wit the others, Ive tried putting them together on neutral territory but they fought immediately. I contacted a different rescue in the hope of finding him a friend but there were none available but i still live in hope so I do have 2 cages already. I am fostering a house rabbit who has a 2 tier home and think I may have to put Wilf in the top tier but prevent the rabbit from going up there. Do you think it would work on a temporary basis? I will try your suggestions though
 
As long as the rabbit can’t reach him I guess it works for a temporary solution considering you can’t put the poor boy back into a “war zone” for the night.
A cat carrier would also work with a water bottle and some hay and pellets, Or a large lidless long storage container if you have one around the house. It’s not ideal but if it’s only for a night it’s better than nothing.

Failing that pop him in the bathtub on some towels. That’s usually the neutral space I use for bonding though :tu:
 
oh and please have a read through the guides linked in the first reply :nod:. Not sure if you saw them or replied while I was editing to add the links. :hug:
 
Ahhh sorry you are having problems.. no advice to offer but hope you find a solution soon .
 
Thanks for the advice and comments. I am really upset that its come to this, as I was hoping the 2 that were together would be ok. The rabbit is looking very bewildered and Wilf is hiding in the 'upstairs flat' He must stay there until saturday as I am at work all day tomorrow, but I do know that I have to find a solution as I haven't the room for 3 cages plus a 2-storey rabbit home as well. Sorry to rant!
 
I have two boars ( who are brothers ), they fought once and one of them was bleeding, I separated them for awhile and put them in a bigger hutch now their fine with each other, maybe your cage/hutch is too small for all of them ?
 
munchmonster said:
I have 3 piggy brothers who are now 5 months old. I had them as 6 week old babies from a rescue. i had to take one of them away from the other 2 more or less straight away but kept the other 2 together. In the past week things have been getting tense between the 2, lots of rumbling, loud noises etc. I've had a feeling that they have been becoming more aggressive towards each other since last weekend as i have got back from work to find the hidey upside down and woodshavings from their house all over the floor.
Getting to the point, they have just had a major fight, rolling around their house and grabbing each other with their teeth around the neck. I took one of them out and he is currently sitting on my shoulder obviously in shock. I cannot put them back together in case I am not around and something even worse happens. Even worse, I have no other cage to put him in.
Any suggestions from the more experienced piggy owners out there? I promised them I would look after them, but I am now wondering if I should give one back to the rescue to give him another chance elsewhere. That particular piggy is always trying to bite me too.
I feel ive done something wrong somewhere?
Click to expand...

Hi!

The rescue you have rehomed from (obviously not one of our recommended ones) should never have rehomed a trio of baby boars in the first place. Your boys are coming up to the phase when the testosterone output is at an all time high. That age is a classic time for fights and fall-outs. Our guide discusses your various options in detail. It may also help you understand the dynamics during the teenage months better and be able to put what has happened into context. :(
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

If your third boy is still alone, you can see whether he may or may not bond with one of his old mates. It is about the most difficult time to bond boars at that age because of the huge testosterone spike, but it may be something to try once the fighting boys have got over their shock (a serious fight is a real shock for both of them). Normally, the losing boar will just remove himself from the premises without a fight, but that is not possible in a cage.

Please separate the boys; they will not go back together ever again. Have you got a large cardboard box, a laundry basket or a crate you can use as a temporary shelter? Make sure that you have them thoroughly checked for deep bites to the rump and face/neck. Depending on the damage, they may need an antibiotic. You can disinfect any wounds with saline solution from the pharmacy or homemade by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt into 1/2 pint (250 ml) of boiled cooled water.

Make sure that you also take care of yourself; a big fight is also a massive shock for you, too! Please contact the rescue once you have cleared your internal options so you can work out the best way forward with them. It is not your fault; baby boar trios have in our forum experience of over a decade only a very small chance of making it, but a few do end up with three single boys once the hormones soar. :(
 
Thanks for post Wiebke its helped me a lot. Yes it was a massive shock for me having never witnessed anything quite like it. One of the piggies was in shock last night and sat very still on my shoulder for a long time while I tried to work out where to put him. My only option was to convert the 2 storey indoor rabbit home to 2 flats, but the poor little piggy just sits in the hidey, so I've decided to put him back into his original home and move the other one into the flat. I did not want to give up on any of them but am considering contacting one of your recommended rescues to talk with them and see of they can give the more dominant one a better home. I feel guilty even thinking about it, but feel my options are limited.
 
munchmonster said:
Thanks for post Wiebke its helped me a lot. Yes it was a massive shock for me having never witnessed anything quite like it. One of the piggies was in shock last night and sat very still on my shoulder for a long time while I tried to work out where to put him. My only option was to convert the 2 storey indoor rabbit home to 2 flats, but the poor little piggy just sits in the hidey, so I've decided to put him back into his original home and move the other one into the flat. I did not want to give up on any of them but am considering contacting one of your recommended rescues to talk with them and see of they can give the more dominant one a better home. I feel guilty even thinking about it, but feel my options are limited.
Click to expand...

Best try Cavy Corner sanctuary in Doncaster; they are the best place in your wider area to help you with sorting out your situation to everybody and every pig's satisfaction and you are in very safe hands there! It is worth the distance, I promise you! ;)
https://www.facebook.com/cavycorner/ or Cavy Corner | Guinea Sanctuary. Registered Charity No 1156943
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top