Boar Behaviour... is it normal?

DougalandDiego

DougalandDiego

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hello! I’m new here so hopefully I’ve done this right and sorry in advance for the rambling!

Three weeks ago my partner and myself bought two boars from a pet shop (after a lot of research I know now this wasn’t the best place to get them and will be rehoming next time). We bought them from the same group ( there were only three of them) in the pet shop and were told they were brothers. They are now around 13 weeks old. We were told by the pet shop that their indoor cages were plenty big enough for two male guinea pigs (again after lots of research I know now this isn’t the case). I have now bought a 2x5 cage from c and c and transferred them over last night.

Since getting both guinea pigs they have been displaying dominant behaviour towards each other (rumble strutting, rumble Corning and sometimes teeth chattering for a very short time and then they stop. They have never drawn blood, mounted each other or anything of the sort but occasionally raise their heads and open their mouths)

Since moving them to the cage the dominant behaviour has continued. They will sometimes sleep near each other but Dougal the less hairier of the two likes his own space.
I am hoping to get a video of their behaviour as I’m concered that with the odd teeth chatter and raising their heads they shouldn’t be together? However I’ve read on other threads to stick it out unless they draw blood?

I have attached a picture of their cage for reference. Any advice is greatly appreciated! :) EB3AC6A8-01E2-44D2-8A72-D2DF88352E7D.webp
 
It is difficult when you see what looks to us like troubling behaviour, but really unless there is blood drawn I would stick it out. I have looked for reassurance myself on this forum even though I knew what to do! If they are in a new space plus a new cage that will cause more dominance behaviour as they work out who is the boss of the new place. This should settle down after a few weeks, but sometimes boars just like to throw their weight around and it may be you will always have a bit of rumbling. The only reason I would separate without a fight (blood drawn) is if one is so constantly stressed it is making them unhappy and causing a weight loss. If one is being kept from eating again a weight loss will let you know.
In short, I would keep them as they are, make sure you have two food bowls/hay places or scatter feed, and weigh weekly to check they are both doing OK.
The cage looks lovely and big enough btw, well done on doing the research!
 
Nassala said:
It is difficult when you see what looks to us like troubling behaviour, but really unless there is blood drawn I would stick it out. I have looked for reassurance myself on this forum even though I knew what to do! If they are in a new space plus a new cage that will cause more dominance behaviour as they work out who is the boss of the new place. This should settle down after a few weeks, but sometimes boars just like to throw their weight around and it may be you will always have a bit of rumbling. The only reason I would separate without a fight (blood drawn) is if one is so constantly stressed it is making them unhappy and causing a weight loss. If one is being kept from eating again a weight loss will let you know.
In short, I would keep them as they are, make sure you have two food bowls/hay places or scatter feed, and weigh weekly to check they are both doing OK.
The cage looks lovely and big enough btw, well done on doing the research!
Click to expand...

Thank you for such a quick response!
Yes it’s so hard not being used to guinea pigs and wanting them to get along! Yes one of them rumble struts quite regularly at the other! 😔 Yes I’ve tried to make as many different hides with more than one exit as possible so that one doesn’t trap the other and have two of everything for them.
Thanks again! :)
 
Lovely cage and you are doing all the right things with two of everything. Don’t be too concerned unless fighting breaks out and blood is drawn, then separate. Keep a keen eye on them particularly at feeding time to make sure both get their fill, weigh once a week to highlight any problems. Whenever there is a change (new cage etc) there will always be a display of dominance, it should settle down. My two still love a rumble and the occasional chatter of teeth and they are over four years old!
You have a good cage there that can easily be split into two halves if the worst came to the worst x
 
Bill & Ted said:
Lovely cage and you are doing all the right things with two of everything. Don’t be too concerned unless fighting breaks out and blood is drawn, then separate. Keep a keen eye on them particularly at feeding time to make sure both get their fill, weigh once a week to highlight any problems. Whenever there is a change (new cage etc) there will always be a display of dominance, it should settle down. My two still love a rumble and the occasional chatter of teeth and they are over four years old!
You have a good cage there that can easily be split into two halves if the worst came to the worst x
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great advice! :)
 
Hello, I’ve been in the same boat recently. Two boys, one very dominant and a few stand offs but nothing else. Mine seem to be calming down a bit now after about five or six weeks of non stop chattering and rumbling (Oggie). Having a big cage and two houses/hides at opposite ends has been good for me, as they both get a chance to be apart and snuggly. Also hay at both ends so they can do their thing separately if they want. Getting a big run to put them in for a change of scenery a couple of times a week also helped (I think, or it could be coincidental!)

But I agree with everyone else, as long as they separate and go their separate ways after a bit of a face off, it’s all okay and just them learning to live with each other and grow as boys. But I know what it’s like to worry about it!
 
Fantasimo said:
Hello, I’ve been in the same boat recently. Two boys, one very dominant and a few stand offs but nothing else. Mine seem to be calming down a bit now after about five or six weeks of non stop chattering and rumbling (Oggie). Having a big cage and two houses/hides at opposite ends has been good for me, as they both get a chance to be apart and snuggly. Also hay at both ends so they can do their thing separately if they want. Getting a big run to put them in for a change of scenery a couple of times a week also helped (I think, or it could be coincidental!)

But I agree with everyone else, as long as they separate and go their separate ways after a bit of a face off, it’s all okay and just them learning to live with each other and grow as boys. But I know what it’s like to worry about it!
Click to expand...

Ah I’m glad somebody else is in the same boat! Yeah I really don’t want it to end in having to split them up! Since posting this *fingers crossed* they’ve both calmed down quite a bit and don’t seem to be facing off with each other, one still rumble struts if the other gets too close, but I’ve heard this is normal! I hope your boars continue to calm down! :)
 
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