Boar chasing and food guarding

[Munchmunch]

I’m having trouble with my sweet boars Oliver (5 months) and Nutmeg (4 months). They have been living together outdoors for the last couple of months completely fine until last weekend.

Oliver has now started chasing Nutmeg around the hutch and out into the run and back inside again (they have a zippi tunnel and come and go inside/outside as they please), and chases him away from all food. We have started to feed them separately - one in the hutch and one in the run by blocking off the tunnel - to ensure they both get their fair share.

The chasing seems to be unprovoked and Nutmeg now will not go out into the run at all due to the chasing, and even when he stays in the hutch out of the way Oliver will run inside to find him and chase him again.

Nothing has changed around them and they have a calm bonded older boar pair next door to them in the run as well as two single boys (a failed bonding) as neighbours.

Do we let this continue and hope it resolves in time or do we separate them? We have a spare hutch but it seems a shame when they got on so well previously. Thank you for any help.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry to hear this.
They are now both in their teens and it does sound like things are taking a turn between them.
I think this sounds like full on bullying so separation may well be the best thing.
A failing bond will not resolve - it’ll just get worse. bullying will either result in the bullied pig becoming depressed, losing weight through being chased away from hay (feeding veg separately doesn’t prevent be being refused hay and given hay is the most important part of the diet); or the bullied pig gets so fed up he retaliates and a fight breaks out.

You can do a separation for a few days - if nutmeg is happier to be away from him then that can sometimes be all the evidence you need to keep them apart permanently without attempting a reintroduction. Oliver will be very upset by a separation by you have to ignore his behaviour.
You can decide to reunite in neutral territory and allow them to choose if they wish to go back together - it’ll either go straight back to bullying behaviour in which case you separate them permanently, or they’ll go back together harmoniously.

From what you have said, this sounds like conclusive bullying and personally I would separate permanently at this point and not attempt a reintroduction.

I have a separated pair also. They were fine together until they were 18 weeks old and then suddenly one day they had an all out fight and have lived side by side for 2.5 years.

The guide below explains further

Bonds In Trouble

 

[Munchmunch]

I’m so sorry to hear this.
They are now both in their teens and it does sound like things are taking a turn between them.
I think this sounds like full on bullying so separation may well be the best thing.
A failing bond will not resolve - it’ll just get worse. bullying will either result in the bullied pig becoming depressed, losing weight through being chased away from hay (feeding veg separately doesn’t prevent be being refused hay and given hay is the most important part of the diet); or the bullied pig gets so fed up he retaliates and a fight breaks out.

You can do a separation for a few days - if nutmeg is happier to be away from him then that can sometimes be all the evidence you need to keep them apart permanently without attempting a reintroduction. Oliver will be very upset by a separation by you have to ignore his behaviour.
You can decide to reunite in neutral territory and allow them to choose if they wish to go back together - it’ll either go straight back to bullying behaviour in which case you separate them permanently, or they’ll go back together harmoniously.

From what you have said, this sounds like conclusive bullying and personally I would separate permanently at this point and not attempt a reintroduction.

I have a separated pair also. They were fine together until they were 18 weeks old and then suddenly one day they had an all out fight and have lived side by side for 2.5 years.

The guide below explains further

I’m so sorry to hear this.
They are now both in their teens and it does sound like things are taking a turn between them.
I think this sounds like full on bullying so separation may well be the best thing.
A failing bond will not resolve - it’ll just get worse. bullying will either result in the bullied pig becoming depressed, losing weight through being chased away from hay (feeding veg separately doesn’t prevent be being refused hay and given hay is the most important part of the diet); or the bullied pig gets so fed up he retaliates and a fight breaks out.

You can do a separation for a few days - if nutmeg is happier to be away from him then that can sometimes be all the evidence you need to keep them apart permanently without attempting a reintroduction. Oliver will be very upset by a separation by you have to ignore his behaviour.
You can decide to reunite in neutral territory and allow them to choose if they wish to go back together - it’ll either go straight back to bullying behaviour in which case you separate them permanently, or they’ll go back together harmoniously.

From what you have said, this sounds like conclusive bullying and personally I would separate permanently at this point and not attempt a reintroduction.

I have a separated pair also. They were fine together until they were 18 weeks old and then suddenly one day they had an all out fight and have lived side by side for 2.5 years.

The guide below explains further

Bonds In Trouble

Really appreciate the advice thank you - we will split them and let them live as neighbours before it gets any worse.