Boar Drama

[Sophie B]

Smokey has been chasing Bacon for the past two minutes, Bacon is non stop teeth chattering, I’m wondering if there may have been a dominance dispute or if it’s hormones, I don’t know exactly how old they are (maybe 8 and 9 months?) so it’s surely a little late for the teenage years, although thy never did make too much of a fuss during the normal time for their teenage months.

They’ve calmed down now, but I’m about to go to sleep but I really don’t want anything to happen while I’m asleep...

 

[Sophie B]

I’ll just add this is not something they would usually do (properly chasing each other and getting a wee bit grumpy)

 

[Livia Rabideau]

My boys went through the worst of their hormone spikes around that age. I don't know if that's what is going on with yours, but I worried that I might have to separate them. I expanded their cage and it blew over. They are now fine. Hope your work it out.

 

[piggieminder]

One or both are probably having a hormone spike, these happen at any age although the worst tends to be over by 14 -15 months. Even Spike and Peanut have had the occasional one all the way through their lives, they are now 4.5 years. Most of the time they are very close and tolerant of each other, their worst spat was at about 4 years old when Spike went completely mad. I seperated them for the night as Spike wouldn't let poor Peanut alone, he was very well behaved and subdued the next day and it's not been like that again. I was worried at the time that Spike was in pain but other than his usual bladder issues he's been fine. You may find this thread useful
Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides
Have a look particularly at the boar section.

 

[Sophie B]

Thank you both, they calmed down quite quickly but I’ll keep an eye on it.

I saw in one of the links that stuffed toys were good, might get one, that’s cute

 

[Siikibam]

Boars can be drama ‘kings’ as well sometimes! Teenage years go on up to 14 months so there can be dominance displays till then. And sometimes they get a hormone spike which can stir things up.

We were sat quietly in the sitting room when I heard manic running around! I found the dominant boy chasing his cage mate around. They were going hell for leather! They were both teeth chattering, But they stopped when they realised I was there.

Glad it has calmed down. It can happen again when there is a hormone spike so just be prepared.

 

[G&C]

With everything that has already been said, some things you could try: make sure there’s two of everything, food bowls, water bottles and hidey places. Make sure your hutch is large enough and there’s little things like when you get them out for cuddles put the dominant boar back first as the non-dominant can get freaked out and feels he is in trouble if you give him first dibs to their stomping ground.
The spikes in hormones happen around 8-10 months, things calm down by about 14-15 months when they become adults. My boys have had 3 episodes of this fighting, mounting, chasing, teeth chattering very loudly sometimes lasting hours. Once the dominant boar got injured by having his lip bitten which was horrible. They are best buddy’s now.

 

[Sophie B]

The one problem with that, is I don’t know who’s dominant and I never really have.

Bacon always rumblestruts but Smokey always chases him, they both teeth chatter and push each other around

 

[G&C]

The one problem with that, is I don’t know who’s dominant and I never really have.

Bacon always rumblestruts but Smokey always chases him, they both teeth chatter and push each other around

I would say from the sound of it, it is bacon who is dominant due to the rumble strutting, what does everyone else think?
Is smokey chasing him or running away? Teeth chattering was more prominent in my less dominant boar when they were bickering and he was trying to warn off the dominant one.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Not sure about boars but with my girls whoever does a sassy rumblestrut without losing her temper seems to shame the more snappy aggressive one into submission! But with a herd there's always somepig watching, and anypig who teeth chatters or lunges at a friend gets ignored by the whole herd for a day or two. Ear licking is always more popular than aggression. Peer pressure

 

[PigglePuggle]

We dont have a clear dominant piggy any more either by the way, Clover lost the top spot when she had the fight with baby Tallulah, and as was clear on saturday when Clover continued to teeth chatter and lunge at Tallulah through the playpen divider, and Tallulah responded with a most impressive rumblestrut display then Clover slunk away all submissive and hid while Tallulah got face licks through the bars from Blodwen and Piggle and Puggle... we have a peaceful feminist democracy. Theo doesnt mind much although he wishes he understood better and hadnt lost those whiskers getting it all wrong again

 

[Sophie B]

I would say from the sound of it, it is bacon who is dominant due to the rumble strutting, what does everyone else think?
Is smokey chasing him or running away? Teeth chattering was more prominent in my less dominant boar when they were bickering and he was trying to warn off the dominant one.

He’s definitely chasing him, he tries to mount him too, that being said they both do.

 

[Sophie B]

We dont have a clear dominant piggy any more either by the way, Clover lost the top spot when she had the fight with baby Tallulah, and as was clear on saturday when Clover continued to teeth chatter and lunge at Tallulah through the playpen divider, and Tallulah responded with a most impressive rumblestrut display then Clover slunk away all submissive and hid while Tallulah got face licks through the bars from Blodwen and Piggle and Puggle... we have a peaceful feminist democracy. Theo doesnt mind much although he wishes he understood better and hadnt lost those whiskers getting it all wrong again

I would’ve thought it would be more common to not have a top pig in a group more than pairs?

 

[PigglePuggle]

I would’ve thought it would be more common to not have a top pig in a group more than pairs?

I think that's a question for @Wiebke but she's away! I've only had the one herd and only one boar so far so I'm not sure, I think a lot may come down to individual piggy personalities... if/when Tallulah gets married I will have a mixed-sex pair for comparison! But Tallulah is fairly unique in personality and behaviour and so I think is her possible future partner... I think they will be a marmite thing, either fall in love or instantly fall out and it will be oven gloves and vet trips again... hope they get on

 

[Siikibam]

Does either of them squeak in submission when they’re chasing each other around? Is there one who (eventually) lays down and let’s the other mount him? It may be they’re yet to sort it out...

 

[Sophie B]

Does either of them squeak in submission when they’re chasing each other around? Is there one who (eventually) lays down and let’s the other mount him? It may be they’re yet to sort it out...

I don’t think they squeak in submission, but it depends on what you’re getting on at, loud squeaking or quiet, sometimes they squeak quietly, but not really loudly

They never give up, they just chase each other until whichever pig that’s chasing gives up, it never lasts more than 5 minutes

 

[Wiebke]

I would’ve thought it would be more common to not have a top pig in a group more than pairs?

Guinea pigs live in a strictly hierarchical society, whether that is a group of one, two or lots more piggies. There is always a top pig, whether that is a clear and dominant leader or a piggy running the outfit more by default and as a companion rather than a front runner.

It can however be quite difficult and not always obvious to work out who is top when the leader is not the most dominant of piggies. As long as the piggies know and are happy with the status quo, you do not need to worry.

 

[G&C]

I was feeding my boys last night and another behaviour of the less dominant piggy occurred to me, he makes noises when it’s feeding time (I’m trying my best to describe this), when he’s eating he’s ‘talking’ at the same time and the dominant piggy will rumblestrutt up to him, as he does this the less dom boars talking gets louder and more irate and sometimes he try’s to kick the Dom piggy away from his food pile. The dominant piggy doesn’t make noises when he eats he just purrs and rumblestruts and popcorns then eventually calms down and tucks into his grub