Boar Pair And Teenage Hormones

[Powerpigs]

This morning I witnessed already the second big scuffle between my boys, Voltti and Ohmi. Ohmi is almost 6 months old, and is definitely very much a teenager right now. Voltti is few months short of 3 years, and he's naturally the top pig. Over the past few weeks Ohmi has been challenging Voltti a lot, and they have periods of constant teeth chattering lasting a couple of days at a time. This also includes rumblestrutting, face offs, etc... I know they have to go through this and that it's quite normal for boars to not get along so well when they are hormonal, but it's still driving me mad from concern!

As I said, Voltti is the top pig, but Ohmi likes to challenge him, and it seems Ohmi doesn't want to give up so easily. Voltti seems reluctant to start a face off, but of course he has to defend his position eventually. If neither surrenders, they end up in a scuffle and pull each others hair. Hair pulling has happened only two or three times that I have seen, this morning being the most recent event. After that I put them into the floor pen to give them more room to sort it out. At least last time a couple of days in the pen did the trick and the boys calmed down.

They have two of everything in the cage and pen, only two way hideys. When things get heated in the cage, I remove the hay tray and chew toys to give them more of clear floor space, and my last resort is the stripped down floor pen. They now have only their hideys and lots of hay in piles on the pen floor.

I'm not sure if I'm looking for advice or just sympathy and support to get through Ohmi's teenage months, but if anyone has any suggestions to help the boys get along, I'd be glad to hear them. Or if I'm doing something not right. I'm just so afraid that they could accidentally hurt each other, or that I would need to separate them.

 

[Kallasia]

This morning I witnessed already the second big scuffle between my boys, Voltti and Ohmi. Ohmi is almost 6 months old, and is definitely very much a teenager right now. Voltti is few months short of 3 years, and he's naturally the top pig. Over the past few weeks Ohmi has been challenging Voltti a lot, and they have periods of constant teeth chattering lasting a couple of days at a time. This also includes rumblestrutting, face offs, etc... I know they have to go through this and that it's quite normal for boars to not get along so well when they are hormonal, but it's still driving me mad from concern!

As I said, Voltti is the top pig, but Ohmi likes to challenge him, and it seems Ohmi doesn't want to give up so easily. Voltti seems reluctant to start a face off, but of course he has to defend his position eventually. If neither surrenders, they end up in a scuffle and pull each others hair. Hair pulling has happened only two or three times that I have seen, this morning being the most recent event. After that I put them into the floor pen to give them more room to sort it out. At least last time a couple of days in the pen did the trick and the boys calmed down.

They have two of everything in the cage and pen, only two way hideys. When things get heated in the cage, I remove the hay tray and chew toys to give them more of clear floor space, and my last resort is the stripped down floor pen. They now have only their hideys and lots of hay in piles on the pen floor.

I'm not sure if I'm looking for advice or just sympathy and support to get through Ohmi's teenage months, but if anyone has any suggestions to help the boys get along, I'd be glad to hear them. Or if I'm doing something not right. I'm just so afraid that they could accidentally hurt each other, or that I would need to separate them.

Have you tried a bonding bath? That can help sometimes. I think it's because all scents are removed and then they smell like each other!

I have the occasional scuffle with my two (8months ish and 4yrs ish) but luckily for me the older pig is not the dominant one!

It can be distressing when they're having a bad day - you want to intervene before someone gets hurt but that's not always the right thing to do!

 

[Powerpigs]

Have you tried a bonding bath? That can help sometimes. I think it's because all scents are removed and then they smell like each other!

I have the occasional scuffle with my two (8months ish and 4yrs ish) but luckily for me the older pig is not the dominant one!

It can be distressing when they're having a bad day - you want to intervene before someone gets hurt but that's not always the right thing to do!

I haven't done exactly a bonding bath, but it's only a couple of weeks ago when I last gave both of them bum baths. They both have quite active grease glands. So that would sort out the smell issue too, I could try and wash their bums again if it would help. Unfortunately I can only wash them tomorrow, my husband is away for today, and bum baths are a two person task at our house!

I'm so stressed out watching them scuffle... I only intervene if they full out jump at each other, and then only separate for few minutes for them to calm down a bit, and then put them into the larger pen area. I've only needed to do this twice, the second time being this morning. I'm now at work so can't say how they are doing... At least they started to eat the bell pepper pieces I gave them to the pen, and only had an occasional "conversation" while at it!

 

[Kallasia]

I haven't done exactly a bonding bath, but it's only a couple of weeks ago when I last gave both of them bum baths. They both have quite active grease glands. So that would sort out the smell issue too, I could try and wash their bums again if it would help. Unfortunately I can only wash them tomorrow, my husband is away for today, and bum baths are a two person task at our house!

I'm so stressed out watching them scuffle... I only intervene if they full out jump at each other, and then only separate for few minutes for them to calm down a bit, and then put them into the larger pen area. I've only needed to do this twice, the second time being this morning. I'm now at work so can't say how they are doing... At least they started to eat the bell pepper pieces I gave them to the pen, and only had an occasional "conversation" while at it!

Apparently putting Vicks on their gland and under their nose helps because they can't smell scent markings but I have no experience of this and you'd need to check it was safe to do so before trying it

 

[helen105281]

Apparently putting Vicks on their gland and under their nose helps because they can't smell scent markings but I have no experience of this and you'd need to check it was safe to do so before trying it

Using Vicks is no longer recommended though you will see otherwise in some places online. The strong smell can spook them.

 

[Kallasia]

Using Vicks is no longer recommended though you will see otherwise in some places online. The strong smell can spook them.

Thanks, I had seen it elsewhere but was unsure and have not used it on my boys

 

[Powerpigs]

Using Vicks is no longer recommended though you will see otherwise in some places online. The strong smell can spook them.

Thanks, I had seen it elsewhere but was unsure and have not used it on my boys

Yes, I've also heard of Vicks recommendations, but know not to use it and never have!
The only scent my boys get is a very mild camomile scent from their very own guinea pig shampoo when I wash their bums. Not sure if they think it's manly enough, though

 

[Wiebke]

Yes, I've also heard of Vicks recommendations, but know not to use it and never have!
The only scent my boys get is a very mild camomile scent from their very own guinea pig shampoo when I wash their bums. Not sure if they think it's manly enough, though

Please take the time and read through this guide here. It is very detailed with information on the various phases of the teenage months (your boys are currently obviously hitting one of the spikes); how you can evaluate whether a bond is still functioning or not; what you can do or should avoid in order to help the bond; temporary and permanent separations; re-introduction tips that have stood the test of time and those breeder tips that haven't but that unfortunately still make the rounds like the vicks tip (which tends to rather backfire instead of helping in our repeated members' experience, by the way). It also includes information on buddy baths and in which situations they can be useful instead of just being an additional stress factor.

Our forum has been running for ten years, so we have had plenty of time to work out what works and what not, and what is myth and what reality when it comes to expectations and assumptions. We have listed all the information that is around, sorted as to what has really stood the test of time and what has not been borne out.

@Kallasia - you may want to read this, too! Please do not recommend tips you haven't used successfully yourself. There is too much garbage still being touted around and perpetuated by people who have 'read it or heard it somewhere'. It is important that any information spread is actually correct and can be backed up by experience to prevent unnecessary suffering and incorrect handling of a situation.

Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[Kallasia]

Please take the time and read through this guide here. It is very detailed with information on the various phases of the teenage months (your boys are currently obviously hitting one of the spikes); how you can evaluate whether a bond is still functioning or not; what you can do or should avoid to help the bond; temporary and permanent separations; re-introduction tips that have stood the test of time and those breeder tips that haven't but that unfortunately still make the rounds like the vicks tip (which tends to rather backfire instead of helping in our repeated members' experience, by the way). It also includes information on buddy baths and in which situations they can be useful instead of just being an additional stress factor.
Our forum has been running for ten years, so we have had plenty of time to work out what works and what not, and what is myth and what reality when it comes to expectations and assumptions. We have listed all the information that is around, sorted as to what has really stood the test of time and what has not been borne out.
@Kallasia - you may want to read this, too! Please do not recommend tips you haven't used successfully yourself. There is too much garbage still being touted around and perpetuated by people 'who have read it or heard it somewhere'. It is important that any information spread is actually correct and can be backed up by experience to prevent unnecessary suffering and incorrectly handling.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

It's actually from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue site

 

[Powerpigs]

Please take the time and read through this guide here. It is very detailed with information on the various phases of the teenage months (your boys are currently obviously hitting one of the spikes); how you can evaluate whether a bond is still functioning or not; what you can do or should avoid to help the bond; temporary and permanent separations; re-introduction tips that have stood the test of time and those breeder tips that haven't but that unfortunately still make the rounds like the vicks tip (which tends to rather backfire instead of helping in our repeated members' experience, by the way). It also includes information on buddy baths and in which situations they can be useful instead of just being an additional stress factor.
Our forum has been running for ten years, so we have had plenty of time to work out what works and what not, and what is myth and what reality when it comes to expectations and assumptions. We have listed all the information that is around, sorted as to what has really stood the test of time and what has not been borne out.
@Kallasia - you may want to read this, too! Please do not recommend tips you haven't used successfully yourself. There is too much garbage still being touted around and perpetuated by people 'who have read it or heard it somewhere'. It is important that any information spread is actually correct and can be backed up by experience to prevent unnecessary suffering and incorrectly handling.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Thank you Wiebke! I actually read through that guide just this morning to calm down my nerves. It is a very detailed and good guide I must say. As far as I can tell according to the guide, everything is withing normal behaviour with my boys. It's just these spikes that make me nervous too, I do not find it easy to watch the boys scuffle! When they are not arguing they act as any bonded pair, eat and hang out together, so I think they still want to be friends.

As far as I can tell, I'm doing everything stated in the guide. Only my cage is not ideal, it's only a 2x4 c&c and I know bigger would be better but unfortunately I don't have the space to expand currently. That's why I've used the play pen, it's bigger and I can clearly see it calms them down to have moor space, and that it doesn't spark a territory change sort-out. It's not a permanent solution, but I'm able to keep them in there over the most hormone spiked days just fine. Tha last time I put them there over night was two weeks ago after a scuffle, they stayed there for two days, which was the duration of the increased teeth chatterings. After this time they were again fine in the cage.

 

[Powerpigs]

Well, the boys have been living in the floor pen since Thursday morning. I've seen some signs that suggest we may well have a new top pig in Ohmi! That would explain all the current arguing (besides the obvious hormone spike), as Voltti is not quite ready to step down. But most of the face-offs now end with Voltti turning and running away.

I'm keeping them in the pen for the night, and try them back in the cage tomorrow when I can monitor them. Let's hope everything goes smoothly, please send calming vibes for the boys!

 

[flowerfairy]

Lots of calming vibes coming their way and yours!

Love their names.

 

[Zelsi]

Well, the boys have been living in the floor pen since Thursday morning. I've seen some signs that suggest we may well have a new top pig in Ohmi! That would explain all the current arguing (besides the obvious hormone spike), as Voltti is not quite ready to step down. But most of the face-offs now end with Voltti turning and running away.

I'm keeping them in the pen for the night, and try them back in the cage tomorrow when I can monitor them. Let's hope everything goes smoothly, please send calming vibes for the boys!

Hey you do you have an update? I currently have a similar situation with Monty (2.5yrs) and Simba (1yr) where there's been some chattering and chasing. They only met in November so haven't been together very long which amplifies things but I'm certain all of this is due to Simba's hormone spikes.

Regarding your cage I'll be getting a 2x5 with a 2x2 loft for mine to give them extra space, will update if I see improvements from the additional space.

I'd be interested to know how yours are getting on!

 

[Reddybex]

This morning I witnessed already the second big scuffle between my boys, Voltti and Ohmi. Ohmi is almost 6 months old, and is definitely very much a teenager right now. Voltti is few months short of 3 years, and he's naturally the top pig. Over the past few weeks Ohmi has been challenging Voltti a lot, and they have periods of constant teeth chattering lasting a couple of days at a time. This also includes rumblestrutting, face offs, etc... I know they have to go through this and that it's quite normal for boars to not get along so well when they are hormonal, but it's still driving me mad from concern!

As I said, Voltti is the top pig, but Ohmi likes to challenge him, and it seems Ohmi doesn't want to give up so easily. Voltti seems reluctant to start a face off, but of course he has to defend his position eventually. If neither surrenders, they end up in a scuffle and pull each others hair. Hair pulling has happened only two or three times that I have seen, this morning being the most recent event. After that I put them into the floor pen to give them more room to sort it out. At least last time a couple of days in the pen did the trick and the boys calmed down.

They have two of everything in the cage and pen, only two way hideys. When things get heated in the cage, I remove the hay tray and chew toys to give them more of clear floor space, and my last resort is the stripped down floor pen. They now have only their hideys and lots of hay in piles on the pen floor.

I'm not sure if I'm looking for advice or just sympathy and support to get through Ohmi's teenage months, but if anyone has any suggestions to help the boys get along, I'd be glad to hear them. Or if I'm doing something not right. I'm just so afraid that they could accidentally hurt each other, or that I would need to separate them.

I have two teenage boys who are testing the waters at the moment and causing me some anxiety - I just want them to get along all the time! So I understand how you feel. The rescuer who helped bond my two has said that if they are scuffling to take all furniture out for a week and give them only mounds of hay. This will take away any claiming territory and force them to be together. It's certainly worked so far. They still have a few rumbles (and when I say they I mean Vinnie the naughty one lol) but they now sleep the same end of the cage and are mostly peaceful. I've also been feeding them from one big plate so that they need to share. They do this quite peacefully. But as I said it's nothing but a worry! haha

 

[VickiA]

It's actually from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue site

@Kallasia we think you must have saved an old version of the Potteries GPR website as the mention of Vicks was removed some time ago from the website after consideration of changes in current practice and welfare. The rescue does not use Vicks and does not recommend its use.

 

[The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue]

It's actually from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue site

We updated our website some time ago to reflect changes in practice and piggy welfare. Think this must have been on an old page on the website. Just to make it clear - we do not use Vicks and do not recommend the use of Vicks in bonding. We have very successfully bonded many pairs of boars without the use of Vicks.

 

[Powerpigs]

Hey you do you have an update? I currently have a similar situation with Monty (2.5yrs) and Simba (1yr) where there's been some chattering and chasing. They only met in November so haven't been together very long which amplifies things but I'm certain all of this is due to Simba's hormone spikes.

Regarding your cage I'll be getting a 2x5 with a 2x2 loft for mine to give them extra space, will update if I see improvements from the additional space.

I'd be interested to know how yours are getting on!

I can gladly say things have calmed down since my last post on this thread. As I was guessing based on the signs, Ohmi did take top pig position from Voltti, and as soon as that was settled everything calmed down considerably. They still show the normal dominance behaviour, but nothing like the scuffles I was witnessing before. They even like to lay and sit close to each other, something that Voltti didn't like doing with his previous mate. Ohmi also seems a lot calmer and I guess the big hormones are finally over even though he still is a teenager at 9 months old.

I still have the 2x4 c&c and now it seems big enough for them (although I'd like it bigger, but I'd need a bigger flat for that!). I came up with a different layout for the cage and managed to include more hiding and sleeping spots, and it seems the boys appreciate this. I'd say your 2x5 + 2x2 is a good amount of cage space. Just make sure there's no closed corners where an underpig could get trapped by the top pig, that's a trigger for fights if an underpig feels threatened and needs to defend themselves.

All the best for you and your boys! I hope things calm down eventually between them.