Boars being boars or...?

Sunshine114

Sunshine114

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 23, 2014
Messages
84
Reaction score
44
Points
195
Location
Bristol, UK
We have two boars, one 21 months old and the other was 10 weeks on Saturday. Our 21 month old was bereaved at the end of February and initially has bonded very well with the baby guinea pig - who seemed to idolise the older one.
This evening there has been loads of teeth chattering going on (they live in the living room in a c and c cage), I went over and they were getting louder, then all of a sudden they both lunged at each other, colliding in a ball then immediately each running away to separate ends of the cage where they both stayed still. No bites that I am aware of.
I put in a load of extra hay and some pellets (thinking some food might calm things down) and they’ve both gone back to business as usual, munching on hay and making happy noise - while I am sat here shaking!
What do I do? Do I just leave them to figure it out? I’m guessing that the younger is hitting puberty so is challenging what was a natural dominance.
Do I need to separate or let them sort it out? I’ve never had this before (that I’ve known of - of course it could have happened over night or if I wasn’t at home)... help!
 
Thanks, it looks like it was more warning type behaviour, it was literally a massive leap in the air at each other and then they both backed right off.
Feel nervous about going up to bed later and leaving them!
 
Sunshine114 said:
Thanks, it looks like it was more warning type behaviour, it was literally a massive leap in the air at each other and then they both backed right off.
Feel nervous about going up to bed later and leaving them!
Click to expand...

I hope that they will both step back from that. If you worry too much, put an overnight divider in.
 
Thanks for the reply. It’s been totally calm since, both out and about munching hay, pellets, drinking, chewing toys - all as if nothing happened. Both now in their hideys resting, both led out looking relaxed and chilled. Think I’m more wound up by it haha!
Is it likely that this bond is going to break down, or could that be as far as it goes?

This is the third boar pairing we have had over the years, our first pair of boar brothers had a few rumbles and chatters and one lunge when they hit the teenage years but that was all...
 
Sunshine114 said:
Thanks for the reply. It’s been totally calm since, both out and about munching hay, pellets, drinking, chewing toys - all as if nothing happened. Both now in their hideys resting, both led out looking relaxed and chilled. Think I’m more wound up by it haha!
Is it likely that this bond is going to break down, or could that be as far as it goes?

This is the third boar pairing we have had over the years, our first pair of boar brothers had a few rumbles and chatters and one lunge when they hit the teenage years but that was all...
Click to expand...

Fingers firmly crossed! Each bond is unique as it very much depends on the personalities involved and the interactive dynamics between them.
 
It’s amazing how each guinea pig is totally unique, so I suppose it makes sense that each bond is different.
I don’t need to separate them yet though do I? Would you recommend keeping them together unless there’s actual biting and blood? Like I said when they lunged they didn’t have teeth out I’m sure, it was more like throwing punches!
 
Sunshine114 said:
It’s amazing how each guinea pig is totally unique, so I suppose it makes sense that each bond is different.
I don’t need to separate them yet though do I? Would you recommend keeping them together unless there’s actual biting and blood? Like I said when they lunged they didn’t have teeth out I’m sure, it was more like throwing punches!
Click to expand...

No, not when they have calmed down.

Please take the time to read this comprehensive teenage guide here; it talks you through all aspects in detail. You will find it hopefully helpful: Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
It’s definitely all calm now :-)

Thanks for the link, I’ve read it before but need to refresh myself. Think I’m a very over anxious guinea pig mum haha!
 
Sunshine114 said:
It’s definitely all calm now :-)

Thanks for the link, I’ve read it before but need to refresh myself. Think I’m a very over anxious guinea pig mum haha!
Click to expand...

Getting piggies through a difficult time, whether that is behaviour or illness means constant assessing and reassessing. You have to play it all by ear as no two cases are exactly the same. It is of course an anxious time but hopefully both are not aggressive and have worked out where the line that they do not want to cross is today.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top