Boars growing at different rates?

[violet]

We've had Bert & Ginger for about 2 months, and they are about 4.5 months old.

When we got them, Ginger was slightly bigger, and very much the dominant piggy - Bert seemed very happy with this situation!

Ginger has grown a bit since we got him, but not a lot - Bert on the other hand is now massive and is way bigger than Ginger. This has led to a bit of conflict, rumblestrutting, and teeth chattering as Bert seems to be trying to take charge. I'm a little concerned, but not that worried about this as they aren't actually fighting at all, and do still spend most of their time asleep in the same pile of hay. They happily share a pigloo in their run and eat together from the same bowl etc. I do worry that Ginger is a little unhappy about the situation though .

My question is really - is it normal for one of them to have grown much more than the other? Bert is a rex, and Ginger is a shorthair, so he does look bigger because of the fluffy fur, but even taking that into account he is definitely a lot bigger than Ginger now. Both of them eat (hay, nuggets & veggies), drink, poo and wee a LOT rolleyes . Ginger is definitely eating plenty. Should we be concerned:{ ?

 

[carrot_and_parsnip]

Hey, I have two boars from they were 10 weeks old. Thumper was always a lot smaller than Tigger, and since I got them Thumper had a wee period of illness causing him to lose weight, so he is smaller again! He has gained weight steadily since then. Thumper is now 714g and Tigger is 1036g :o big difference lol Thumper did look like the runt of the litter when I got him though

 

[flips]

I wouldn't be concerned that they are different weights but I would be concerned if Ginger isn't putting on weight at all. The best way to judge is to weigh them every week and keep a record. In the first year, my pigs put on 20-40g a week as they grew. So even a pig with a smaller frame should be putting weight on steadily even if they are growing at different rates.

I hope this makes sense, I'm quite tired and just off to bed. zzz

 

[Member W]

i've always found the alpha pig grows bigger than the beta anyway in pairs, so i wouldn't worry about it x

 

[Julesie]

I'm no master at guinea pigs but if it helps my own two are like that.
Ludwig was the bigger guinea pig and the dominant. But then Gilbert started to get bigger. He's now quite a chunky monkey -and adorable- and he started throwing his weight about and trying to take the dominant lead. From what I see, he has taken the dominant position now and Ludwig seems okay with it.

So from my own experience with my two, it is normal. I just hope your ex dominant lets go of the position as easy as mine did. =)

 

[violet]

Thanks everyone! We meant to weigh them when we got them but we didn't want to upset them! I might start weighing them regularly now, just to be sure Ginger is gaining enough.

 

[Freela]

Just like people, pigs come in different sizes. Right now we have two big girls, but one of our previous pigs was tiny next to our larger girl. She just had small bone structure, tiny dainty little paws, etc. The other pigs just are larger in general. It's okay if they grow to different sizes and at different rates, so long as individuals aren't dropping weight.