Bonding boars after a loss

[Vicvac28]

Hi everyone! I recently lost one of my boys and opted to take Rex to a local rescue to see if he got on with any of the boars there to adopt. He is 2.5 and we found 2 year old Alfie at the rescue. On meeting, they were both very relaxed, butt sniffing and even grooming and then lay down. I thought they’d get on fine after such a relaxed meeting!

Alfie has only been home since Saturday morning, so early days. However, they have already been fighting a bit in the cage, with lots of teeth chattering and open mouths too but no blood drawn. I will be separating them at night and when I go out just in case but they can see each other through the bars (C&C cage). This evening, they were even fighting a bit outside of the cage during floor time where they have so much space and don’t even have to be near each other.

I am worried Alfie may be too dominant for Rex, as Rex was used to living with his very small brother who didn’t care to even try to be boss and was happy to let Rex be in charge. He has never lived with another pig other than his brother since he was a baby.

What’s your experiences of bonding boars? I don’t want to call it quits early as both are very sweet boys and would love for it to work, but also don’t want anyone to get hurt! Any advise or experienced would be gladly heard.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Yours boys are gorgeous but did you follow the bonding guide? Bonding needs to be done in a completely neutral space and really shouldn’t be interrupted overnight. Have a read this may help you x

Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

 

[Vicvac28]

Yours boys are gorgeous but did you follow the bonding guide? Bonding needs to be done in a completely neutral space and really shouldn’t be interrupted overnight. Have a read this may help you x

Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

Thank you for the speedy reply! Yes the initial bonding was in neutral space - first at the rescue in a room and then at my house in the lounge. Both did some sniffing, rumbling, grooming and then relaxed and lay down (after some veggies of course). It is since this and since being moved to the cage they’ve decided to start fighting. There is two of everything and even then, they have shared from the same hay rack and food bowl a couple of times. It’s all very hot and cold. Alfie already has a bite wound from a piggie at the rescue so really didn’t want to risk leaving them together overnight with the frequent fighting, but do you think this would be best?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Did you clean the cage down thoroughly before putting them both in? (So it doesn’t smell of Rex any longer)

Are you certain its fighting and not just normal dominance? You have to be clear on it because you don’t want to separate them for dominance. They’ll never complete their processes and sort things out if you separate prematurely. Repeated separation and reintroduction is stressful

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[Siikibam]

How long were they together at the rescue and how long were they in the pen before you put them in the cage? Did you thoroughly clean out the cage and rearrange so it didn’t smell of Red?

You can’t separate them at night and then put them together again during the day. It does sound a little tense. Does either of them squeak in submission? I’d have a read of the link below then decide how to proceed.
Bonds In Trouble
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[Vicvac28]

Did you clean the cage down thoroughly before putting them both in? (So it doesn’t smell of Rex any longer)

Are you certain its fighting and not just normal dominance? You have to be clear on it because you don’t want to separate them for dominance. They’ll never complete their processes and sort things out if you separate prematurely. Repeated separation and reintroduction is stressful

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

Cage was totally fresh for them both, all bedding cleaned and correx fully wiped down so no Rex smells anywhere!

Seemed to me like definite fighting - very loud chattering, and threatening behaviour before one jumps at the other and it’s all a flash of fur!

 

[Vicvac28]

How long were they together at the rescue and how long were they in the pen before you put them in the cage? Did you thoroughly clean out the cage and rearrange so it didn’t smell of Red?

You can’t separate them at night and then put them together again during the day. It does sound a little tense. Does either of them squeak in submission? I’d have a read of the link below then decide how to proceed.
Bonds In Trouble
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

They were probably together for a total of two hours combined, and seemed very happy and relaxed in each other’s company after initial rumbling and grooming from Rex. Both lay down together and were very chill.

Cage was totally fresh. And doesn’t seem to be any sign of submissive behaviour from either - just tense until one makes the first aggressive move

 

[Piggies&buns]

Cage was totally fresh for them both, all bedding cleaned and correx fully wiped down so no Rex smells anywhere!

Seemed to me like definite fighting - very loud chattering, and threatening behaviour before one jumps at the other and it’s all a flash of fur!

If it is full on fighting, definitely more than dominance, likelihood of one or both being injured, then it’s a failure in bonding, immediate and permanent separation is necessary.

 

[Siikibam]

Cage was totally fresh for them both, all bedding cleaned and correx fully wiped down so no Rex smells anywhere!

Seemed to me like definite fighting - very loud chattering, and threatening behaviour before one jumps at the other and it’s all a flash of fur!

I think that sounds like a failed bonding. I would think about separating permanently and have them live side by side.

Two hours in all is not a short time but I don’t know that it’s long enough either. Sorry it doesn’t seem to have worked out.