Boys Started Fighting

[SallyTheasMum]

Hi we've had Terence and Timothy (rescue pigs approx 2 months old when they joined us) since the beginning of Sept. They've happily live together in their outdoor hutch and played in an ark on the grass over the summer. Now it's cold and rainy rather than leaving them outside 24/7 we bought a cage so they could spend time in a different environment during the day. This has been OK for a couple of weeks but at the weekend there was teeth chattering and fighting and we noticed a sore under Terence's ear. Checked out with Vet and advised to bath with salty water - and it seems to healing. Left them together in cage this afternoon and whilst petting them noticed Timothy had a bloody ear! They're now separated (even sitting next to each other on our knees they were teeth chattering again). So one is outside in hutch and one inside in cage. Should they be kept apart permanently or will they pine (don't want to buy any more in case it happens again!? Or separated in hutch with wire to see if they start to get on. Any advise on next steps would be gratefully received.

 

[rosie and bramble]

Sounds as though they have hit the dominance stage .
What size is the indoor cage ?
Also what provisions have you took to keep the outside piggie warm.
It will be a massive drop in temperature after been inside and this could make him poorly as guineas are best kept at 15degrees x

 

[MerryPip]

They are just the right age to be getting hormonal and at this time, changes in environment can make the fight for dominance a bit more heated than it might be otherwise. Every time you move the boys into a new are they will have to re-establish dominance as a move de-stabilises things.

As Rosie and bramble says cage size is also an issue. Minimum space for a pair is 120cm x 60cm but for a pair of lively boys bigger is always better....

It may be that actually they just don't like each other. Try re-introducing them carefully in neutral territory but keep a close eye and have a towel or dustpan handy to break up any fight without risking getting bitten. Unfortunately this age is the most difficult and if a pair is likely to fall out then it is usually at this sort of time of life that it happens. If they really don't get on and there is still chattering and lunging then they need to stay separate.
Then your options are to keep them side by side so they can still talk and smell each other, to get them both neutered and find them both a wifey pig or to re-pair them (with experienced rescue help) with another boar friend that they do like... But it's early days so hopefully they can work it out although they seem to have had a good go at damaging each other. If you are keeping them separately, it's now getting a bit too cold in the UK for lone pigs to be outside so I'd consider bringing him inside too if that's at all practical....

I would also contact the rescue they came from for advice. It may be they know them and can offer some options.

 

[SallyTheasMum]

Sounds as though they have hit the dominance stage .
What size is the indoor cage ?
Also what provisions have you took to keep the outside piggie warm.
It will be a massive drop in temperature after been inside and this could make him poorly as guineas are best kept at 15degrees x

There is a self heating pad, lots of shredded paper and hay three blankets, wrap around waterproof covering x

 

[SallyTheasMum]

They are just the right age to be getting hormonal and at this time, changes in environment can make the fight for dominance a bit more heated than it might be otherwise. Every time you move the boys into a new are they will have to re-establish dominance as a move de-stabilises things.

As Rosie and bramble says cage size is also an issue. Minimum space for a pair is 120cm x 60cm but for a pair of lively boys bigger is always better....

It may be that actually they just don't like each other. Try re-introducing them carefully in neutral territory but keep a close eye and have a towel or dustpan handy to break up any fight without risking getting bitten. Unfortunately this age is the most difficult and if a pair is likely to fall out then it is usually at this sort of time of life that it happens. If they really don't get on and there is still chattering and lunging then they need to stay separate.
Then your options are to keep them side by side so they can still talk and smell each other, to get them both neutered and find them both a wifey pig or to re-pair them (with experienced rescue help) with another boar friend that they do like... But it's early days so hopefully they can work it out although they seem to have had a good go at damaging each other. If you are keeping them separately, it's now getting a bit too cold in the UK for lone pigs to be outside so I'd consider bringing him inside too if that's at all practical....

I would also contact the rescue they came from for advice. It may be they know them and can offer some options.

Thanks for the advise. Will try to re-introduce - not really practical for them both to be inside though. When you say keep them side by side do you mean same cage separated by wire? Who knew keeping little ones was soooooo stressful!