Broken Bond

Chloe.123

Chloe.123

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi,

I'm looking for some advice. Unfortunately two of my boys had a big fight yesterday, blood was drawn so I know they cant be put back together. I think it was brewing for quite some time and when I put them back into their hutch they just exploded with piggy rage :(

Fortunately I had a spare hutch so was able to separate. I know they shouldnt be alone but for one of my boys (Hugo) this is the second failed bonding hes had. They have been together for 7 months so I thought everything was fine and really dont know what could have happened.

I'm looking at different options at the moment. I could get one of them neutered and then possibly live with my girls? But that still leaves the other. I'm apprehensive about placing Hugo with another pig due to the bad bonding history. In my opinion hes a bit intense with other piggies and they just don't like it. I'm also thinking about getting a hutch side by side with mesh in between so they still have the company but cant get to each other. Does this sort of thing exist?

Sorry for very long post! And thanks in advance.
😊
 
I’ve heard that for piggies that are more aggressive to others, that people would put two cages side by side so they can still talk. I am curious as to why they suddenly started fighting, though. Has anything changed recently? I would try to avoid leaving your piggie single, though.
 
I've heard that same, they're outdoor piggies so I'm wondering if I can get a hutch with a divider in the middle.

Nothing has changed, theres been the odd teeth chattering over the past couple of weeks, I assumed the younger boar was reaching the teenage phase and was challenging to be top boar. So thought eventually it would calm down but unfortunately that didn't happen and he attacked Hugo. I've managed to put them in runs next to each other so they've still got company at the moment.
 
Did you have two of everything when you put them together? I know that sometimes they will squabble over using something. If you do put them back together, try to avoid using closed ended hides. That is how many guinea pigs get severely injured. I would probably let them be apart for a couple of days and then introduce them in a neutral territory. Mostly, starting over the bonding process, but without quarantine. If they are together, make sure that you supervise them carefully. I would make sure they are getting along outside the cage, before moving them in a cage together just to be safe.
 
Yeah they had 2 of everything. This is what I can't understand, they've been together for 7 months without any problems. I'll give them some time apart. They're still teeth chattering through the bars of the run at the moment
 
I wish you luck in this process! If it comes to it you could have one of them neutered and introduce them to your girls. That would mean you would have to get a friend for your remaining pig. You could try piggie dating. :D
 
I’d consider neutering Hugo and putting him with the girls. Having pigs live side by side should ideally be a last resort, when all else fails. Hugo may benefit from living in a herd of girls rather than a pair with another boy, especially if this isn’t the first time he’s had a broken bond. I definitely wouldn’t put them back together now that blood has been drawn. The younger boar would then benefit from guinea pig dating and choosing his own companion. For now, have them live side by side until the neutering and dating can be done. It’s a shame the bond didn’t work out, they can just break out of the blue sometimes
 
Thank you, I wasnt sure about getting him neutered due to previous failings. But that sounds like a good idea.

It's happened at the wrong time with this lockdown, hopefully we wont have to wait too long, I'll keep checking the rescues to find a suitable friend
 
Chloe.123 said:
Thank you, I wasnt sure about getting him neutered due to previous failings. But that sounds like a good idea.

It's happened at the wrong time with this lockdown, hopefully we wont have to wait too long, I'll keep checking the rescues to find a suitable friend
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With guinea pig dating, you don’t choose a suitable friend but the pig does. You would contact your local rescues and enquire about dating and if they have available boars then you’d make an appointment. It means this way, your pig will meet boars of all ages and personalities and choose who they like best. Once a pair seem like they’re getting on, the bonding process begins - it’s around an eight hour process to see if they will be properly compatible. This way you have a bond which is extremely unlikely to fail as they chose each other and so will get along well
 
Little Ones said:
With guinea pig dating, you don’t choose a suitable friend but the pig does. You would contact your local rescues and enquire about dating and if they have available boars then you’d make an appointment. It means this way, your pig will meet boars of all ages and personalities and choose who they like best. Once a pair seem like they’re getting on, the bonding process begins - it’s around an eight hour process to see if they will be properly compatible. This way you have a bond which is extremely unlikely to fail as they chose each other and so will get along well
Click to expand...
Did you mean piggy date to find a boar? If you do that, don't you have to be careful the boar pair don't get a scent of the girls? Also, the bonding process takes longer than 8 hours. It can take up to 2 weeks for things to be finalised 😂😂
 
Piggylove82 said:
Did you mean piggy date to find a boar? If you do that, don't you have to be careful the boar pair don't get a scent of the girls? Also, the bonding process takes longer than 8 hours. It can take up to 2 weeks for things to be finalised 😂😂
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Yes I meant boar, that’s why I said to check the rescue had any available boars for dating. OP has a herd of girls and two boars who have fallen out, so I don’t understand what you mean? The solution discussed was to neuter one boy and put him with the sows and then find another boar for the remaining one. The bonding process takes around 8 hours during dating in a rescue, then the pair are left together if all is well and then ready to bring home. My point was that dating from a rescue rather than doing it yourself is the best option as they sit and observe behaviour for around 8 hours before confidently sending them on their way if all is well.
 
I just thought boar pairs can be affected if they are near (or aware of being near) to females. It can affect the bond the boys have because they feel competitive because of the presence of females.

Piggy dating will not be an option until the current lockdown is lifted.
 
Piggylove82 said:
I just thought boar pairs can be affected if they are near (or aware of being near) to females. It can affect the bond the boys have because they feel competitive because of the presence of females.

Piggy dating will not be an option until the current lockdown is lifted.
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You shouldn’t keep boars and sows in the same room as being around males can bring sows into heat, and also boars can be relentless if they smell a sow. I don’t know what OP’s current situation is regarding where their sows and their boars are in the house so I can’t comment on that, and I didn’t intend to either. My only advice was potential solutions for the two now-lone boys. Especially as we have also said that for now they should live side by side until rescues reopen
 
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