Challenging Each Other

[Toraks mummy]

my boys are 21 weeks now, brothers. I see a lot of pushing their faces into each other, yawning to bear teeth, chattering, chasing and vibrating. They have had one scuffle but not serious. I assume this is testosterone driven behaviour but am wondering when it settles down as at times it worries me, but then they play in their tunnels in their play pen quite happily at times?
Thanks. Torak & Kasi’s mum.

 

[Reenie]

It is dominance behaviour, but, in my opinion, quite strong stuff. As long as they're not fighting, just keep an eye on it. I've 3 boys together, and they constantly bicker, but there's very rarely any chattering and I've never seen them yawn aggressively. Have a read at the bonding and behaviour threads, which will give you a better idea of what's going on.
The only time I've seen piggies actually fight, it was preceded by incessant chattering and yawning, then they stood facing each other, but with their bodies turned side on and wiggling hips. It just looked ominous. Then they just went for it.
I hope your boys are just taking it to the limit and it doesn't move to fighting. Good luck.

 

[Toraks mummy]

Thank you for your reply Reenie. I just wondered if it settles as they get older? They have a big cage with second level plinths at either end which the less dominant piggie will get up on out of the way. They also spend lots of time out in their large playpen every day, where as I said there is less bickering. I was encouraged to have 2 as they like company and so had siblings st 7 weeks old but now spend a lot of time worrying they may have a fight! I hope they calm down with age as don’t want to separate them as they do a lot of communicating so clearly enjoy company, I think!
Torak & Kasi mum

 

[Wiebke]

my boys are 21 weeks now, brothers. I see a lot of pushing their faces into each other, yawning to bear teeth, chattering, chasing and vibrating. They have had one scuffle but not serious. I assume this is testosterone driven behaviour but am wondering when it settles down as at times it worries me, but then they play in their tunnels in their play pen quite happily at times?
Thanks. Torak & Kasi’s mum.

Your boys are right in the teenage months now with their testosterone output at an all time high, but so far it seems to be going well enough for you with the behaviour still well within the bounds of the acceptable.
You may find these guides her helpful in understanding behaviours, how the teenage months typically run and what you can do if things escalate.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[Toraks mummy]

Thank you for your reply and the links. So at what age are they adults and calm down? I have to say, they are as bad as each other! Last night Kasi (usually the dominant one) was in his wicker type tunnel and Torak, (normally the submissive one) was sticking his face right in through the side ‘window’ vibrating at him! Funny to watch, really like trying to wind him up!
Torak & Kasi mum

 

[Reenie]

Oh you've a while to go yet. About the 14 months mark they'll have settled, up until then they will be like teenagers strutting their stuff and playing the hard man. Lol, fun but nerve wracking for us slaves.

 

[Toraks mummy]

Definitely! I tend to distract them with hay or blueberries work well occasionally!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your reply and the links. So at what age are they adults and calm down? I have to say, they are as bad as each other! Last night Kasi (usually the dominant one) was in his wicker type tunnel and Torak, (normally the submissive one) was sticking his face right in through the side ‘window’ vibrating at him! Funny to watch, really like trying to wind him up!
Torak & Kasi mum

Rumblestrutting is mild dominance behaviour and your daily bread when it comes to all boars - my neutered boars do it all the time, too.

 

[Toraks mummy]

Rumblestrutting! Cool name! They wiggle like they are dancing when squaring up sometimes! They are always worse when I have cleaned them out too! It’s like they have to sort themselves out all over again!

 

[Wiebke]

Rumblestrutting! Cool name! They wiggle like they are dancing when squaring up sometimes! They are always worse when I have cleaned them out too! It’s like they have to sort themselves out all over again!

Indeed, they have! If you want to avoid that, clean out bedding and cosies on different days. For some teenage boars, any territory without their scent marks is new territory and requires a re-establishment of the hierarchy.