Fighting! 😨

[ThePotterPiggie]

I had put the my two boys - one is two and one is one - into their new run. They’d been sitting in there together for maybe ten minutes, and began rumbling (they’d already done this a couple times today, but they’re always doing it to each other) and then suddenly they started scrapping - they were literally just a flash of fur! I put my hand in between them and they stopped but kept rumbling. But they both had a clump of each other’s fur in their mouths! I put up a barrier between them and they were fine. I have taken it away now and they were fine for awhile, eating together etc. They had another rumble once, but didn’t move to attack each other. I have now seen that Ted has a scratch under his eye. I have never seen them do anything to each other except rumble. What do I do?!?!?!?!

 

[Wiebke]

I had put the my two boys - one is two and one is one - into their new run. They’d been sitting in there together for maybe ten minutes, and began rumbling (they’d already done this a couple times today, but they’re always doing it to each other) and then suddenly they started scrapping - they were literally just a flash of fur! I put my hand in between them and they stopped but kept rumbling. But they both had a clump of each other’s fur in their mouths! I put up a barrier between them and they were fine. I have taken it away now and they were fine for awhile, eating together etc. They had another rumble once, but didn’t move to attack each other. I have now seen that Ted has a scratch under his eye. I have never seen them do anything to each other except rumble. What do I do?!?!?!?!

Hi!

Please disinfect the scratch.

Younger adult boars can still be affected by sudden short hormone flares; any new territory will trigger a new hierarchy sort-out.

it is usually best to separate them for a couple of days with a divider and then re-introduce on neutral ground. Unless there is a lot of grudge between them, they will normally go back together with comparatively little or no fuss.
More information in here:
Bonds In Trouble
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (chapters 2 and 3)

 

[Bill & Ted]

If it’s new surroundings then they often have to start that old dominance thing all over again, silly boys! My two have done this once or twice when they have been put in new cages etc they don’t like change

 

[ThePotterPiggie]

Thanks everyone I've already disinfected the scratch as well as a shallow bite of Fudge's rear that I found whilst brushing him.
I put them back in their hutch last night and when I came back out just before bed I found three more tufts of Ted's fur on the floor so separated them for the night. After reading 'Bonds in Trouble' I tried reuniting them today in their outdoor pen. They rumbled a LOT, along with yawning, jerking, and pushing each other's noses up a couple times, but didn't attack each other. Fudge also make a weird sound, sort of like a wheek but a little higher-pitched. Anyway, despite the rumbling etc. I've put them back together in the hutch for tonight. If here's any more clumps of fur in the morning I'll review the situation. Is this the right thing to do?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks everyone I've already disinfected the scratch as well as a shallow bite of Fudge's rear that I found whilst brushing him.
I put them back in their hutch last night and when I came back out just before bed I found three more tufts of Ted's fur on the floor so separated them for the night. After reading 'Bonds in Trouble' I tried reuniting them today in their outdoor pen. They rumbled a LOT, along with yawning, jerking, and pushing each other's noses up a couple times, but didn't attack each other. Fudge also make a weird sound, sort of like a wheek but a little higher-pitched. Anyway, despite the rumbling etc. I've put them back together in the hutch for tonight. If here's any more clumps of fur in the morning I'll review the situation. Is this the right thing to do?

I would not have put them back together without supervision and rather left them in the bonding pen overnight. Fingers very firmly crossed!
The high pitched wheeking is submission wheeking.

 

[ThePotterPiggie]

Thanks - their pen is outside though as we have builders in at the moment so are staying in a hotel at night, therefore can't leave them in their indoor pen. Should I keep them seperated in the hutch?

 

[ThePotterPiggie]

Hi - I’m really worried now, I came into the hutch this morning to find another big curl, about two inches long, of Ted’s hair on the floor. But what worried me most was Ted’s attitude. Fudge was like normal, jumping about and wheeking, but Ted just stood in one corner, shaking, looking absolutely terrified. I knew I had to split them up (again!) as Ted wasn’t even moving to eat his breakfast or fresh hay, which he usually runs over to do. Why is Ted so scared? Should I have split them up again? I’m really worried, could someone please help?

Hi!

Please disinfect the scratch.

Younger adult boars can still be affected by sudden short hormone flares; any new territory will trigger a new hierarchy sort-out.

it is usually best to separate them for a couple of days with a divider and then re-introduce on neutral ground. Unless there is a lot of grudge between them, they will normally go back together with comparatively little or no fuss.
More information in here:
Bonds In Trouble
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (chapters 2 and 3)