First time GP owner with few questions :)!

[PercyandAngus]

Hi

A week ago I became a first time Guinea Pig owner to 2 cute young boars. As I’m new I have a few questions if someone would be able to help answer them. Sorry if these questions have already been answered.

- Angus the bigger Boar rumblestruts and Percy the smaller (and younger one I think) mounts Angus. Are they both trying to assert their dominance? And is it completely normal for them both to act like that?

- I get them out everyday to have more space in a play pen and to run about. I also give them some lap time and hold them as well. Am I rushing/ being too forceful with the interaction? I don’t want to scare them.

- I currently have them in a 120 ferplast cage without the plastic hideaway. 2 of everthing in the cage as well. I’m looking to buy them something bigger as they get bigger, could someone recommend the right size for 2 boars? If their cage was big enough would they need to go out into a playpen everyday still?

Thankyou in advance x

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

They will be in a period of establishing their relationship now – it takes around two weeks. Only separate them if they have a full on fight, otherwise you just leave them to get on with sorting things out. If they both want to be dominant, then this is when issues can occur.
When my two were young, they were the same as yours - Popcorn rumbled and Dexter mounted but neither did the other behaviour. That was until a couple of years ago when things changed and now Pops mounts and rumbles and Dexter doesn’t do anything, he takes it And knows his place as the submissive.

Do what they are comfortable with. Don’t force them for laptime etc, if they clearly don’t like it. Do bear in mind that sitting still can be through fear rather than enjoyment

Cage - I would recommend you get them a bigger cage right now. A 120cm is never really big enough for a boar pair - even as young, small piggies (its the minimum welfare size needed for two piggies but boars are more territorial and need more room). The issue with boars is that lack of space can cause problems in their relationship, so if you wait until they are bigger, then it may already be too late to get them a bigger cage - they need a good sized cage from the very beginning so lack of space is never an issue.
They will need to reestablish their relationship in any new space so this is why it’s best to always get the largest cage from the beginning so you don’t have to fiddle with their territories and risk upsetting things. Two boars need a minimum of 150x60cm but 180x60cm is the recommended size.
I originally had my two boars in a 150cm hutch and it was obvious incredibly quickly it wasn’t big enough.
When you get a bigger cage, you will need to put some soiled bedding from their current cage in their new cage - it will help with the transition to the new cage as it will ensure it still smells of them and they will find it easier to recognise it as their territory.

They don’t need to go into a playpen every day once they’ve got a bigger cage - a few times a week is enough.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[PercyandAngus]

Thankyou for your reply.

I bought the cage thinking it was big, until I got everything in there and realised it wasn’t good enough. Thanks for your advice I will order a new cage for them and hopefully that will stop any future fallings out.

They are both still quite skittish and can be a task picking up. So I will take it slower definitely

 

[Piggies&buns]

Try herding them into a carrier to pick them up.
Over the years my boys have got to know that a particular carrier means moving time and they hope straight in!
This guide explains further

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely

This is a collection of new owner guides
New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information

When it comes to teen boars, ensure there is always two of every item so they never have a reason to bicker. It can be best to scatter feed veg and pellets amongst hay piles so one doesn’t try to hog everything, plus foraging for their food is good enrichment.