Guinea pig troubles.

Hailey Louise

Hailey Louise

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Hi.
I'm new here so if this is the wrong place to post this please let me know.

I have 4 guinea pigs and I am having major issues with 2 of them.
It seems like my 6 month old is bullying my 9 month old. It looks like the baby is resourse guarding the food and toys even When I have enough in the cage. I have mulitiples of everything. Nugget (the Baby) has also launched himself at Zeus, after which he was seperated for a while. I now have Isolated Nugget again from the rest as he wont stop teeth chattering and nipping. He has also been ripping hair off Zues. No blood has been draw, but I don't want it to get that far. They have also had minor scuffles.

If anyone can help it would be much appriciated.
 
I’m afraid that the chances of a boar quartet making it through the teenage months (4-14 months of age) intact is highly unlikely. I would separate into pairs that you think will get along the best. You also need to make sure that they have enough space. Boars are more territorial and need more space. We recommend 180x60cm cage (2x5 c&c).

The top pig has pick of hides and everything else, and you have to respect that hierarchy by dealing with the top pig first.
 
Siikibam said:
I’m afraid that the chances of a boar quartet making it through the teenage months (4-14 months of age) intact is highly unlikely. I would separate into pairs that you think will get along the best. You also need to make sure that they have enough space. Boars are more territorial and need more space. We recommend 180x60cm cage (2x5 c&c).

The top pig has pick of hides and everything else, and you have to respect that hierarchy by dealing with the top pig first.
Click to expand...

Hi there.
Thanks for the reply.
I actually have a 2x5 c&c cage.
He also only has problems with that one piggie.
Some days are okay, but more often than not there seems to be problems.
 
That’s nowhere near big enough for four boars. They need at least 1 square metre each. But as said four boars together during the teenage months (and even after) is a hard balance so I would look to split them very soon.
 
Siikibam said:
That’s nowhere near big enough for four boars. They need at least 1 square metre each. But as said four boars together during the teenage months (and even after) is a hard balance so I would look to split them very soon.
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I am looking into adding on to the cage, but will be unable to do so until after Christmas. This was only temporary.
 
You need to split your boys into two pairs. I won’t advise keeping them together - it’s a hard balancing act with them. Of course it’s up to you what you do.

Once split you could put in a stacked 2x5.
 
Siikibam said:
You need to split your boys into two pairs. I won’t advise keeping them together - it’s a hard balancing act with them. Of course it’s up to you what you do.

Once split you could put in a stacked 2x5.
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I will be splitting them up as soon as possible. After the 14 month stage I might try the bonding process again. If that doesn’t work they will probably need to be rehomed.
 
You’d be better off leaving them in their bonded pairs. If they don’t like each other it’s not likely to change. Trying for all four could, in worst case scenario, end with four singles. Why are you unable to have two pairs in a stacked cage? Or why do you want all four bonded? In any case a 2x5 isn’t big enough for four. My pigs moved outside recently but were in a stacked cage. Boars at the top and sows in the bottom section.
 
Siikibam said:
You’d be better off leaving them in their bonded pairs. If they don’t like each other it’s not likely to change. Trying for all four could, in worst case scenario, end with four singles. Why are you unable to have two pairs in a stacked cage? Or why do you want all four bonded? In any case a 2x5 isn’t big enough for four. My pigs moved outside recently but were in a stacked cage. Boars at the top and sows in the bottom section.
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I recently had to downsize my home so it’s not possible to have multiple cages so it would be easier to just have them all bonded. I can’t house mine outside because I live in Ireland. The climate is too cold for them. Even in summer. Like I said, there is plans to add on to the cage we already have. It just won’t happen this side of Christmas.
 
So can you not stack the cages? If it’s a c&c it’s easily done.

Good luck with you’re plans but do consider what is best for your boys.
 
I agree with everything siikibam has said. A 2x5 is only big enough for two boars but four boars together is highly unlikely to ever work no matter how much space you give them as they find it hard to function as a quartet and it’s one of the hardest combinations to ever get right. ( As a minimum four need a cage covering four square metres so that’ll be something like a 10x3 C&c at the smallest (quick calculation in my head) to give them enough space though.)
If they can’t get on now, they won’t get on after their teens - they won’t suddenly like each other.
Stacking two 2x5 c&c cages on top of each other and splitting the piggies up into two pairs (finding the ones who get on best) is the best solution. I see you’ve split one off by himself. Unfortunately the others left as a trio has just as much chance of failing, as boar trios don’t tend to work out either (aside from the fact that a 2x5 C&c isn’t big enough for three either).

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
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Piggies&buns said:
I agree with everything siikibam has said. A 2x5 is only big enough for two boars but four boars together is highly unlikely to ever work no matter how much space you give them as they find it hard to function as a quartet and it’s one of the hardest combinations to ever get right. ( As a minimum four need a cage covering four square metres so that’ll be something like a 10x3 C&c at the smallest (quick calculation in my head) to give them enough space though.)
If they can’t get on now, they won’t get on after their teens - they won’t suddenly like each other.
Stacking two 2x5 c&c cages on top of each other and splitting the piggies up into two pairs (finding the ones who get on best) is the best solution. I see you’ve split one off by himself. Unfortunately the others left as a trio has just as much chance of failing, as boar trios don’t tend to work out either (aside from the fact that a 2x5 C&c isn’t big enough for three either).

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Click to expand...

Well no, because like I said in one of my first replies the trio are getting along fine. It’s just that one piggie I’m having issues with and he only has issues with the one piggie as well and also like I said, I’m adding on to the cage. It just can’t be done until after Christmas.
 
They’re in their teenage months. It’s up to you whether you want to try keeping them together. But make sure you have a plan B. Did you adopt them all together? Is the single boar in a cage next to them? He still needs that interaction.
 
You do need to be aware that the overwhelming majority of boar trios do not make it out of their teens as a functioning trio, even if they initially appear to be ok together. Fights occur or an outsider situation arises and one constantly gets left out meaning separations are required in more cases than not. Yours were right in their teens, one right at the start. There is the odd occasion when a boar trio does work but they are the exception rather than the rule. Hopefully yours will continue to be ok and can find a way of forming a good hierarchy, but sadly the odds aren’t in their favour and preparations for that are wise but hopefully not needed.
 
Siikibam said:
They’re in their teenage months. It’s up to you whether you want to try keeping them together. But make sure you have a plan B. Did you adopt them all together? Is the single boar in a cage next to them? He still needs that interaction.
Click to expand...
No, I got them as bonded pairs on 2 separate occasions. I’m keeping the trio together at the moment as there’s absolutely no problems, but as soon as anything happens they will be separated and to ensure the isolated one doesn’t get depressed or anything I have them out for a few hours a day for floor time all together.
 
Hailey Louise said:
No, I got them as bonded pairs on 2 separate occasions. I’m keeping the trio together at the moment as there’s absolutely no problems, but as soon as anything happens they will be separated and to ensure the isolated one doesn’t get depressed or anything I have them out for a few hours a day for floor time all together.
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once separated they can never have floor time together. This is not how piggies function. If they cannot be part of a bond, then putting them together will put them under a lot of stress and risk of problems for all piggies bonds. Interaction though the bars is as good as it will get for them once bonds have broken down
doing this could result in fights between all four and then ending up with four single piggies.
two separate bonded pairs of boars shouldn’t be bonded together. This isn’t how boars function unfortunately.
 
Piggies&buns said:
You do need to be aware that the overwhelming majority of boar trios do not make it out of their teens as a functioning trio, even if they initially appear to be ok together. Fights occur or an outsider situation arises and one constantly gets left out meaning separations are required in more cases than not. Yours were right in their teens, one right at the start. There is the odd occasion when a boar trio does work but they are the exception rather than the rule. Hopefully yours will continue to be ok and can find a way of forming a good hierarchy, but sadly the odds aren’t in their favour and preparations for that are wise but hopefully not needed.
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One does get left out, one of my oldest ones Zeus and it’s because of what’s happening with Nugget. I know that things can go wrong so they are watched every second of the day. I even have a camera facing their cage that I can access through my phone so if anything does happen they can be separated immediately. If they can’t all get along unfortunately they will need to be rehomed as I do not have the space for more than one cage so I’m hoping these are an exception, but I will always do what’s right for them. If I can’t give them what they need I’ll be making sure they go to a better home.
 
Piggies&buns said:
once separated they can never have floor time together. This is not how piggies function. If they cannot be part of a bond, then putting them together will put them under a lot of stress and risk of problems for all piggies bonds. Interaction though the bars is as good as it will get for them once bonds have broken down
doing this could result in fights between all four and then ending up with four single piggies.
two separate bonded pairs of boars shouldn’t be bonded together. This isn’t how boars function unfortunately.
Click to expand...

So I clearly need a new vet then because this is where I got my information from.
 
Hailey Louise said:
So I clearly need a new vet then because this is where I got my information from.
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it doesn’t sound like your vet is knowledgeable on the complex dynamics of social interaction

If piggies are separated it’s because their bonds have broken, they don’t like each other, don’t have character compatibility and can’t form a hierarchy. Therefore putting them together for socialisation time is going against everything that is going on between them. Piggies do not do these kinds of play dates because to them each meeting is the start of a bonding session which, if their relationship has already failed, it’s going to fail again every single time due to their incompatibilities. This causes stress and risks fights and further breaking any bonds which may still be functioning in the case of putting a bonded pair with a single. putting bonded piggies with one they don’t like, can, at the worst case scenario, cause the bonded piggies to fight with each other and cause them to need to be separated equalling multiple single piggies.
 
Piggies&buns said:
it doesn’t sound like your vet is knowledgeable on the complex dynamics of social interaction

If piggies are separated it’s because their bonds have broken, they don’t like each other, don’t have character compatibility and can’t form a hierarchy. Therefore putting them together for socialisation time is going against everything that is going on between them. Piggies do not do these kinds of play dates because to them each meeting is the start of a bonding session which, if their relationship has already failed, it’s going to fail again every single time due to their incompatibilities. This causes stress and risks fights and further breaking any bonds which may still be functioning in the case of putting a bonded pair with a single. putting bonded piggies with one they don’t like, can, at the worst case scenario, cause the bonded piggies to fight with each other and cause them to need to be separated equalling multiple single piggies.
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Luckily so far I’ve never had any issues with Bandit and Zeus, my oldest ones. They only issue is with Nugget. Stitch is pretty chill. The only thing he doesn’t like is his space being invaded. He’ll nip at anyone who tries to lay beside him. Not saying I’ll never have issues with them, but luckily I work from home so I can separate straight away if anything happens.
 
Siikibam said:
They’re in their teenage months. It’s up to you whether you want to try keeping them together. But make sure you have a plan B. Did you adopt them all together? Is the single boar in a cage next to them? He still needs that interaction.
Click to expand...

Oh and also yes, he is in a cage next to them.
 
If you’re going attempt the trio, then ensure their cage measures at least three square metres (i wouldnt attempt a trio in anything less than a 6x3 c&c cage). Space is the second most important thing for boars (after character compatibility), they are more territorial and just need so much more room. Your single needs a 2x4 C&c which needs to be next to the trio for constant interaction through the bars. Your alternative is to split them into two functioning pairs and have them in 2x5 stacked cages.
Good luck with the trio. I hope they are one of the lucky ones and can make it together
 
Piggies&buns said:
If you’re going attempt the trio, then ensure their cage measures at least three square metres (i wouldnt attempt a trio in anything less than a 6x3 c&c cage). Space is the second most important thing for boars (after character compatibility), they are more territorial and just need so much more room. Your single needs a 2x4 C&c which needs to be next to the trio for constant interaction through the bars. Your alternative is to split them into two functioning pairs and have them in 2x5 stacked cages.
Good luck with the trio. I hope they are one of the lucky ones and can make it together
Click to expand...

When my boyfriend gets home from work we’re going to mess around with the space they’re in to see can we make a bigger space for them as splitting them up into pairs is not ideal for our living situation. The only space we have is the space they’re in now. We recently had to downsize our home from a 3 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom log house so the space we have now is extremely limited, but if I move stuff around I might be able to meet the requirements. If not, sadly they will have to go to a new home.
 
You say splitting into pairs isn’t ideal for your living situation. I know I’ve asked already but are you not able to stack their cages?
 
Siikibam said:
You say splitting into pairs isn’t ideal for your living situation. I know I’ve asked already but are you not able to stack their cages?
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We’re going to try that, but the space we have might not allow for it. The space we have for the cage is very tight and limited. We have a stackable setup in mind, but it might not fit. We will have to change around the whole room and even then it still might not fit.
 
Hailey Louise said:
We’re going to try that, but the space we have might not allow for it. The space we have for the cage is very tight and limited. We have a stackable setup in mind, but it might not fit. We will have to change around the whole room and even then it still might not fit.
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If you are determined to keep the trio together, then you won't be able to stack cages as your single must have side by side interaction and your trio must have a large space. Stacking will work if you split them back into two separate pairs so no piggy is alone.
 
Piggies&buns said:
If you are determined to keep the trio together, then you won't be able to stack cages as your single must have side by side interaction and your trio must have a large space. Stacking will work if you split them back into two separate pairs so no piggy is alone.
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Wait, why does it need to be side by side if all they need to be able to do is smell and talk to each other? Because right now I have it side by side, but they can’t see each other.
 
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