HELP - BONDING QUESTIONS

BobaTheGuineaPiglet

Junior Guinea Pig
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I recently adopted a 4-6 month male Guinea for my 11 month old Boar. And they’ve been going through the process, and today they’ve been chattering teeth and the little one jumped kicked my oldest or something, all I saw was him attacking and flying away.
When do I know theyre bonded, or when do I know that it’s time to put them in separate cages.
 
Bonding two teen boars can be tricky
When you say adopted, is this via a centre or bought from a pet shop?

How long have they been in the neutral territory bonding pen?

Teeth chattering, mounting, rumbling is normal. To fully form a relationship and hierarchy takes around two weeks.
If you’re seeing lunging, face offs or anything aggressive, then it’s not looking good for them.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
 
they seem to be getting along other than the occasional humping/rumbling and teeth chattering.
Also, my oldest sometimes licks or nibbles his ears and occasionally the kisses (it looks like kisses😂)

my main concern is the lunge and fear aggression that the youngest shows like a couple times.
 
Make sure they have enough room so they can get away from each other if they need to. And that there is no where one can get trapped - so each hidey needs to be like a tunnel. If you have hideys with only one doorway or a cave area these can be flashpoints. And 2 food bowls / water bottles so there is no tension for resources. That way you can tell easier whether their problem is with each other or just feeling worried that the other will stop them getting food or rest! It sounds like they are having some nice 'getting to know you' moments as well as the dramatic ones!

I brought in a pair of females for company for my (neutered) male, had them as neighbours for about 5 days, and put them together in a neutral pen. The dominant sow decided she didn't like him and it became very obvious very quickly. Within 10 - 15 minutes she attacked him and there was a proper fight, rolling around the floor, and this happened twice more until he ran circles squealing while she chased him and I had to throw a towel on them. Yours don't sound so bad!

(PS. He now has a friend of his own ☺)
 
Handy to read what happened with your dominant sow there @Free Ranger. I have a real boss pig and she is proving pretty unbondable just now. She previously lived with a sow and neutered boar but was bereaved of both so is on her own.

A neutered boar was suggested as a match that could work (not tried as no neutered boars to hand!) But your experience rings a warning bell for me. Thanks for sharing it!
 
Yes, @tabelmabel it was a bit of a shock! My boar is a nervous gent and the reason I went for a pair of ladies was in case he was unfriendly and territorial, so the girls would still have each other. I didn't think anyone could fail to love him, but Zara's reaction was so, shall we say, 'boar-like' I took them off to the vets to get her checked over and make sure she was a She! I thought she must surely be a gay guinea-pig because it was when poor George tried to befriend the other female (Louise) that triggered these ferocious attacks, but Wiebke assured me she was just very dominant as she had also had a girl like this. They settled as bar-neighbours but then little Flora turned up (somebody's 'last pig') and she doesn't mind him... but we have ended up with 4 guinea pigs!
 
Oh dear. It seems my Belle is also very dominant. I'm going to try her with a baby sow when i can get one. She came back from her speed dating event at the rescue the other day after terrorising all her potential matches. When she got home again on her own, she looked well chuffed with her victories :doh:
 
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