Help! Bullying?

[harmonichs]

Hello. I have 2 board, about 8-9 months old. The have a 15 sq ft C&C cage. The dominant one has always been sort of mean, but for the past day or so, he has been non stop chasing and rumbling at the other pig, and won’t even let him eat hay (there’s two hay racks)He will corner him and climb on top of him until the other pig is whimpering. I can’t even sleep because of all the noise. Even during floor time, he is more interested in chasing him. than exploringThe other pig has been timid and hiding all day, I’m beginning to feel very bad for the poor guy. I have a separate cage that I’ve been thinking of putting one in, and just keeping them separate and possibly finding a better match for the timid pig, or try to reintroduce them later. Thoughts?

 

[harmonichs]

Forgot to add, they’ve been together about 6 months.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello. I have 2 board, about 8-9 months old. The have a 15 sq ft C&C cage. The dominant one has always been sort of mean, but for the past day or so, he has been non stop chasing and rumbling at the other pig, and won’t even let him eat hay (there’s two hay racks)He will corner him and climb on top of him until the other pig is whimpering. I can’t even sleep because of all the noise. Even during floor time, he is more interested in chasing him. than exploringThe other pig has been timid and hiding all day, I’m beginning to feel very bad for the poor guy. I have a separate cage that I’ve been thinking of putting one in, and just keeping them separate and possibly finding a better match for the timid pig, or try to reintroduce them later. Thoughts?

Hi!

Please follow the practical and detailed advice in the guide links below and conduct a temporary separation. Your boys are currently at one of the more difficult phases during teenage. Whether they will go back together as a couple or not, depends on whether their bond is still functional. If your bullied underboar perks up very noticeably as soon as he is away from his mate, then the bond is no longer working. If both want to be back with each other once he the hormone spike has died down in about a couple of day or so, then reintroduce formally on neutral ground outside the cage; you should see pretty quickly whether they work out or not.

These guides will take you through the relevant aspects in much more detail than I can in a single post.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[harmonichs]

Hi!

Please follow the practical and detailed advice in the guide links below and conduct a temporary separation. Your boys are currently at one of the more difficult phases during teenage. Whether they will go back together as a couple or not, depends on whether their bond is still functional. If your bullied underboar perks up very noticeably as soon as he is away from his mate, then the bond is no longer working. If both want to be back with each other once he the hormone spike has died down in about a couple of day or so, then reintroduce formally on neutral ground outside the cage; you should see pretty quickly whether they work out or not.

These guides will take you through the relevant aspects in much more detail than I can in a single post.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Thank you! I put a divider in the cage. Timid pig does not seem upset at all... Bully pig on the other hand is not happy! He is bitting the bars and rumbling. What does this mean in the long term?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you! I put a divider in the cage. Timid pig does not seem upset at all... Bully pig on the other hand is not happy! He is bitting the bars and rumbling. What does this mean in the long term?

If the timid pig is not upset, and actually appears happier to be away, then this sadly means their bond isn’t working and they will need to live separately. The dominant one’s reaction is not the gauge you use to determine whether their bond is still functioning, it’s always the submissive piggy.

 

[harmonichs]

If the timid pig is not upset, and actually appears happier to be away, then this sadly means their bond isn’t working and they will need to live separately. The dominant one’s reaction is not the gauge you use to determine whether their bond is still functioning, it’s always the submissive piggy.

I thought so. Even though they live side by side will they get lonely? And could I do floor time with both of them or just one at a time?

 

[Siikibam]

Being side by side will prevent loneliness. But once separated you can’t have them together at all. So no lap time or floor time together.