Hogging the hidey?

France

France

New Born Pup
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I just got two boars, Pineapple (approx. 9-10 months old) and Coconut (approx. 7-9 months). Their hidey is made of a large ledge and a wide ramp that both gives extra room and allows for them to escape if they squeeze through the other side of the ramp if need be. Pineapple is definitely the dominant piggie, he's the one doing all the rumbling. He's a very frantic sorts (even ran up a flight of stairs somehow). Coconut is the submissive one, is very timid and quiet. I would imagine Coconut would be spending a lot of his time in the hidey spot, right? But whenever I see him, he's lying in the opposite corner by the main food area (there's a secondary, smaller food spot right by the hidey). I'm afraid Pineapple might've scared him out of there... Or maybe Coconut just really likes food! :P I've only had them for 2 days now, and this is my third time noticing that. Maybe it's only temporary as they get used to their new home?
 
UPDATE: I read more about getting a second hidey. I'm thinking of putting one of those fabric strip ones in the corner Coconut likes. Are those good?
 
Do you mean a fleece forest? A lot of members have those and their piggies like them. Mine are outside piggies and live in a hutch so I have never put up a fleece forest for them.
 
With 2 boars you will ideally have at lest 2 of everything, placed far enough apart so that one piggy can't prevent he other one using them.
Sounds like you really need to add another hidey as Coconut may not be laying in the open by choice.
Give him a hidey too and see what happens.
 
France said:
UPDATE: I read more about getting a second hidey. I'm thinking of putting one of those fabric strip ones in the corner Coconut likes. Are those good?
Click to expand...
UPDATE 3: As soon as I get the fleece forest they decide to share the hidey. Really?
 
So as I posted earlier, I got a second hidey- a fleece forest- for my other boar Coconut, because Pineapple was hogging the hidey under the ramp/ledge- at least i presumed this because i would always find Pineapple under there and Coconut (who is very timid) out in the open. I found Pineapple in the fleece forest, and Coconut sitting outside. Has Pineapple claimed both for himself? They're new piggies - this is day 2 of having them. Do you think cleaning the bedding would help remove whatever smell theyve laid down already and let Coconut have some privacy? Or maybe does Coconut just like being out in the open?
 
I personally would put in a second solid hidey, and have the fleece forest as well. Having two of everything with boars is important. I have three solid hideys between my two boars so that there is always somewhere else to go in case my dominant has a moment!
 
I have merged your two threads. We do ask that you keep the discussion to one thread as it helps members to have all the information to hand when commenting.

Each piggy is very individual, some like to be in the open and some really, really don't. I used to have a boar who would just plonk himself out in the open and sleep whereas all my others have preferred to be out of sight. If there was an issue with hideys I would expect to see squabbling over them and Coconut being constantly chased away. If they are content to let Pineapple use the hidey and for Coconut to keep guard they will be fine
 
France said:
So as I posted earlier, I got a second hidey- a fleece forest- for my other boar Coconut, because Pineapple was hogging the hidey under the ramp/ledge- at least i presumed this because i would always find Pineapple under there and Coconut (who is very timid) out in the open. I found Pineapple in the fleece forest, and Coconut sitting outside. Has Pineapple claimed both for himself? They're new piggies - this is day 2 of having them. Do you think cleaning the bedding would help remove whatever smell theyve laid down already and let Coconut have some privacy? Or maybe does Coconut just like being out in the open?
Click to expand...

Please always have two ideally identical hideys, preferably with two exits with a pair, and preferably at a distance from each other so no-pig can control them all; the same goes for food bowls (should not be left out between meals as unlimited pellets are no longer recommended and only get soiled) and water bottles as well as access to unlimited, which should make over 80% of the daily food intake.
Hogging prime real estate is part and parcel of the dominance phase in which the hierarchy and the future relationship is fully worked out. It typically lasts for two weeks, but can be shorter or longer until the dust has fully settled.

Removing any scent will only start a new round of scent marking what is their new territory; they do this after every clean anyway. Right now, it is just an added stress factor. The less you interfere, the better.

Please take the time to read these guides here. They are part of our new owners guide collection, which you may find very helpful as it specifically addresses all the areas we get the most questions and worries about from new owners:
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
I've seen my piggies (have 5 sows and 2 boars, separate cages for each sex) and noticed some things seem more "desirable" to them, such as a ferret hammock I strapped to a small homemade wooden table that's about 9" off their floor. Usually the dominant sow gets first dibs, but if she hops out, usually the next one REALLY wanting to lay in it will immediately hop into it. As of more recently, I've seen a lesser sow already in it, the dominant mom will hop in, and they'll share it. Initially, there was a bunch of whining by the lesser sow, but that's stopped. Girls are a little over 3 months now, so took awhile to get that far.

I've seen things like this happen more than once, where another sow will be on constant alert for another to leave a desirable cubby, etc., then take it over once it is vacant.
 
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