How long should Rumble Strutting continue?

[artPUNK]

Hi.
So I’ve had my 2 males together for almost 24 hours now and there is yet to be any fighting.

The pigs will sit and eat together, but I’m slightly worried that the Rumblestrutting and “humping” is still continuing from one of them. Any time that Henry moves, Dylan is usually following and will walk past whilst strutting his stuff.

Is this normal for the amount of time they have been together or is this bullying?

I’m desperate for any information. People seem to have stop helping me with my questions.

 

[Siikibam]

It’s normal. Unless you see any full on fights then you just have to ride it out. As an example, my boys were together from young. But when they hit around 7 months (if I remember correctly), the dominant pig humped, mounted, chased and teeth chattered at his friend for a good hour at least. It came out of nowhere because it was all very calm before this.

He’ll get tired and they’ll settle down. But just be aware it may happen again. Also, the change in environment can also bring on a phase of dominance reinforcement. How old are they?

 

[artPUNK]

It’s normal. Unless you see any full on fights then you just have to ride it out. As an example, my boys were together from young. But when they hit around 7 months (if I remember correctly), the dominant pig humped, mounted, chased and teeth chattered at his friend for a good hour at least. It came out of nowhere because it was all very calm before this.

He’ll get tired and they’ll settle down. But just be aware it may happen again. Also, the change in environment can also bring on a phase of dominance reinforcement. How old are they?

Thank you so much for your reply!
Henry is around 5 months and Dylan around 3 Months.

It’s not just happening for an hour. It’s been constant since I introduced them.

It is very clear that Dylan (younger) wants to be in charge and he is constantly following Henry.
There has not been a single fight. The odd “back off” attack has happened (literally a

 

[artPUNK]

They sit have sat together like this for most of the time. But the moment Henry (Ginger) walks away, he is followed by a younger rumblestrutting monster

 

[David Piggie Lover]

keep a eye on them. there's great guides on here that will help.
Wish you all the best and you're piggies are lovely.

 

[Nassala]

My last pair of boars used to have a wee rumble every day. They loved each other and for them it was just normal communication. Unless there is actual fighting there is nothing to worry about.

 

[artPUNK]

My last pair of boars used to have a wee rumble every day. They loved each other and for them it was just normal communication. Unless there is actual fighting there is nothing to worry about.

How long do you think is long enough to know for sure that they have accepted one another?
I’m just worried that Henry is being bullied and may lash out as it’s been happening non stop.

 

[Nassala]

I don't know if you can ever say for sure that two pigs or two people will ever fall out. If you are weighing Henry regularly and there is no loss of weight then he's probably not stressed. If it is stressing him then you will usually see the behaviours escalate until it's teeth chattering and hackles and then you can think about separating. Personally if it is constant for months I would think about a divider or other friends, but others may do that earlier or not at all.

 

[Nassala]

Remember too that boars usually chill out a bit once they get past a year old, but until then, hormones ahoy!

 

[Dm130719]

Hi.
So I’ve had my 2 males together for almost 24 hours now and there is yet to be any fighting.

The pigs will sit and eat together, but I’m slightly worried that the Rumblestrutting and “humping” is still continuing from one of them. Any time that Henry moves, Dylan is usually following and will walk past whilst strutting his stuff.

Is this normal for the amount of time they have been together or is this bullying?

I’m desperate for any information. People seem to have stop helping me with my questions.

Yes , this is normal behavior .. My males didn't settle down until a week after them being in the same cage , just give them some more time .
If you see any fights , like big fights , i'd separate them ( Lunging , biting . hard biting , not nipping when a guinea pig gets too close )

 

[piggieminder]

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Have a read through these, they should help.

 

[Sophie B]

A moderate amount of rumbling and humping is normal, I think @Wiebke said on another thread of a similar topic it’s usually around 2 weeks for a hierarchy to be established, but I could be wrong

 

[Reenie]

There will be loads of rumblestrutting and mounting to begin with, and then it gets a bit less...unless you've a piggy like my Chicco. They've been together for 2 years, and he still rumblestrutts almost constantly. Think of it like young boys swaggering. It's dominance, but mild. My boys still mount each other as well. If they're getting on apart from that, everything is fine. The more concerning things are constant teeth chattering, yawning, squaring up and lunging. What you're seeing just now is normal boarly behaviour.

 

[artPUNK]

I am very thankful for your help guys.

I may have messed up, but I used my best instincts.......
So the newcomer began to herd Henry into one corner of the Pen.
It was from then on, any time that Henry tried to leave his corner, he’d be “rumblestrutted” straight back, “humped” and then back to square one. (Happened for 2 days straight).
It then continued in their new cage. To the point where Henry wouldn’t leave his new corner (even for food/drink).
So I have separated them.

Is it okay to try again in a couple of months as there was no fighting. But what I viewed as outright bullying?

 

[Siikibam]

You mean he wasn’t letting him walk around at all? Was he stuck in just that corner? If newcomer was rumble strutting did he go for Henry or just leave him to it? Was Henry permanently stuck in that corner all day or it was on and off? Was he being mounted? How does Henry seem in himself?

I wouldn’t go months, maybe a day or two. Was Henry still allowed to eat? Was the new cage cleaned thoroughly? Do they have two of everything? Make sure the hides have two exits. Sorry for so many questions, I’m kind of trying to picture what happened.

I’ll tag @Wiebke

 

[artPUNK]

You mean he wasn’t letting him walk around at all? Was he stuck in just that corner? If newcomer was rumble strutting did he go for Henry or just leave him to it? Was Henry permanently stuck in that corner all day or it was on and off? Was he being mounted? How does Henry seem in himself?

I wouldn’t go months, maybe a day or two. Was Henry still allowed to eat? Was the new cage cleaned thoroughly? Do they have two of everything? Make sure the hides have two exits. Sorry for so many questions, I’m kind of trying to picture what happened.

I’ll tag @Wiebke

I have genuinely done it all. Been over the guides multiple times just to be sure.

He was stuck in the corner the entire day. The only way he was able to eat was by sneaking, but seconds later he would be walked back into the corner.
There has never been an attack. But Henry hasn’t tried to do anything. He settled for second place the moment his feet hit the floor.
He is very obviously unable to stand up for himself.
He was being mounted after every march (so if he left the corner).

 

[Bill & Ted]

They can live in a divided pen/cage quite happily if needed

 

[artPUNK]

@Siikibam @Wiebke
Update: I now know why Henry wasn’t actually retaliating and allowing himself to be pushed into the corner.
Turns out, he had an underlying heart condition.
He continued to not it after being separated and began to breathe unusually.
I took him to the vet and they confirmed this.
He passed away the moment I got home. I am truly devastated. I had fallen in love with the little guy.

 

[Siikibam]

@Siikibam @Wiebke
Update: I now know why Henry wasn’t actually retaliating and allowing himself to be pushed into the corner.
Turns out, he had an underlying heart condition.
He continued to not it after being separated and began to breathe unusually.
I took him to the vet and they confirmed this.
He passed away the moment I got home. I am truly devastated. I had fallen in love with the little guy.

So very sorry for your loss @artPUNK you weren’t to know you got him to a vets quickly as you could. He passed away knowing he was loved, that’s the important thing. How’s your other boy doing?

 

[Wiebke]

@Siikibam @Wiebke
Update: I now know why Henry wasn’t actually retaliating and allowing himself to be pushed into the corner.
Turns out, he had an underlying heart condition.
He continued to not it after being separated and began to breathe unusually.
I took him to the vet and they confirmed this.
He passed away the moment I got home. I am truly devastated. I had fallen in love with the little guy.

HUGS

I am so very sorry! You are welcome to post a tribute to him in our Rainbow Bridge if and whenever it feels right for you.

Here is our grieving information: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[artPUNK]

So very sorry for your loss @artPUNK you weren’t to know you got him to a vets quickly as you could. He passed away knowing he was loved, that’s the important thing. How’s your other boy doing?

HUGS

I am so very sorry! You are welcome to post a tribute to him in our Rainbow Bridge if and whenever it feels right for you.

Here is our grieving information: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

Thank you for your words.
I am truly gutted. It all happened so quickly, but it also gave a lot of answers to some of the questions I had.

Dylan seems to actually be thriving on his own. I believe that he was born to be an independent Piggy.

RIP Henry