How to tell which boy is the dominant one?

Fidtz

Fidtz

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My two boys, Boo and Goomba are getting along fine currently but they are coming up to about 5 months old so I starting to look out for problems. They currently just (and always have) just do a bit of strutting and rumbling when following each other around and a bit of a nose off if they run into each other when zooming.

I am having a hard time working out which seems to be dominant so I can feed first and give attention to first. Boo is a lot more noisy and demanding to us but then goes and gets food for Goomba and takes it to him before getting his own. Boo runs around a lot but will often follow Goomba around back into the clean half of the cage when I am sweeping to make sure that the dustpan is still inedible.

Are there any clues to look for?

BooGoomba.webp
There is a 4sq/ft extension on the end of the Midwest cage btw.
 
I didn't know for years that you're supposed to feed dominant pig first, but nothing and noone would sway my dominant pig from being the boss. She's got a will of iron :) So it might not matter until things become more apparent...
 
Fidtz said:
My two boys, Boo and Goomba are getting along fine currently but they are coming up to about 5 months old so I starting to look out for problems. They currently just (and always have) just do a bit of strutting and rumbling when following each other around and a bit of a nose off if they run into each other when zooming.

I am having a hard time working out which seems to be dominant so I can feed first and give attention to first. Boo is a lot more noisy and demanding to us but then goes and gets food for Goomba and takes it to him before getting his own. Boo runs around a lot but will often follow Goomba around back into the clean half of the cage when I am sweeping to make sure that the dustpan is still inedible.

Are there any clues to look for?

View attachment 131656
There is a 4sq/ft extension on the end of the Midwest cage btw.
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Hi!

If neither of your boys is overly dominant and enforcing his dominance strictly, then I would not worry. By far not all piggy pairings are! Strictly respecting the hierarchy is important for the extremely sensitive, highly dominant teenage boars - but you very obviously don't have them, nor are your boys anywhere near any critical behaviour. count yourself lucky! :tu:

Unfortunately none of the behaviours you have cited is one of the key behaviours for dominance enforcement, so I can't tell you without seeing them in action or in telling interaction.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

If neither of your boys is overly dominant and enforcing his dominance strictly, then I would not worry. By far not all piggy pairings are! Strictly respecting the hierarchy is important for the extremely sensitive, highly dominant teenage boars - but you very obviously don't have them, nor are your boys anywhere near any critical behaviour. count yourself lucky! :tu:

Unfortunately none of the behaviours you have cited is one of the key behaviours for dominance enforcement, so I can't tell you without seeing them in action or in telling interaction.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will keep a look out but stop worrying!
 
To be honest neither of my boys is particularly dominant there has been no rumble strutting just the occasional tooth chatter and grumble. Spud is king of the hides and chooses his hide every time I rearrange the cage and will sit there all day and only occasionally let Gundam sit there for a few hours but Gundam has to eat first and will snatch food of spud if he has eaten his too quickly. But my boys break all the rules, they share a food bowl happily and have always got along through their teenage years. I didn't know about dominance behaviours back then and was not to careful to avoid problems I sometimes wonder why piggie boys have such a bad reputation for fighting but maybe I've just been lucky.
 
Sweet Potato said:
To be honest neither of my boys is particularly dominant there has been no rumble strutting just the occasional tooth chatter and grumble. Spud is king of the hides and chooses his hide every time I rearrange the cage and will sit there all day and only occasionally let Gundam sit there for a few hours but Gundam has to eat first and will snatch food of spud if he has eaten his too quickly. But my boys break all the rules, they share a food bowl happily and have always got along through their teenage years. I didn't know about dominance behaviours back then and was not to careful to avoid problems I sometimes wonder why piggie boys have such a bad reputation for fighting but maybe I've just been lucky.
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Neither of mine are particularly dominant either - I can tell which one is dominant, but he isn’t overly so, he mounts the other but the other is the one who rumblestruts.

Yours are well matched in character so that is why you haven’t seen any problems. Same with mine - they had a bit of bickering as teens but nothing above normal.. But if they had not been compatible, then you would know about it!
 
As said, their hierarchy may never be obvious. With my boars it was from when they hit their teenage months. It’s still the same up to now, but oddly enough the underpig sometimes rumble struts and will also occasionally stand his ground. Very odd, but the hierarchy hasn’t changed 🤷🏾‍♀️

I’ve also got girls and their hierarchy is definitely more subtle. In fact come to think of it, I’m not 100% the piggy I think is dominant is actually the leader.

They’ve got a good bond so just enjoy that. Be aware of what could happen but don’t let it worry you too much or taint the fun you have watching them go about their daily business ☺️
 
Bill and Ted are five years old and I still don’t know who is boss? They have always shared a food bowl and water fountain fine. Bill has always been a bit of a humper and Ted steals Bill’s veggies sometimes. It’s pretty evenly matched
 
I'm so glad i'm not the only one who's boys are evenly matched. My boys each seem to have their own little things they are boss of but even then if there was only one hide that is deemed good enough or one perfect piece of lettuce they will share.
 
I'm so glad i'm not the only one who's boys are evenly matched. My boys each seem to have their own little things they are boss of but even then if there was only one hide that is deemed good enough or one perfect piece of lettuce they will share.
 
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