New Boars Not Getting On :(

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HansPiggies

HansPiggies

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I'm not sure what to do about my boars. I had 4, 2 pairs of boys and recently adopted 2 more boys. They couldn't tell me an age, just under a year...I'm guessing around 8 months. Anyway they were being fostered by someone for the rescue and supposedly they are a bonded pair.
But since I've had them they seem to squabble a lot! One is very skittish and the other really seems to bully him, there is a bit of teeth chattering and a lot of chasing. I thought at first it was because of the smell/noises of my others boars as one of the new ones has been very vocal and interested in the pigs next door to them. Anyway I've moved the cages about a foot away from each other and put my hay storage in between which has seemed to calm them down, but they are still arguing.

I have taken all their hideys out and they have 2 water bottles and 2 bowls but they still aren't great, the one being chased just seems to be so skittish anyway as soon as the other one is near him he flinches and runs away looking scared :( the other one does try to lunge to nip him occasionally too. Just not sure if they never really got on that well or if it's just the disruption of moving and smelling my other boys arghh. I dont have the space to split them but don't want to have to give one back as I really love them both already :(

Other info: They are in just under a 2x4 C&C which I can't make any bigger.

Thanks in advance! :)
 
Ermm.. not sure what to suggest Hannah. As you know we had two himi's from the same place that we ended up splitting.

How bad is it? Is he actually biting the other boar?
 
Kerrie74 said:
Ermm.. not sure what to suggest Hannah. As you know we had two himi's from the same place that we ended up splitting.

How bad is it? Is he actually biting the other boar?
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Well I can't see any bites marks but he does go to bite him. Just feel bad for Hendricks as he just doesn't seen happy, constantly on edge and running away :(
I wouldn't mind if it was just seeing who's dominant, but there isn't any rumbling, it's just bullying!
 
Ermm, can you take them out of the cage for a bit and put them in a neutral area, see how they get on there?
 
Kerrie74 said:
I don't mean full blown bites, I mean like pulling his fur or nipping him.
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I haven't seen any actually contact or evidence of nipping, he just lunges to do it but Hendicks always runs away quick enough. I did see a scrap when they had a hidey in there and lots of squealing but couldn't see what actually happened :/
 
Ermm, see our Storm went through a phase where he kept being horrible to Snow, Snow kept running from him (he was trying to mount Snow as well though) and in the end Snow got so fed up he started rumble strutting Storm which seemed to calm Storm right down. They are ok again now.
 
Kerrie74 said:
Ermm, can you take them out of the cage for a bit and put them in a neutral area, see how they get on there?
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Yeah will try this, really their cage is a neutral area though as was new correx and no other piggies had been in it before. But will try them somewhere away from the others and see :)
 
Kerrie74 said:
Ermm, see our Storm went through a phase where he kept being horrible to Snow, Snow kept running from him (he was trying to mount Snow as well though) and in the end Snow got so fed up he started rumble strutting Storm which seemed to calm Storm right down. They are ok again now.
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Hopefully they'll be ok, it has only been a few days..
 
Yeah but, they are near the other boars aren't they? I'm not saying that would be doing it of course, it's just a suggestion to see what they are like away from the other boars.

Yeah, moving them can be stressful, it must be confusing for them. Were you told they got on all right and do you know how long they've been together?
 
Kerrie74 said:
Yeah but, they are near the other boars aren't they? I'm not saying that would be doing it of course, it's just a suggestion to see what they are like away from the other boars.

Yeah, moving them can be stressful, it must be confusing for them. Were you told they got on all right and do you know how long they've been together?
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Well I messaged her explaining how they're being, she said to try taking hideys out etc...I did ask if she knew if they were definitely ok together before but she didn't answer :/
If they carry on I'll message her again
 
:( hope it works out ok. My girls some weeks ago were having scuffles, fur pulling and bit of nipping on the nose, it calmed down, turned out it was because Lola wanted to lick Lily's bum XD anyway, yes I hope they simmer!
 
Chief Guinea Pig said:
:( hope it works out ok. My girls some weeks ago were having scuffles, fur pulling and bit of nipping on the nose, it calmed down, turned out it was because Lola wanted to lick Lily's bum XD anyway, yes I hope they simmer!
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Thanks just frustrating as not sure what they were like before or how long to leave it :/
 
So my boys have been getting on ok, it's hard to tell as Hendricks is so flinchy he runs away when Pebbles brushes past him even if he didn't do anything, so recently I've been putting it down to him just being skittish. But just now I was in the other room and heard the loudest high pitched squeal ever. Rushed in and Hendricks was in the corner by the hay and Pebbles teeth chattering away by him :(
I'm thinking maybe he's so flinchy because Pebbles is mean to him, should I put a divider in the cage for a few days to see if Hendricks becomes more calm and less skittish without him? Thing is it would only give them a 2x2 each as I can't make it any bigger :/
 
Has Hendricks lost any weight during this unsettled period? That can be a clue as to how much what you are seeing is affecting him. It is a tricky call because obviously they having times of getting on OK. No sign of any bite marks - under the chin can be a hidden area?
I would speak to the rescue further to see if there are any clues but you have to deal with what you are seeing now.
If you do put a divider in, the behaviour of the 'bully' is likely to be trying to get back through the divider and the bullied one would probably avoid the divider and have a sleep in a far corner with relief - so it can give you message!
 
lauraboara said:
Has Hendricks lost any weight during this unsettled period? That can be a clue as to how much what you are seeing is affecting him. It is a tricky call because obviously they having times of getting on OK. No sign of any bite marks - under the chin can be a hidden area?
I would speak to the rescue further to see if there are any clues but you have to deal with what you are seeing now.
If you do put a divider in, the behaviour of the 'bully' is likely to be trying to get back through the divider and the bullied one would probably avoid the divider and have a sleep in a far corner with relief - so it can give you message!
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I'll be honest I haven't actually weighed him, though they were together before I got them so not sure why he'd lose weight now? They eat fine next to each other, they've 2 bowls for nuggets and one big flat one for veggies which they share absolutely fine and the are often next to each other whilst at the hay rack so Pebbles doesn't bully him when it comes to food, just more when they are moving around the cage. Maybe I'll put the divider in even just for the weekend to see how Hendricks behaves...it's hard as don't want to give one up but haven't the room to keep them seperate. Will contact the rescue but they were fostered to someone else before so not sure how much she knows about their behaviour before :/
 
HansPiggies said:
I'll be honest I haven't actually weighed him, though they were together before I got them so not sure why he'd lose weight now? They eat fine next to each other, they've 2 bowls for nuggets and one big flat one for veggies which they share absolutely fine and the are often next to each other whilst at the hay rack so Pebbles doesn't bully him when it comes to food, just more when they are moving around the cage. Maybe I'll put the divider in even just for the weekend to see how Hendricks behaves...it's hard as don't want to give one up but haven't the room to keep them seperate. Will contact the rescue but they were fostered to someone else before so not sure how much she knows about their behaviour before :/
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It is worth keeping an eye on their weights - if real bullying is going on then one piggy will physically stop the other one eating but even if that is not happening, and you think they are both eating well which is good, they can get stressed by constantly being 'fight ready' instead of chilling out eating hay. I had to separate to fairly recently bonded boars earlier this year because one was losing weight with stressing on. He put it back on again quickly once separated.
Fingers crossed for your boys - it is difficult when you can't explain to them that they need work out how to get on!
Maybe @pig in the city will have some thoughts as she dealt with lots of boar bondings?
 
lauraboara said:
It is worth keeping an eye on their weights - if real bullying is going on then one piggy will physically stop the other one eating but even if that is not happening, and you think they are both eating well which is good, they can get stressed by constantly being 'fight ready' instead of chilling out eating hay. I had to separate to fairly recently bonded boars earlier this year because one was losing weight with stressing on. He put it back on again quickly once separated.
Fingers crossed for your boys - it is difficult when you can't explain to them that they need work out how to get on!
Maybe @pig in the city will have some thoughts as she dealt with lots of boar bondings?
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Thanks, I will weigh him then and keep an eye on it..he is definitely smaller than the other. I hope they do work it out as I haven't got the room to keep them both seperate do and I wouldn't want to give one up and then go through the whole finding another friend that may or may not work out again either sigh :(
 
@HansPiggies I think your going to have to give Shaz a ring and tell her about it and see what she suggests. Dividing the cage isn't a good idea because they will have little space, they should have at least 2x3 if they were to be separated. You took the boars on in good faith and was trying to help the rescue, so they really should be advising you on the problem.

The only suggestion I have about the cage Hannah, is to make it a two tier if you need to separate, that way they get space, they would have 2x4 each, but it would obviously mean more grids and correx.
 
Kerrie74 said:
@HansPiggies I think your going to have to give Shaz a ring and tell her about it and see what she suggests. Dividing the cage isn't a good idea because they will have little space, they should have at least 2x3 if they were to be separated. You took the boars on in good faith and was trying to help the rescue, so they really should be advising you on the problem.

The only suggestion I have about the cage Hannah, is to make it a two tier if you need to separate, that way they get space, they would have 2x4 each, but it would obviously mean more grids and correx.
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I would but a 2 tier wouldn't fit under the table and I have no more grids left anyway. I know a 2x2 is too small, but maybe if I just do it for an evening and see what happens. Feeling a bit fed up and like I shouldn't have got them, it took enough convincing of hubby to let me get them, he doesn't want to be ferrying me back and forth to the rescue if they have to be housed separately or find another friend of what ever so if it comes to it I'd have probably have to return both...arghhh
 
HansPiggies said:
I would but a 2 tier wouldn't fit under the table and I have no more grids left anyway. I know a 2x2 is too small, but maybe if I just do it for an evening and see what happens. Feeling a bit fed up and like I shouldn't have got them, it took enough convincing of hubby to let me get them, he doesn't want to be ferrying me back and forth to the rescue if they have to be housed separately or find another friend of what ever so if it comes to it I'd have probably have to return both...arghhh
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Also I have messaged her...Waiting for reply
 
Ok, I hope she replies, if she doesn't then my only other suggestion is to call. Well if it's just for an evening it should be ok. Sorry your having problems like we had :(
 
It doesn't sound like these boys are well suited. If you separate them it might be even more difficult to reintroduce them. I suspect the presence of the other pigs isn't helping. It's possible that they will settle, this would be helped by a larger cage and being away from the other pigs, but l appreciate that this is difficult for you. My feeling is that they have been poorly matched. It might be kinder to ask the rescue to have them back and hope that they pair with more suitable friends. Hopefully you will be able to speak to the rescue for some help and advice
 
pig in the city said:
It doesn't sound like these boys are well suited. If you separate them it might be even more difficult to reintroduce them. I suspect the presence of the other pigs isn't helping. It's possible that they will settle, this would be helped by a larger cage and being away from the other pigs, but l appreciate that this is difficult for you. My feeling is that they have been poorly matched. It might be kinder to ask the rescue to have them back and hope that they pair with more suitable friends. Hopefully you will be able to speak to the rescue for some help and advice
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Yes I think you are right, I'm going to give it another week or so, just incase they miracously start getting on...but I feel they won't, unfortunately I can't make the cage any bigger at this time. My best bonded pair can get on in any space really so even if I could give these two more space I think they would just be tolerating each other, still not really liking each other :( Also they are much better around the other pigs now, they aren't squeaking at each other or trying to get to each other now, so really think it's a problem with just the 2 new ones...Thanjs for everyone's advise, I'll let you know of any progress/changes
 
Just thought I'd update you all that my 2 boars are fine together now! I think they've just settled from the move and being around all the other piggies, I haven't heard any teeth chattering or scuffles in the last couple of weeks! Also the very nervous one is getting much tamer which I think helps as he doesn't startle so much! Phew, so relieved I can keep them both! :)
 
Really pleased to hear that about your boys! The smells and sounds of the other must have wound them up and sounds like they are settling now.
 
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