New dominance, hormones or fall out?

[G&C]

This is my first thread, but I wanted to ask some advice over some behaviour I witnessed yesterday. I have two boars, Gizmo (black crested with white stripe) is approx 15 months old and Gilbert (buff Californian) is 5 months old. They were bonded successfully in January and have a large cage. Yesterday was the first time they were outside on the grass in the run.

We have a box as a hiding place and a large foot long drain pipe in the run also, this is claimed as Gizmo’s territory most of the time. During the afternoon there was some arguments between them, Gilbert followed Gizmo constantly, trying to hump him and nip his back. When Gizmo tried to do it back, Gilbert wouldn’t have it and they would circle each other, then what I call a ‘guinea train’ would start: Gizmo would rumble strut around the run, with a little popcorning, through the tunnel, into the box and repeat, this went on for about half an hour. It was quite funny to watch, if I can get a video of it I will. I just wondered, after reading the behaviour/dominance advice I can’t figure out what’s going on, wether a new dominance is happening, little one is becoming a teenager or wether the new environment set it all off? Once they were back in the cage they were peaceful and eating happily together.

 

[Reenie]

Hi and welcome to the forum! It's probably the new environment, they have to re-establish their hierarchy. Kind of like....I'm just reminding you that I'm still the boss here. If they're a good bond it will settle down. Gilbert is right at the peak of his teenage hormones, so he may be challenging for top spot, and the new area has triggered it. Let them work it through, but watch for any serious fighting that involves blood being drawn (don't worry if there's the odd scratch, they sometimes do this by mistake if they mis-judge a warning). If they do fight, don't separate with bare hands, you could get in the way of a serious bite. You'll know a real fight if it happens, but it all sounds like normal dominance just now and nothing to worry about.