My family and I adopted two boars (2 year old and 18 month old) in August. They live in a hutch in the garage ( 5 X 2) and we bring them inside for floor time every night. For a while they seemed to tolerate each other with occasional teeth chattering and growling/rumbling noises. But now when we bring them in and put them in the 'floor area' they chase each other about at such a pace, leaping in the air, squaring up to each other and make a lot of really loud noises and teeth chattering. The other night I noticed a tear on the younger one's ear as well. My two children really love them and it would be so hard to give one back (the person we adopted from has offered to do this) but I think it's such a shame that they aren't getting on and I'm worried things might get worse. I'm not sure we have the space for two cages really so that would be difficult. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
New owner with fighting boars. Advice please!
- Thread starter FrankieB
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I can only recommend the behaviour guides which may help you.
There will be experts along soon.
Meanwhile- don’t panic
There will be experts along soon.
Meanwhile- don’t panic
Hi and welcome!
Please consider bringing your hutch indoors; guinea pigs are not hardy and should be treated like tender plants. They should also not come in and out from a cold into a warm place and then back out again as they struggle to adjust quickly to major temperature changes.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot weather management and heat strokes
Most of what you are describing is very happy behaviour - zoomies and popcorning with lots of squeaking. There is the odd measuring up and facing up with each other in new territory (which always requires a re-establishment of the existing hierarchy), but if it doesn't go further than a bit of teeth chattering then it is still very much in the mild to medium range and nothing to worry about. Accidental tears from a misjudged swipe can happen. If it was serious, you would have seen a whole different level of tension and not any happy romping.
Please take the time to read these guides here. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to be kept as singles. They rely on company and interaction with their own kind round the clock.
Bonds In Trouble
Companionship
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
This video of my two boys Dylan and his baby friend Llelo is showing you a nice bit of zoomies and popcorning and general boar romping during cage cleaning time.
Thank you Wiebke for the advice. When I said they were zooming around it was definitely a less playful. Pedro, the younger one, looked as if he was about to attack and he was chasing Lionel into a corner and then chattering his teeth. A few times I've seen him try to nip Lionel while running about. I've watched a few online videos to get an idea of happy noises and it seems like my pigs are showing more hostile behaviour towards each other, like they're often on edge, rather than excited. Just don't want things to escalate. Also, when I mentioned returning Pedro it's because the lady we got them from said we could exchange Pedro for another pig but I'd be worried they might not get on either! Thanks anyway.
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DMS260820
Are any of your boars neutered?
Thank you Wiebke for the advice. When I said they were zooming around it was definitely a less playful. Pedro, the younger one, looked as if he was about to attack and he was chasing Lionel into a corner and then chattering his teeth. A few times I've seen him try to nip Lionel while running about. I've watched a few online videos to get an idea of happy noises and it seems like my pigs are showing more hostile behaviour towards each other, like they're often on edge, rather than excited. Just don't want things to escalate. Also, when I mentioned returning Pedro it's because the lady we got them from said we could exchange Pedro for another pig but I'd be worried they might not get on either! Thanks anyway.
No they're not but I'd heard this doesn't alter behaviour. Is that right?
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
Yes that is correct. Neutering only stops reproduction
D
DMS260820
No i was thinking if you take back one boar, get a sow instead. But obviously you cant get a sow if you have two intact boars
Neutering doesn't change character incompatibility. A change of location can cause adult boars to fall out.
Please take the time to read this guide here, which I have already linked into your previous post. Among other information it also tell you how you can evaluate whether a bond is still functional or not and what your options are.
Bonds In Trouble
If the two boys are not getting on, I would reassess with the rescue. It may be that a cross gender bonding could be a better option but that would imply a neutering operation and a 6 weeks safety wait. Your hutch is large enough to accommodate a boar with two bonded sows.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts
It is not quite easy for us to assess what is really going on. Reported 'fights' can cover anything from the least sign of dominance to fallen-out but not separated boars so we have to figure out in which league yours are playing.
PS: If you've been to the Animal Rescue Christmas Fair in Kidsgrove on Saturday you would have met me. I was the lady running the biscuit stall.
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DMS260820
I think i got her confused I only meant if they are neutered she could swap for a sow. Sorry
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DMS260820
correct alot of people get confused with rabbits or assume guinea pigs are the same. Am i right that neutering does change a rabbits behaviour?
Neutering rabbits stops/reduces their aggressive sexual behaviour - mounting, spraying etc.
Thank you. Yes I now see what you mean about the neutering. I will have a read of the links provided. My instinct is that they are never really going to be best mates. They were only introduced to each other a few months ago so maybe they have never really bonded but I'm not an expert. The thing is I can't even sit them too close to each other because they start to teeth chatter and I worry they'll fight so it's pretty much impossible to sit with both on my lap, which is a shame.
They need to be character compatible to be able to bond and sometimes they just aren’t. It is a shame though, but may be you have options in the interest of both of them if the rescue will help you going forward
What do you think about 2 tier indoor cages? If we brought them inside for the winter I could fit a 2 tier 100cm x 60cm cage in the conservatory. I wonder if this would help them to get along because they would both have their own living areas? We could also keep a closer eye on their behaviour that way.
Are you meaning that they would live on one floor each and not be Living together but you would then let them out to play together? Piggies don’t do these kind of playdafes, they either need to be permamently together or permamently apart. You can’t put them together and then separate as it is stressful. If they aren’t getting on and need to be separated then it is a permament thing.
If you mean for them to still live together in that new cage, then I am afraid a 100x60cm cage is too small. The second tier doesn’t count as extra space as piggies are ground roaming and are not natural climbers. For boars a 100cm is certainly too small, boars need more room than sows and anything less than a 150cm cage would likely escalate any problems in their relationship.
If you mean for them to still live together in that new cage, then I am afraid a 100x60cm cage is too small. The second tier doesn’t count as extra space as piggies are ground roaming and are not natural climbers. For boars a 100cm is certainly too small, boars need more room than sows and anything less than a 150cm cage would likely escalate any problems in their relationship.
To add, a 120x60cm is the smallest cage you should consider, but boars, even well bonded ones, need more room than that so bigger would certainly be better for boars with a questionable relationship
Okay thanks. Can you advise on a C & C set up then if I was to keep them permanently separate? E.g. how many grids per pig? Does that also mean if I separate them they can't have any floor time together? It's just becoming a bit complicated or maybe there's still a way! The last few days they have seemed quite calm and haven't been chasing each other.
D
DMS260820
I would try them together if they came together? Did they come as four pigs all getting along at the rescue?
Yes, if they are separated, they cannot have floor time together.
A c&c would be fine. A 3x2 per pig would probably be ok. There are options in that though, they may still be able to be alongside each other which would make the cage a 6x2 in total (which measures 7ft by 2ft). This would be a good option because they can still talk to each other and have company that way. However, sometimes it doesn’t work and seeing each other can cause issues, then you could stack two 3x2 c&c cages on top of one another which would take up less floor space but it does mean each pig could get lonely with no interaction with another piggy.
If they are getting on a bit better now, then that’s good but keep a close eye on them in case things turn again.
Could it be worth trying the two boys together in a bigger C&C cage first to see if they are getting along better with more space? At the moment they seem fairly calm so maybe they would be better inside where we can keep an eye on them over the winter? What size would be best if we can manage the space?
Julie M
Senior Guinea Pig
As much space as you can give them. I also find having hay areas at separate ends of the cage so they can spend time apart. Also 2 of everything greatly helps. If you follow the boars guides on here you won't go far wrong. Also when you change bedding I would leave some of the old bedding in with their scent on it. I had a pair of boars who used to constantly fight at floor time. I built them a 7x2 c&c cage so they had lots of space.
Julie M
Senior Guinea Pig
Give them cardboard boxes with doors cut in them to chew on (one each) I find it helps to alleviate some of their tension. Also toilet roll tubes stuffed with hay are a great boredom buster.
When I got my two boars,they were originally in a 4x2 c&c in my shed and they bickered. I then upgraded to a 5ft hutch with a connected six foot by five foot playpen (which they have permament access to during the summer and get day time access to during warmer days in the spring/autumn) and since they had more space everything calmed down. They occasionally have a crossed word but more space has definitely helped. They are now almost 9 and almost 10 months old.
Just found a bite on Lionel (the older one) and it looked liked it's only just happened as it was still a bit bloody. I checked Pedro and he has a couple of scabs that I didn't notice yesterday. Should I separate them tonight? Really not sure what to do for the best. I feel like I don't have the energy to deal with it at the moment but I don't want them injuring each other.
I think separating is for the best, unfortunately. It doesn’t sound like their bond is working.