New teeth chattering (bonding boars)

[Domwe30]

Hi All,

Looking for some advice please, long time since I posted, apologies.

I have a recently bereaved boar & bonded him with a rescue pig. Both about 3.5 years old and bonding went well (albeit still some rumblestrutting & mounting ).

The new boar is dominant as expected (Ned) & he teeth chatters when I go to pick him up. I was warned he does this and I'm patient and know he needs time to trust me.

However, weirdly, my existing boar has started to teeth chatter at me when I go to pick him up too. He's never done this in 3 years . Have I done something wrong?

They're getting on great (2 weeks in) & love their cuddles. Is it a learned noise from his new pal or is he actually annoyed with me?!

Thanks for any advice
Ange

 

[Wiebke]

Hi All,

Looking for some advice please, long time since I posted, apologies.

I have a recently bereaved boar & bonded him with a rescue pig. Both about 3.5 years old and bonding went well (albeit still some rumblestrutting & mounting ).

The new boar is dominant as expected (Ned) & he teeth chatters when I go to pick him up. I was warned he does this and I'm patient and know he needs time to trust me.

However, weirdly, my existing boar has started to teeth chatter at me when I go to pick him up too. He's never done this in 3 years . Have I done something wrong?

They're getting on great (2 weeks in) & love their cuddles. Is it a learned noise from his new pal or is he actually annoyed with me?!

Thanks for any advice
Ange

Hi!

I would recommend to read these guides and use our piggy whispering tips to invite your newbie into your herd and tell him that you love him and that he is welcome - but you are ranked higher than him. you will hopefully find that that is solving the problem. Do the same with your boy, too. He is obviously picking up his cues from his new boss. I find that that is usually the trick for any newly adopted piggies of mine.

Guinea pigs define themselves as belonging to a strictly hierarchical group. By creating a human group your pet piggies share with you as the leader, you are putting your relationship on a footing which they will instantly accept because it makes total sense to them. You can solve a lot of minor issues from grooming to medicating or other unwanted attention seelking habits this way by always assuring your pigges that they are a welcome part of your group, but that you are the boss who says what is acceptable and what in your group. Always start with love and end with love.
This is how clever 'enabler' husboars of mine were bonding tricky sows into their group, so you are copying guinea pig behaviours and speaking their language. I have found it astonishingly effective in a wide range of interactive situations without having to resort any more forceful methods, which tend to leave the poor piggies generally bewildered or upset as they do not make sense.

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

 

[Domwe30]

Hi Wiebke/All,

Thanks so much for the advice above and the link to the threads. Current boar has stopped chattering and new boar definitely calming with me .

However, I am slightly worried about signs of bullying based on your thread links. We are now at the end of week 3 and Ned (new & dominant boar) is not easing up on his assertiveness. No biting or lunging, but he doesn't give Wotsit any space unless he's snoozing. He still constantly circles, mounts and rumbles every time Wotsit is tootling around. They eat together fine but I notice a lot of 'blocking' food and water when it's not normal feeding time .

I have a large c&c and two of everything with space.

Last few days Wotsit has started rapidly running away from Ned and hiding in the small hideaway (still two exits) where there's only room for one. He's even started grabbing food and lagging it back to the hidey. He's typically very docile so this is strange.

How much time should I give it? I feel that Wotsit seems quite jumpy, but maybe I'm more stressed than him?! I would have thought Ned would ease up a little by now. I don't want to risk a trial separation if not needed.

Thanks for any advice

 

[Cocochanel4]

Following as I have the exact same issue with mine!