One boar harassing the other

[ZuRo2019]

Hello all,

I have had two boars for about 6 weeks. I adopted them from a shelter where they had been kept together in a (too small) cage, and I'm not sure how long they were together before I got them. I'd estimate that they're between 6 months - 1 year old. Pretty quickly, it became clear that one of them is dominant, which I know is common and actually preferred, though the dominant one will often harass the other, chasing after him, humping him, and nipping at him. It has not reached the point of drawing blood or causing any visible injury, and typically it quiets down after a few minutes, but sometimes he can be pretty incessant and the other makes some pretty loud, distressed noises while this is happening. The subordinate one is still able to eat, though sometimes not without being bothered. I have them in a Midwest cage, which I now understand may be a bit too small, but I don't have more space for a much bigger cage. They each have a separate hut and there are 2 food bowls and 2 hay sources in the cage. Some options that I have been considering are springing for a C&C 3.5 x 2 grid cage (though this would not increase the floor space by very much), or adding the Midwest Mezzanine to add a second level to the current cage. Any other suggestions? Should I expect that this will just work itself out, or should I be doing something else to prevent the incessant harassing?

Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

Hello all,

I have had two boars for about 6 weeks. I adopted them from a shelter where they had been kept together in a (too small) cage, and I'm not sure how long they were together before I got them. I'd estimate that they're between 6 months - 1 year old. Pretty quickly, it became clear that one of them is dominant, which I know is common and actually preferred, though the dominant one will often harass the other, chasing after him, humping him, and nipping at him. It has not reached the point of drawing blood or causing any visible injury, and typically it quiets down after a few minutes, but sometimes he can be pretty incessant and the other makes some pretty loud, distressed noises while this is happening. The subordinate one is still able to eat, though sometimes not without being bothered. I have them in a Midwest cage, which I now understand may be a bit too small, but I don't have more space for a much bigger cage. They each have a separate hut and there are 2 food bowls and 2 hay sources in the cage. Some options that I have been considering are springing for a C&C 3.5 x 2 grid cage (though this would not increase the floor space by very much), or adding the Midwest Mezzanine to add a second level to the current cage. Any other suggestions? Should I expect that this will just work itself out, or should I be doing something else to prevent the incessant harassing?

Thank you!

Hi and welcome

Your two boys are right in the thick of the teenage months. Please take the time to read the very detailed and practical guide links below, make sure that you remove any potential trigger points and evaluate the relationship if necessary with a trial separation as discussed in the guides. Then take it from there.
It is impossible for us to judge exactly what is going on just from your report. There is no easy quick fix; it is a careful process of working out what is going on between your two boys and whether they still want to be together or not. The guides will lead you through this assessment process and any possible measures. Please be aware that extending the space needs to be done carefully (as discussed in the guides below) to not make the problem worse by causing a renewed hierarchy sort-out with all the dominance behaviour.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

 

[ZuRo2019]

Thank you so much for your response. I've read through many things before (websites, forums, etc) but this was by far the most comprehensive. If it's possible that things will sort themselves out as they get past this adolescent stage, then I can be patient as that happens and keep giving them lots of attention and 2 food sources, etc. as long as it doesn't become physically dangerous for either of them. I will say that the picked-on pig is lighter than the other- the dominant one was a tad bigger when I got them, but their size differential has increased over the past few weeks. It does make me worry about possible implications of bullying, though I can see that he is eating well whenever I put food out and the dominant pig isn't hogging all of the food (though sometimes scares the subordinate pig while he's eating).

I guess my main question is how long should I wait before determining that this just isn't a good fit? There may not be a clear answer to that question. Also looking for hope that it could improve when they get past this stage. Do you know of other piggies who had a similar issue during adolescence and then it resolved after they hit that 14-month mark?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for your response. I've read through many things before (websites, forums, etc) but this was by far the most comprehensive. If it's possible that things will sort themselves out as they get past this adolescent stage, then I can be patient as that happens and keep giving them lots of attention and 2 food sources, etc. as long as it doesn't become physically dangerous for either of them. I will say that the picked-on pig is lighter than the other- the dominant one was a tad bigger when I got them, but their size differential has increased over the past few weeks. It does make me worry about possible implications of bullying, though I can see that he is eating well whenever I put food out and the dominant pig isn't hogging all of the food (though sometimes scares the subordinate pig while he's eating).

I guess my main question is how long should I wait before determining that this just isn't a good fit? There may not be a clear answer to that question. Also looking for hope that it could improve when they get past this stage. Do you know of other piggies who had a similar issue during adolescence and then it resolved after they hit that 14-month mark?

Thank you! I know how frustrating vague advice is and am doing my best to be as precise and practical as possible, and to also include options and alternatives wherever possible as there is often no one single correct way and not everybody has got necessarily access to all options.

The good news that the majority of boar pairs actually make it together to adulthood together.

If I were you, I would check for bullying and also follow the tips for sprinkle feeding/not leaving any bowls hanging around in between meals. Our recommended portions of veg and pellets can be eaten in one go; they are more a daily treat and not the mainstay of the diet. That is hay, hay and more hay - crucial for grinding the vital back teeth down, keeping the gut steady, and through it good health and a longer general life span. It really makes a big difference! The one thing you can do is to offer hay in two different places.

If there has been a weight loss, then please see a vet. The underpiggy will generally always be somewhat lighter and the difference in weight will be biggest between 2-3 years of age at the peak of their lives. However, before you can come to that conclusion, you always need to exlcude a medical problem first. Since you cannot interview a piggy, this means generally a vet trip.

You can do a trial separation at any time if you feel that your underboy is being bullied and pushed too far. If that is the case, a bullied piggy will noticeably perk up as soon as it is away from the bully. If your two boys want to be together, then the bond is working as it is. the re-introduction on neutral ground will tell you the rest. If the boys have a grudge between them, then that will become obvious very quickly; if was just a hormone spike without any serious issues, then they will go back together again as if nothing had happened.
This method is the closest we can come to asking our piggies about their honest opinion.

I hope that that help you?

 

[ZuRo2019]

Yes, super helpful - I know it's impossible to diagnose an issue from afar and I appreciate all of your thoughtful attention to my questions! I will definitely take your suggestion about removing bowls between feedings and see how that goes as a start. And it is good to hear that these issues often resolve themselves!

To your point about separation, I should admit that I do put a divider between them at night, mostly because I live in a studio apartment and the noises when one would chase the other often woke me up :-/. It has occurred to me that that may be hindering their bonding process but I haven't been willing to sacrifice a night's sleep in order to test this theory. I was, however, away for 3 days last week and they were not separated at night, and the behavior was pretty much the same when I got back. When I put the divider between them, it doesn't seem like the underpig perks up at all- he spends equal amounts of time out of his hidey house, sniffing the cage, and munching hay whether or not the dominant pig is around. But obviously he is also much calmer (and quieter!) when he's not being chased around. I do notice that when I remove the divider in the morning, there is a good amount of rumblestrutting (interestingly, often by the underpig) and chasing until they settle down again. Do you think my divider situation may be exacerbating the issue? I fear that it might and that I may have to sacrifice sleep to give it up...

 

[Wiebke]

Yes, super helpful - I know it's impossible to diagnose an issue from afar and I appreciate all of your thoughtful attention to my questions! I will definitely take your suggestion about removing bowls between feedings and see how that goes as a start. And it is good to hear that these issues often resolve themselves!

To your point about separation, I should admit that I do put a divider between them at night, mostly because I live in a studio apartment and the noises when one would chase the other often woke me up :-/. It has occurred to me that that may be hindering their bonding process but I haven't been willing to sacrifice a night's sleep in order to test this theory. I was, however, away for 3 days last week and they were not separated at night, and the behavior was pretty much the same when I got back. When I put the divider between them, it doesn't seem like the underpig perks up at all- he spends equal amounts of time out of his hidey house, sniffing the cage, and munching hay whether or not the dominant pig is around. But obviously he is also much calmer (and quieter!) when he's not being chased around. I do notice that when I remove the divider in the morning, there is a good amount of rumblestrutting (interestingly, often by the underpig) and chasing until they settle down again. Do you think my divider situation may be exacerbating the issue? I fear that it might and that I may have to sacrifice sleep to give it up...

He doesn't sound bullied, but the divider definitely requires a reaffirmation of the hierarchy with dominance behaviour first thing in the morning.
Chasing the underpiggy out of hideys, off bowls and generally throwing one's weight around is normal dominance behaviour if it is casual and not persistent or forceful.

 

[ZuRo2019]

He doesn't sound bullied, but the divider definitely requires a reaffirmation of the hierarchy with dominance behaviour first thing in the morning.
Chasing the underpiggy out of hideys, off bowls and generally throwing one's weight around is normal dominance behaviour if it is casual and not persistent or forceful.

Got it, makes sense. Thank you for your reassurance and helpful advice.