Pigs don't like each other :/

[kitabird]

I have two 8 month old boars who have lived together all their life, but they just don't get on. They both want to be the boss. All they do is keep out of each others way and when they do come into contact they rumblestrut and chatter teeth at each other. Last night they went at each other in a ball of fury! No injuries that I can see and they're not getting on any worse today than before the fight. I know people say to only separate if blood is drawn, but it makes me sad that they are unhappy together. The thing is, if I separated I wouldn't be able to keep them both as I don't have the space for a second cage. Their current cage is 180 x 60 cm and unfortunately I don't have space to extend it any further. Any suggestions?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Oh dear, it doesn’t sound like a nice situation for anyone.
If you do have to separate them would you be able to put a second cage on top? That way, you wouldn’t need more floor space.

 

[kitabird]

Oh dear, it doesn’t sound like a nice situation for anyone.
If you do have to separate them would you be able to put a second cage on top? That way, you wouldn’t need more floor space.

Unfortunately if I had a cage on top it would be in direct sunlight from a south facing window, so would get too hot. On the floor it is shaded. Can't think of anywhere else I could squeeze a 2nd cage :/

 

[pig in the city]

You could approach a rescue (see below) and see if they have any suitable boys to try with one or the other and then hopefully you would have a stable pair and the other boar could be rehomed through the rescue. Alternatively get one neutered to go with a sow and rehome the other boar.
If they have always been like this and it's not just a teenage hormonal problem then they probably will not settle with age.

NEGPR Home Page

 

[Wiebke]

I have two 8 month old boars who have lived together all their life, but they just don't get on. They both want to be the boss. All they do is keep out of each others way and when they do come into contact they rumblestrut and chatter teeth at each other. Last night they went at each other in a ball of fury! No injuries that I can see and they're not getting on any worse today than before the fight. I know people say to only separate if blood is drawn, but it makes me sad that they are unhappy together. The thing is, if I separated I wouldn't be able to keep them both as I don't have the space for a second cage. Their current cage is 180 x 60 cm and unfortunately I don't have space to extend it any further. Any suggestions?

Hi! Your two boys are unfortunately right in the thick of the teenage months when they develop their adult identities and only then will you see whether they get on or not.

Please take the time to read this guide here. It discusses the whole problem with all aspects from dos and don'ts, trial separations and what to look out for when you do them, how to conduct re-intros and what options you have if your boars have reached the end of the line.

After a tussle like yours, I would definitely split your boys for at least a couple of days to see whether it was just a hormone spike or whether they have taken against each other for good. If possible, insert a divider into the cage.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[kitabird]

You could approach a rescue (see below) and see if they have any suitable boys to try with one or the other and then hopefully you would have a stable pair and the other boar could be rehomed through the rescue. Alternatively get one neutered to go with a sow and rehome the other boar.
If they have always been like this and it's not just a teenage hormonal problem then they probably will not settle with age.

NEGPR Home Page

Yes, that's what I'm worried about, that they'll never enjoy each others company. I don't know I could choose between them though

 

[pig in the city]

Yes, that's what I'm worried about, that they'll never enjoy each others company. I don't know I could choose between them though

It's hard, but if you think that you are giving them both chance of a happy friendship. Having the wrong friend is almost as bad as having no friend. Contact the rescue, they will be able to help and advise you.

 

[Merab]

Hope things work out for you

 

[kitabird]

Hi! Your two boys are unfortunately right in the thick of the teenage months when they develop their adult identities and only then will you see whether they get on or not.

Please take the time to read this guide here. It discusses the whole problem with all aspects from dos and don'ts, trial separations and what to look out for when you do them, how to conduct re-intros and what options you have if your boars have reached the end of the line.

After a tussle like yours, I would definitely split your boys for at least a couple of days to see whether it was just a hormone spike or whether they have taken against each other for good. If possible, insert a divider into the cage.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

They seem ok at the moment, just keeping an eye on them. The only way I could divide them would leave one of them in a 60cm x 60cm space, so I don't want to do that unless absolutely necessary (It would be temporary of course, not a long term solution).

 

[Wiebke]

They seem ok at the moment, just keeping an eye on them. The only way I could divide them would leave one of them in a 60cm x 60cm space, so I don't want to do that unless absolutely necessary (It would be temporary of course, not a long term solution).

That kind of divider is OK for a 1-2 day split to avoid risking to break the strained bond; just to allow the hormone spike to settle down again. Then put them back together in neutral space and - if the bond is not broken - they will go back together pretty much as if nothing had happened or with just a little posturing. Best have your oven gloves ready just in case, though!

I have done this with my own boar pair a couple of times when my nervous adult Nosgan couldn't cope with his full-on teenage buddy Nye. Two years on, they are still together, now both stable adults.