Please help! Boars fighting

[LouH]

We’ve had our pair of boars nearly 3 weeks. They are 1yr and about 4mnths. They’ve been a bit moody with each other, bit of chasing, grumbling and rumble struting bit have put it down to a new environment and just watched them. It’s worse when we are around, I’m guessing because they think food is coming.

Have put them in an indoor run just now, same hay tray and fleece on floor but 2 new cuddle sacks. They started quite excited, popcorning and running around but quickly descended into chasing, mounting and a couple of face offs. They lunged at each other twice and I think it could’ve been a full on fight if I’d not thrown a towel in and made a noise. In a panic I’ve pulled the C & C grids around to separate them for a minute. Little one was biting to get back through but has now gone in hidey but the older one is biting grid trying to get back in. Little one is extremely jumpy.
Please can you advise the best next step? I’m scared of keeping the divider in too long but equally scared of taking it out. Am I better reintroducing them in the cage? Any help appreciated as these are our first guinea pigs and I feel pretty nervous and clueless. Thanks.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Have they been in the indoor run before or was this the first time?

I would give them a little time to settle down but then reintroduce them and see what happens, being prepared to step in.

 

[LouH]

They’ve been in it before and the accessories are from the cage but the 2 cuddle sacks were new. I think it was these that caused the excitement as they were furiously scent marking them.
Am I best to just reopen the divider in the run or try and place them back in the cage do you think?
Thanks.

 

[Siikibam]

Don't just remove the divider. When re-introducing you should do it in an area both haven't been - clean bedding with no smells of either of them. Only a pile of hay in the middle and no hides. I would consider giving them a day or two to settle down before trying to reintroduce.

The younger one is in his teens now so things could be a little testy. Who has been the dominant one up to now? How big is their cage? Please don't take chasing and rumble strutting as being moody. It's part of being piggies and how they show their dominance. Given you've also only had them for three weeks, the first two weeks were for settling in - that's how long it takes for them to establish their bond/hierarchy. Were they bonded before you brought them home?

 

[LouH]

Thanks for the advice. They’re a bonded pair from a rescue so theoretically they should be well bonded (they arrived at the rescue as a pair). I think it’s a case of new environment and perhaps teenage hormones kicking in.
The cage is a 5x2 C&C and they’ve got 2 of everything and we’re doing everything we can to minimise competition for food etc.
I’ve spoken to the lovely lady at the rescue for some advice and I think that perhaps I just overreacted to their signs of dominance that I hadn’t seen before. I think they’ve settled down now but will obviously keep a close eye on them.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Even as a bonded pair, a new environment causes them to reestablish themselves, combined with hormones, you’ve got a double whammy! It can be concerning when they start - one of my boys went on a bit of a hormonal rampage the evening before last, and they are 3 years old!

 

[AMMAH]

Did you get your guinea from the Manchester and Salford RSPCA? He's the twin of Henry!

 

[LouH]

Wow, yes he is isn’t he?! We are in Manchester but he’s from Milhaven Guinea Pig rescue in Yorkshire. We’re so excited to have them both, love his teddy fur!

 

[Sunnyandbutch]

Boars can be quite rowdy. Sometimes my boys get angry at each other. My recommendation is to use extra grids and divide your cage in the middle with these. Have a water bottle hay and hidey on each side. This way they still get social interaction but can’t hurt each other. In my experience they will work out there problems pretty quickly through this. I would not divide the cage for any more than 24 hours. Also, try to get down to the cause of the fighting. If it is hideys put more hideouts areounc the cage and make sure they have two entrances/exits. If it is food put extra food in different parts of the cage. If it is this than perhaps a extra hay rack or food bowl would be a good investment. I hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Siikibam]

Given they were lunging at each other I wouldn’t say you reacted too quickly. For their bond to work there can only be one top pig. If they can’t agree they would have to live as neighbours. Hopefully it’ll work out though.

With regards food, scatter feed so they can’t hog. And have two hay areas at least one piggy width apart.

 

[LouH]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We’ve been scattering pellets and veggies and have put extra hay in different places which I think has distracted them a bit and kept them both busy. Typically they always want what the other has got so they’re back and forth in the hides. Sometimes I’m willing the little one to just back off and leave the older one in peace. It’s like he just can’t help himself and starts rumble strutting sometimes which then forces the big guy to put him in his place! I guess it’s all part of the bonding process. I’ve got everything crossed that they work it out.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The issue is that the young one is hitting his teens so is trying out his dominance. You're going to see dominance behaviours, its normal but he must accept his position as submissive in the hierarchy. If he does this and listens to the older one, then they will be fine. If he doesn't and continues to push his luck, then that is when there will be a problem. Its the lunging which want you to keep an eye on - if they both go for each other, then that is a problem.
If they need a time out, then its fine to give them a day or two separated to let hormones settle and then reintroduce on neutral territory - it will become clear upon reintroduction whether they want to be together and can work things out or not - but what you cannot do is separate them too often. Doing too many separations will further destabilise a tense bond. You need to assess the situation and behaviour, trial separation only if necessary but then let a trial separation be the guide as to what needs to happen next.

Scatter feeding is a good for enrichment in any event but is good with boars and preventing any hogging. I haven't used bowls or racks in so long - they spend ages foraging through huge piles of hay, plus it reduces the equipment for me to need to clean!