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Hi,

This might seem like a daft question but how do I know if my piggies are fighting? Are they tell-tale signs?
One of the boars is quite adventurous and confident and the other quiet timid and shy, is he intimidating the other one? He's always chasing him around?

I'm worried :(
 
They take a while to get used to their surroundings and need to sort out who's boss, you will know about it if they're fighting, they will be one big ball of fur! They will rumble at eachother and sawy their back ends possibly, they'll chatter and circle eachother and the next thing is lunging i think. I'm not too good with boars ive never had a pair. Dont worry if any of this happens though, they do sometimes chatter just because they get narked at something. Chasing and mounting is normal, as long as they're both letting eachother eat and letting eachother in their houses there's no bullying. Just keep an eye out for cuts etc. Yours sound ok though x
 
Teeth chattering is a sign that they aren't getting on, some chattering is ok but if it is all the time then keep an eye on then. Also if they look like they have ruffled fur then they may be about to pounce on one another. Twinkle used to open his mouth really wide at Sunshine like he was yawning that is also an agressive sign.

Mine have had barneys but never gone for one another. Except Cuzzy who went for Sunshine when his back was turned!
 
Yes they are babies, about 6-7 weeks old? When they get scared they snuggle together which is a good sign and I haven't seen them wrestling yet. They've chattered teeth a couple of times&the confident one nudges the shy one with his nose? Which makes the shy one run back into his house? What does sawy their back ends mean?

I'm really worried they will go for each other when I'm not there and one of them gets injured. Being a pig mum is a worrying role!

x
 
I meant sway lol! Typed it wrong! My girls used to butt eachother, little thugs lol! What happens after they've chattered? I think they should be ok, how big is their cage? They may get narked if they're in eachothers way. x
 
Oh I get you now! Yeah its like they are butting each other, is that something to worry about? They've only chattered twice, they butt each other, jump, then run away? Its the nero 4, think its 4ft by 2ft? Its a big cage but maybe there is too much in it?
So, does one normally take dominance over the other then?

Sorry for all the questions! x
 
Babies dont usally fight...I have 2 sows and they dont fight.But sometimes the other likes play chase with crispy when shes just not in the mood.

I think there fine. ;)
 
The nero 4 is fine. Yes one normally is dominant over the other, boars are more narky than sows but babies shouldnt fight. Dont worry too much, just keep your eye on them. I dont think butting is an actual sign of fighting, its probably just an annoyance thing if they get in eachothers way, there probably isnt too much stuff in there, they like to have stuff to keep them occupied but if there's anything they dont use take it out. Mine tend to prefer simple stuff like loo roll tubes and pigloos they can stand on! Make sure they have two pigloos, food bowls and anything else you think they might fight over x
 
Are you certain that they are the same sex ? ?

Just saying as people do get confused :D
 
As others have said, keep an eye on them but don't worry too much. Having them indoors is good because it means you are much more likely to spot any signs of trouble.
As they grow up, boars will go through certain behaviour rituals to establish which one is going to be 'Boss'. Normal boarish behaviour includes 'rumblestrutting' which is exactly what it says and unmistakeable once you've seen it. ;D...the boar sways his body from side to side whilst either walking up and down or moving from one foot to another on the spot, and makes a 'burring' sound. Boars may also sniff each other's bums, attempt to mount each other, and do nose-to-nose face-offs. There may also be a little bit of teeth chattering. All of this is within the range of normal brotherly squabbling/dominance behaviour and just what boars do. O0
What you need to watch out for is: sustained/prolonged loud teeth chattering, possibly accompanied by ruffled-up fur, raised hackles and 'yawning' (displaying teeth) - which are the signs of an impending fight, which can happen if neither is prepared to back down and accept the other as boss. Even at this stage, though, they may back off without a real fight taking place. Don't separate unless there is a real serious fight.
Or, alternatively, if one bullies the other...look for bitten ears, or if one boar seems to be scared of the other, not eating, or huddling in his pigloo.
Most boar partnerships go through the dominance thing, and most reach an understanding without needing any interference from humans. As I say, by keeping them indoors you are doing the best thing as you can keep an eye on them without affecting their natural behaviour.
 
awww sounds like your girlies are doing fine, and hey you're doing real good as a piggie mummy :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
I still ask questions so don't worry about that, that is what everyone here is for, to help each other O0
 
hi i have got twi new little boys to which are about 7-8 weeks and they do everything that yours do i think they are just getting used to there new surroundings and figuring out whos boss mine did it for bout two weeks but they are ok now they only have tiffs at meal times? :) :) ::) ::)
 
I feel so much better after hearing all this, they sound like quite normal piggies! They are still having lots of nose to nose stand offs but I'm just gonna keep an eye on them and make sure they are both eating and drinking. They do a lot of high pitched squeaking at each other too, is that talking or arguing?

x
 
yeah mine do that to its usually saying thats mine leave it alone?
he he they are just probably getting to know one another are they brothers?
 
they stare then both run off in different directions or the bossy chases the other back into his house.
yeah they are brothers so i didnt think i would have to worry about any of this, just dont want them getting hurt :)
 
I've come home to a pig with a cut on his ear is it time to separate? :'(
 
Which one has the cut? the dominant one or the other? I'd keep an eye on them but dont separate. One of my girls got a small cut on her face from a bite off the other but they're fine now. Just watch closely and make sure the ear doesnt get infected x
 
The less dominant one has the cut but it isnt a bad cut and it hasnt stopped him coming out to play?
How do i make sure it doesnt get infected? Salt water?
 
I think salt water will be ok for it but do you have any special guinea pig cream or vaseline or something ? :)
 
It was more of a scratch but a scratch that was wet from bleed, didn't drip though? I've left it and it seems ok now?
 
I'd just keep an eye on it if i were you, maybe put a bit of bepanthen or another barrier cream on it? How are they together now? x
 
I've not heard them fight since but I worry coz I'm at work most of the day so I could be missing it? I'm just gonna keep a close eye on them and handle them as much as I can to calm them down a bit?

x
 
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