Possible bullying

[rebeccrob]

Hello. I have had two boars for about 6 months now. I would say they are about 8 months old. They are living in a 2x5 C&C cage with a large hay rack in the middle, plenty of hides and two water bottles. I believe one of my pigs is bullying the other. He often corners him and makes him squeal in fear, and when I feed them veggies, he will put his body in between the bullied pig and the food. When they have floor time he is often more interested in chasing the other pig than exploring himself. I have since split there veggies in half and put them on opposite ends of the cage, but the bully eats so much faster than the other pig, and will eat the majority of both veggies. I’ve noticed that the bullied pig is skinnier than the bully. Should I separate them? This has been going in for over 2 months now.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The squealing could be submission, not necessarily fear.
Is the bullied piggy losing weight? I note you say he is skinnier but is he actually losing weight through not being allowed to eat hay?

The guide below will help you with how to determine whether a bond is dysfunctional. If you carry out a trial separation and a bond is dysfunctional, the bullied piggy will perk up when away from the bully and that is the sign that they cannot remain together. The bully will always be upset by a separation so it’s not his reaction you gauge by

Bonds In Trouble