Separating our two boars

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aculeate

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Hi all
We have two young boars (both ~1 year old) who we have had for just over 3 months. We recently went on holiday and took them to a sitter for 2 weeks, where they inevitably had to be kept in a smaller enclosure until we got back. In this time they appear to have been fighting as we found them both to have a number of bite marks towards their rear ends/backs. They have now been back with us for a week, in their larger enclosure, but have been squabbling much more than usual (rumbling and chattering), and one of them lunged at the other tonight. This was initiated by the pig who was previously subordinate, but now appears to be trying to fight to be the dominant. We've read many posts on this forum saying that if they are lunging at each other/fighting it is best to separate them. Based on this, would anyone be able to advise to whether we should do so?
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

When piggies change environment it puts them into two weeks of reestablishing their bond. This causes an increase in dominance.
In well bonded, happy pairs this subsides and doesn’t come to anything more serious.

If you are concerned that this is more than dominance, then you can separate them for a few days to give them some time to cool off.
After a few days apart you can attempt to reintroduce them on neutral territory. This reintroduction is their chance to decide if they want to go back together again or not.
If they still like each other and want to be together then they will sort things out and will reunite (albeit with dominance behaviours). After several hours in a neutral bonding pen, and if all has gone well, you can then move them back to their cage.

If, however, they decide that they no longer want to stay together, then it will be clear in the neutral bonding pen (you will see aggression, potentially fights imminent). They will then, unfortunately have to remain separated permanently.
If that happens then each piggy would need their own cage of 120x60cm (or a 3x2 c&c) minimum and they would have to be side by side.

I’ve added some guides below to help you further

Reacting to group or territorial changes: Dominance and group establishment/re-establishment
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonds In Trouble
 
Welcome to the forum. I’m sorry your boys are having bond issues. I hope they decide to live together again after their short separation 🤞🏻
 
Thank you for the replies! We've now separated off the two sides of the cage. I feel really bad for them but also if they're not happy being with each other I imagine they're happier like this! I'll update when we try to reintroduce them....
 

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When you reintroduce them keep the oven gloves or a small towel handy as it's useful in separating if fighting occurs but hopefully they will decide that they like each other so the oven gloves won't be necessary.
 
Bar biting is to be expected.
As we don’t know what has happened and will happen between them, I would ignore the bar biting and continue with the separation and reintroduction as planned.

In the case where piggies no longer like each other, it is common for one to be ‘upset’ by a separation and the other to not care (this one is relieved to be away). Bar biting can be territorial, attention seeking or wanting to get to the other pig to be able to fight again.
It can also be because their bond is still there and they do want to be together.
Until you are able to reintroduce, you aren’t really going to know which one it is.

If the reintroduction fails and separation needs to be made permanent, if the bar biting then continues you then know he is just doing it to antagonize, mark territory, upset because they can no longer fight
 
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