The boys are having some problems.

Sappyshelly

Sappyshelly

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hello forum! It’s been quite a bit! Hope you are all doing well! I, for one, am kinda getting worried. My boys had two incidents, one today and one last month, of them fighting. No serious injuries. Both resulted in Clifford pulling out some of Leo’s hair. They would both run to a house and teeth chatter a lot after the fight. Both times I intervened with food and things seemed to settle down. Should I be worried? I don’t have room for another cage, and don’t want to have to give Leo back, who has been with me since November. Maybe I’m overreacting? My boys do get on each other’s nerves sometimes, but incidents like this scare me. Leo is currently munching on hay and Clifford is finishing up a treat, in case that information is needed. Thank you!
 
Hi, how are they on a daily basis? Do they seem to be able to eat and rest peacefully? Or do they seem to chase each other around or bother each other to the point that it affects how often they are able to eat and sleep? I think that as long as they seem happy living together on a regular basis, and their little incidents are not frequent and do not involve drawing blood, and they have ample space and 2 of everything, there is no need for separation.
 
ILoveGilbertTheGuineaPig said:
Hi, how are they on a daily basis? Do they seem to be able to eat and rest peacefully? Or do they seem to chase each other around or bother each other to the point that it affects how often they are able to eat and sleep? I think that as long as they seem happy living together on a regular basis, and their little incidents are not frequent and do not involve drawing blood, and they have ample space and 2 of everything, there is no need for separation.
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They are usually fine and enjoy eating together. They have those short rumble struts but that’s expected from what I heard. They don’t chase each other around much, only Clifford does once in a while when he goes in what I call a “humping spree” which occurs every month or couple of weeks.
 
I wondered how big your cage was becuase boys need much bigger cage than girls. Also for your peace of mind, and if their current cage is big enough, maybe you can divide the cage into two and put them on either side so they can still interact with each other.
But if blood hasn't been drawn from fighting, I wouldn't seperate them.
 
Seven7 said:
I wondered how big your cage was becuase boys need much bigger cage than girls. Also for your peace of mind, and if their current cage is big enough, maybe you can divide the cage into two and put them on either side so they can still interact with each other.
But if blood hasn't been drawn from fighting, I wouldn't seperate them.
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Thank you for replying! They currently live in a 2 x 4 c and c, with a 2 x 2 loft which is the minimum but all I have enough room for!
 
Sappyshelly said:
Thank you for replying! They currently live in a 2 x 4 c and c, with a 2 x 2 loft which is the minimum but all I have enough room for!
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Maybe you could make it bigger when you have the opportunity, pigs can never have enough space :)
 
Hi, good to see you again. It doesn't sound too serious at this stage but it's always more worrying for us as owners. How old are your boys now?
 
Lady Kelly said:
Hi, good to see you again. It doesn't sound too serious at this stage but it's always more worrying for us as owners. How old are your boys now?
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Leo is turned one in February and Clifford is around 4 or 5 (not entirely sure).
 
I think this sounds quite normal to me. My two boars Bill and Ted have the occasional dispute. I think this happens when there is little difference between who is the dominant and submissive boar. They rub along nicely until something is done to wind one up. I can never work out who’s boss with my two, they are quite confusing. If they are happy sharing between the odd spat then that should be ok. I interrupt it with food too, it sounds like Clifford is just putting the younger one in his place x
 
Lady Kelly said:
I was thinking it could be some teenage hormones still but i've never had boar pairings so not the best person to advise
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From experience, the "teenage" phase doesn't stop at a year old, more like 14-16 months. It could be that Leo is just having a late hormonal spike, @Sappyshelly. If they're not actively fighting (and it doesn't sound like they are) I would leave them be and just keep an eye on them.
 
Lorcan said:
From experience, the "teenage" phase doesn't stop at a year old, more like 14-16 months. It could be that Leo is just having a late hormonal spike, @Sappyshelly. If they're not actively fighting (and it doesn't sound like they are) I would leave them be and just keep an eye on them.
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I thought I had seen that mentioned before which is what made me think. Hopefully yht boys settle a bit more again in the near future
 
Lady Kelly said:
I thought I had seen that mentioned before which is what made me think. Hopefully yht boys settle a bit more again in the near future
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Honestly it feels like it takes forever until it's over. Thankfully once it's over, if a boar pair is good then they're good. Not like sows, who apparently are more prone to problems with each other later on in life? (I've never had sows, I'll admit that's just what I've read here before). I wonder if that's partly why people prefer sow pairs, because boars sound like they'll be too much trouble early on.

Persevering at this point is honestly the hardest part. It's this sort of time where you need the multiple water bottles, food bowls, hideys with multiple exits...if food is allowing them to calm down it may be that it's food that's the problem.
 
Sappyshelly said:
Hello forum! It’s been quite a bit! Hope you are all doing well! I, for one, am kinda getting worried. My boys had two incidents, one today and one last month, of them fighting. No serious injuries. Both resulted in Clifford pulling out some of Leo’s hair. They would both run to a house and teeth chatter a lot after the fight. Both times I intervened with food and things seemed to settle down. Should I be worried? I don’t have room for another cage, and don’t want to have to give Leo back, who has been with me since November. Maybe I’m overreacting? My boys do get on each other’s nerves sometimes, but incidents like this scare me. Leo is currently munching on hay and Clifford is finishing up a treat, in case that information is needed. Thank you!
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Hi!

How old are your boys now and can you create a divider for a temporary separation?
Most hormone spikes only last 1-2 days and they can continue into adulthood but usually do not lead to fall-outs unless you are very unlucky.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Bonds In Trouble
 
Lorcan said:
From experience, the "teenage" phase doesn't stop at a year old, more like 14-16 months. It could be that Leo is just having a late hormonal spike, @Sappyshelly. If they're not actively fighting (and it doesn't sound like they are) I would leave them be and just keep an eye on them.
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Thats what I was thinking. I have been keeping an eye out today and nothing new, just the occasional little rumble strut from Leo which doesn’t really lead to anything.
 
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