The Bully

[WhisperingWolf]

I'm feeling quite sorry for Robin right now...Hamish is being such a bully

It seems his teenage, big headed attitude is getting the better of him and he's constantly trying it on with poor, docile Robin. Robin is constantly chattering his teeth at him and it's Hamish that does the sidling, waltzing and the chasing/lunging. He took another chunk of fur tonight from him before I could stop him!

The thing is I never see it or hear it happening in the cage. It only appears to be in the run. I've seperated their food and they pick and choose from whatever and where ever they want.
Though I do notice when I come upstairs, it's normally Hamish sitting outside of the hidey on his own and Robin is forever sitting away from view. On occassion they're out together - but not often I see it.

Will this pass soon do you think? Or do I just have to accept it as boys being boys?

 

[Lisajazz]

AWWW Poor Robin.

I don't know about boys but I really do hope it passes soon for him. It's good he's not a bully too isn't it or the fights would be horrible.

Hope someone comes along and gives you a light at the end of the tunnel. Bless Robin and you.

 

[WhisperingWolf]

Aww thanks Lisajazz, it is very sad to see him sitting on his lonesome just because Hamish is acting too big for his boots
He certainly knows I'm boss at least!

 

[Farquhar]

Naughty Hamish. Ive never bonded boys so dont have much to offer I'm afraid. My girls tend to lie in seperate homes in their cage. They snuggle up occasionely but normally just do their own thing. They have the odd spat but blood has never been drawn. Hamish is probably still letting /robin know that he is king of the castle.

 

[georgie-porgie]

Welcome to boys I had the same problem. They shouldn't fight once you have one of everything ie. hidey holes + water bottles but they cant still try on the dominant role. I found that the best thing to do is to sit back and let them sort it out to the point were teeth chattering starts then I would whistle or clap to distract them. And I always had a towel beside the cage as if they do fight then the darkness will also distract them.

Hope this helped
Alan, George and Charlie.

 

[Lisajazz]

Does anyone know how long this kind of behaviour goes on for (on average of course). Do they do it for life or will the hormones wear off or lessen a bit after a time?

 

[georgie-porgie]

I find boys have little tifs every now and again but other than that the dominance should wear off by 1 1/2.

 

[WhisperingWolf]

Thank you for the insight!
Ack...I'm gonna have a lot of this then given that Hamish is only like 5 months old! Gah...bring it on grrrr

Oh well, at least in their cage things seem to be alright...least that's a plus!

 

[georgie-porgie]

Well 1 1/2 would be fairly late I think, I think its normally 1

 

[Lisajazz]

Well I hope it stops sooner for you bless you.

Funny it's in the run as all advice about boars is to give them big spaces, bigger the better. So when in the run you'd think they would be happiest wouldn't you?

Actually thinking about it my Bessie and Gypsy have only ever fought in the run and not in their cage. That was because of the smell of my other pigs though I think. It's not happened again.