They're Fighting – Now What?

[DopeyJo]

Hi all

I've posted a couple of times about our two little boys and things seemed to calm down between them but they're now properly fighting. What do we do?

It's not ALL the time, for example they will sit quite happily and munch at the hay rack and roam around the cage together but they have had some proper fights now too. One of them has suffered a tear on his ear and they've both got lots of surface bites on their rumps.

They have two houses, two food bowls etc etc.

We were at the vets today (treatment from fur-mites they arrived with) and they suggested castration but it's not a route I'm particularly keen to try (plus they're still too young! They're not even 4 months old yet and I've read it doesn't work).

We really don't have the space to separate them, is our only option to give one up?

I've read through the 'bonding and rebonding' threads and threads on boards here but I'm still at a loss.

Thanks

 

[VickiA]

I'm no boar expert but I do know that neutering only renders them sterile, it doesn't alter their behaviour. If they have bite marks and torn ear(s) then they are clearly not a happy and stable boar pair. Proper fights usually mean that the bond will not work, especially as they are only 4 months old. My view is that this is likely to escalate and a serious injury could occur. I would separate them and have them live side by side or alternatively neuter them and try to find each a sow companion once they are 6 weeks post op.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

I've posted a couple of times about our two little boys and things seemed to calm down between them but they're now properly fighting. What do we do?

It's not ALL the time, for example they will sit quite happily and munch at the hay rack and roam around the cage together but they have had some proper fights now too. One of them has suffered a tear on his ear and they've both got lots of surface bites on their rumps.

They have two houses, two food bowls etc etc.

We were at the vets today (treatment from fur-mites they arrived with) and they suggested castration but it's not a route I'm particularly keen to try (plus they're still too young! They're not even 4 months old yet and I've read it doesn't work).

We really don't have the space to separate them, is our only option to give one up?

I've read through the 'bonding and rebonding' threads and threads on boards here but I'm still at a loss.

Thanks

Hi!

Has the vet checked for mange mites or fungal , or is only treating for fur mites as the most visible issue and has not looked any further? What is the treatment you have got and does it contain ivermectin?

In order to be able to help you properly and work out a solution that is in the end safe for both boys at all times, can you please add your location to your details, so it appears below your username in ever post you make. We have got members from all over the world with very different options, so there is no "one size fits all" solution. click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[VickiA]

In one of your first posts you said that you were getting 2 rescued piggies. Did your piggies come as a bonded pair from the rescue? It may be worth co tasting the rescue for their advice and practical support. Where are you based?

 

[Carrotyd]

We're based in Bagshot, Surrey. We've been in touch with her and she's advised us to consider getting a 5-6 week old boy to go with Harry, but she doesn't have any at the moment, or older boars either, sadly.

She has advised me to contact Pooh Piglet Rescue, which she has ties with. They're about an hour away from us and I'm happy to travel to get the right buddy. I only contacted them this morning.

Someone else we boarded the boys with a couple of times offers a week-long bonding service, which is a possibility if we can find a piggy.

I've also been in touch with Richmond Animal Rescue and Care, who said they have 3 single boars they could try Harry with but I'm not 100% sure of their ages.

The latest issue of Guinea Pig Magazine prompted my original question, as they have a very timely section all about boars and bonding in the latest issue.

 

[Carrotyd]

Doh! Posted in the wrong thread. Feel free to delete my previous post

 

[DopeyJo]

In one of your first posts you said that you were getting 2 rescued piggies. Did your piggies come as a bonded pair from the rescue? It may be worth co tasting the rescue for their advice and practical support. Where are you based?

Hi VickiA

They weren't from a rescue, sorry I should have been clearer! A friend of a friend purchased them from a pet shop and decided a week later (after the first cage change!) she didn't want them any more. She was going to RELEASE them (!!) so we took them in.

I'm really worried about them though. They've stopped wheeking, really really don't like being handled and still spend all day in their hidies. I just want them to be happy and get along! My kids have fallen so much in love with them (as have I) but the stress is really beginning to get to me.

 

[DopeyJo]

Hi!

Has the vet checked for mange mites or fungal , or is only treating for fur mites as the most visible issue and has not looked any further? What is the treatment you have got and does it contain ivermectin?

In order to be able to help you properly and work out a solution that is in the end safe for both boys at all times, can you please add your location to your details, so it appears below your username in ever post you make. We have got members from all over the world with very different options, so there is no "one size fits all" solution. click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

Hi, sorry and thanks for the tip - I've added my location (Essex, UK)

They did look them over but only treated for fur mites (3 mini tubs of invermectin on the back of their neck). They did it two weeks ago and then again on Saturday.

 

[VickiA]

Thanks for the extra information. Sorry if this info is on another thread but can you answer How old are these boars, please? How long have they been together and how long have you had them? What size cage/run are they in? Do you have at least 2 of everything? Do all hideys/houses have 2 entrance/exit points?

 

[DopeyJo]

Thanks for the extra information. Sorry if this info is on another thread but can you answer How old are these boars, please? How long have they been together and how long have you had them? What size cage/run are they in? Do you have at least 2 of everything? Do all hideys/houses have 2 entrance/exit points?

Hi VickiA

We have a Ferplast 140 cage. Based on what we were told they are around 12 and 15 weeks old now, but we don't know for sure. One of them weighs 538g and the other weighs 724g if that helps! The older one is substantially bigger than the smaller.

They calmed down massively over the past week, but we cleaned their cage yesterday and they've been biting and fighting all night again. We have two food bowls, water bottles and hidies – although they both have a strong preference for the same hidey (which is under the shelf) which causes the majority of arguements.

 

[Kerrie74]

Hiya, I've got 9 guinea, 3 sows and 6 boars, 3 pairs of boars and the sows are in a trio. Non of them came together apart from the girls, all bonded.

The only advice I can give is to make sure they have enough space, the "recommended" space for boars is a 2x5 cage which is around 13 ft² (27"x71"), I see you have two of everything.

Oh and when they hit a certain age they become hormonal and this can last for months, so those who tend to get their guinea's as babies (more so boars from what I can gather) may have a problem when they hit this phase because they will both compete to be the dominant male of the cage. The only time I've split guinea's up and this only happened once was when they drew blood on each other, one boar we couldn't pair with other boars just because he didn't like them and the other one was paired with a baby boar which wasn't my choice.

Here's a guide on dominance behaviour, it tells you what their "stroppy" age is (3 - 15 months).

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

To be honest, I've never had a problem with bonding the boars, the ones we split were the ones that were apparently already bonded *shakes head*. The oldest boys were the easiest to bond though, they adore each other.

I hope the guide helps

 

[VickiA]

Hi VickiA

We have a Ferplast 140 cage. Based on what we were told they are around 12 and 15 weeks old now, but we don't know for sure. One of them weighs 538g and the other weighs 724g if that helps! The older one is substantially bigger than the smaller.

They calmed down massively over the past week, but we cleaned their cage yesterday and they've been biting and fighting all night again. We have two food bowls, water bottles and hidies – although they both have a strong preference for the same hidey (which is under the shelf) which causes the majority of arguements.

Please remove anything that is a bone of contention. If that's the plastic shelf that came with the cage please remove that, too. Take out the hidey and replace with one with 2 entrance/exits. when you clean the cage and put in new houses etc you remove their scent and that can set them off, so if you can leave some scent behind that may help. They are at the hormonal stage, and please be warned this may not work.