When to seperate?

[Tommies Mam]

I have too male piggies living together Sparky who is 5 and half who has arthritis and not exactly fleet of paw. He enjoys just chilling out laid in his bed and Scampy a right chunky little lad whose 18months old he and Sparky have been together since he was 5 weeks old.
Since Scampy was four or 5 months old there's been the frequent rumble strutting from Scamp as he's tried to gain dominance but Sparky made it plain where he can go with that idea and as his aged he's not settled.

The last 24 hours he's been horrendous chattering, sudden running to Sparky and chattering at him with his head raised, trying to mount Sparky and generally being very threatening towards him there's been no fights but I've certainly heard a couple of scuffles I am loath to seperate them but poor Sparky is clearly stressed I can see he's trying to rest but he's not getting much chance I'm scared of his arthritis flairing up as he literally can not walk when that happens and Scamp will clearly take advantage of that. I'm tempted to seperate them for poor Sparks sake but any advice would help. Thanks

 

[Shuvvy]

I don't have much experience with separation but from what I've heard from various sources, if blood is drawn at all then separate. Obviously with you the main issue is the arthritis which on it's own is not nice, never mind a young pig having a go at you all the time! If I were you and it was my boys, I would put a divider in so that they can still talk to each other, then try and rebond them when Scampy is less hormonal.

 

[Wiebke]

I would give Scampi a night out to chill down again; adult boars can very occasionally have a sudden bout of hormones.

Stage a re-introduction on neutral ground after a buddy bath if you wish (no bowls, hidey etc. at first), but as long as there hasn't been a full blown bloody fight, adult boars will generally go back together without major problems.