advice please on fighting!

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vickyangel

vickyangel

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Hi there i have 2 male guineas one of which (buzz) is very dominant. He is always teeth chattering and fighting the other(woody). Woody hardly comes out now, buzz stands on top shelve like king of the castle, snarling down to woody. Petshop said to use seperate hutches (there indoor) but dont have space or money for another.Plus then got problem with run. Only other option they said was to give buzz back to petshop for adoption. Any ideas please?x
 
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i dont know what to say but someone will be along soon, have they got enough space my boars will fight if put in the 120 they need lots of room and three of everything especially hidey holes, i also put hay all over the floor so they can munch and sprinkle the veggies around.

Sorry not much help but just wanted to let you know mine bicker but it settles the more room they have.
 
dylansmummy said:
i dont know what to say but someone will be along soon, have they got enough space my boars will fight if put in the 120 they need lots of room and three of everything especially hidey holes, i also put hay all over the floor so they can munch and sprinkle the veggies around.

Sorry not much help but just wanted to let you know mine bicker but it settles the more room they have.
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thanks for that. I'm thinking maybe the hutch isnt big enough, its the biggest "pets at home" sell. Keep reading about cc cages but dont know where to buy from or how to make??
 
It sounds like they need more room. If you can get a bigger cage that would be best for them. I don't have a c&c cage so can't really advise on that but if you take a look in the housing section then you should get some info there :)
 
How about bathing them together? This may help bond them. They will have been through it together and will also smell the same. I would try that first. If it does not work you will have to separate them as they will not get on and it is unfair to the one who is being picked on. If you really cannot keep both then please give one to a rescue and not a pet shop.

If you would like to make a c and c cage you can get the grids from [ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/GU52792-Safco-Storage-System-5279BL/dp/B000789RSQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315174029&sr=8-1amazon[/ame].
 
Hey!

I was in the exact same position 1 month ago!

Pets at home sold me two male guinea pigs, and the biggest ferplast cage they had - telling me it was perfect for them with no mention of the fact they might fight.

After three days they started to fight. Pushing each other out of the space under the shelve, mounting, rumble strutting, really loud teeth chattering. Its horrible, I was crying had to put one in a big cardboard box to stop them killing each other.

I looked up this forum, and the RSPCA and it turned out the cage sold to me was under the minimum suggested guidelines from the RSPCA and the lovely people on here suggested that was one of the reasons for the fighting (that with the fact their teenagers!). When I read that I was so so angry, and marched my cage back to Pets at Home. I put it on the counter, said it wasn't fit for purpose and they gave me my money back without a peep.

I ordered cube shelving grids, and some cable ties and joined them all up together to make a large cage with a division down the middle. I couldnt afford to get the correx, so I have an old rubber blow up bed under the cage, with newspaper and towels on top. Both my pigs are really really happy in the c&c cage, and although they still rumble through the walls at each other I hope when they get older I can bath them and they can be friends!

I would order some grids now, and when they come take the pets at home cage back. Once your piggies are in a bigger cage - with two of everything they may get along. And if not at least you can divide the cage and they can still chat.

I hope this has helped a little :) taking that cage back to those horrible horrible pets at home people was the best thing i done! x
 
new cage

thanks to everyone for advice. So looks like i have to make a new cage, what do i do about the shavings tho, cuz they will go thru the wire mesh? Guineas dont use litter tray so cant use fleeces etc. Also on lap/cuddle time they try and chew on fleeces. How many grids do i use? What else do i need?
 
http://www.guineapigcages.com/

Found this very helpful when making my C & C cage. If you build the base with sides then it will prevent shavings from falling out. I always vaccume round my pigs cage once a week to get any bits that escape.
Hope your boys enjoy their new cage.
 
vickyangel said:
thanks to everyone for advice. So looks like i have to make a new cage, what do i do about the shavings tho, cuz they will go thru the wire mesh? Guineas dont use litter tray so cant use fleeces etc. Also on lap/cuddle time they try and chew on fleeces. How many grids do i use? What else do i need?
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I dont use shavings - they make far too much mess. If you go onto the housing section on here they have lots of idea's and pictures that can inspire you. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53210 - try that link :)

I think a lot of people use towel and fleeces like I do - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=75311.

If you make the fleece / towel longer than the actual cage they will find it harder to pull it up to eat, mine never chew on it at all (but chew on everything else!). Fleeces and towels and cosy for them :) I scoop up all the poops twice a day, then change the newspapers and wash the towel and fleece twice per week.

I currently have 2 x 5 set up for each of my bos at the moment so 14 grids for the outline of the cage, then I have another 5 down the middle as a divide so 19 in total. I bought the grids, which came with connectors and then also bought cable ties. Found a space at home for it and just started building. I bought lino at first to put under the cage, but now I have a deflated double rubber blow up bed as its easier to roll up and clean out.

You should look at the housing section on here though, these guys have great ideas :) x
 
deeandnick said:
I dont use shavings - they make far too much mess. If you go onto the housing section on here they have lots of idea's and pictures that can inspire you. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53210 - try that link :)

I think a lot of people use towel and fleeces like I do - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=75311.

If you make the fleece / towel longer than the actual cage they will find it harder to pull it up to eat, mine never chew on it at all (but chew on everything else!). Fleeces and towels and cosy for them :) I scoop up all the poops twice a day, then change the newspapers and wash the towel and fleece twice per week.

I currently have 2 x 5 set up for each of my bos at the moment so 14 grids for the outline of the cage, then I have another 5 down the middle as a divide so 19 in total. I bought the grids, which came with connectors and then also bought cable ties. Found a space at home for it and just started building. I bought lino at first to put under the cage, but now I have a deflated double rubber blow up bed as its easier to roll up and clean out.

You should look at the housing section on here though, these guys have great ideas :) x
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thanks for your help. Gosh just read thru your old threads, I'm having same problem you had, your old cage you returned is the one I'm currently using! Guess i need to get to b+q then and start building. Think i will stick with shavings tho, they are defo not toilet trained. Looks hard to make a cage tho, not very good at these things!
 
vickyangel said:
thanks for your help. Gosh just read thru your old threads, I'm having same problem you had, your old cage you returned is the one I'm currently using! Guess i need to get to b+q then and start building. Think i will stick with shavings tho, they are defo not toilet trained. Looks hard to make a cage tho, not very good at these things!
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No worries, as you read I know exactly how you are feeling! Once you build your cage you will realise just how small the one you have and I had really is. I took the cage back and forgot to include he hay rack and food bowl and they still took it back so you should be able to return it no problem. Dont take no for an answer!

The cage is not hard, if I can do it anyone can! The grids slot into these little plastic connectors its so easy! The cable ties were £1.50, I used those to tighten up the corners :)

My piggies are not toilet trained, I wish they were though! But they tend to go in the same place so I can change the newspaper there easily. Ive heard a lot of people use lino, and get enough so it makes a lip around the edge of the cage, that keeps the shavings in. Ideally I would like to get correx, which does the same as lino but I think its more sturdy. Its not very expensive, but its best for you to build the cage first I think so you can work out how much you need.

If B&Q dont have them, screw fix delivered mine next day :)

I really hope you get it sorted soon. I was so stressed and upset when this happened to me, but now both my little guys are really happy. If you need any help with anything, I'll be more than happy to do what i can x
 
deeandnick said:
No worries, as you read I know exactly how you are feeling! Once you build your cage you will realise just how small the one you have and I had really is. I took the cage back and forgot to include he hay rack and food bowl and they still took it back so you should be able to return it no problem. Dont take no for an answer!

The cage is not hard, if I can do it anyone can! The grids slot into these little plastic connectors its so easy! The cable ties were £1.50, I used those to tighten up the corners :)

My piggies are not toilet trained, I wish they were though! But they tend to go in the same place so I can change the newspaper there easily. Ive heard a lot of people use lino, and get enough so it makes a lip around the edge of the cage, that keeps the shavings in. Ideally I would like to get correx, which does the same as lino but I think its more sturdy. Its not very expensive, but its best for you to build the cage first I think so you can work out how much you need.

If B&Q dont have them, screw fix delivered mine next day :)

I really hope you get it sorted soon. I was so stressed and upset when this happened to me, but now both my little guys are really happy. If you need any help with anything, I'll be more than happy to do what i can x
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awww thanks for all that. Not sure whether to bulid one or use the hexagon large run i have, they never fight in that. Then buy another run the same. When you took cage back did you have receipt because i dont have mine! Or do i buy another guinea to keep on his own to make use of cage!?
 
awww thanks for all that. Not sure whether to bulid one or use the hexagon large run i have, they never fight in that. Then buy another run the same. When you took cage back did you have receipt because i dont have mine! Or do i buy another guinea to keep on his own to make use of cage!?

If they dont fight in the run that is a great sign - much better than my boys! I'm guessing the cage must really be stressing them out from being so small. If they dont fight in the larger area, maybe they will get on :D yay!

Its totally up to you, the run may be fine while you keep an eye on them and take the cage back - or forever! How big is the run? Wish my guys had got on when they were out of the cage, they still attacked each other no matter where they went :(

I did have my receipt...did you pay cash or by card? If you paid by card your bank statement or credit card statement will have 'pets at home' listed on there with the amount and that counts as proof of purchase for a refund.

I would return the cage out of principle, they have stressed you and your little pigs out by telling you that cage was ok. If you can maybe get a credit note, then you can get supplies like hay, food, toys etc? xx
 
please dont use the cage for a single piggy, piggies shouldn't live on their own.

if you dont want to take it back you could keep it as a hospital cage, or a travel cage to the vets etc.
 
ok thanks for advice will sell cage on ebay, got it about 4 month ago, the run is alot wider than cage and around another foot longer. Think that shelve in cage main problem because hes always up there snarling down, when on same level he doesnt seem to fight. Thanks again to everyone for helpx)
 
if you do sell it please state its only big enough for one piggy as people will buy it and keep 2 piggies in it.
 
deeandnick said:
I dont use shavings - they make far too much mess. If you go onto the housing section on here they have lots of idea's and pictures that can inspire you. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53210 - try that link :)

I think a lot of people use towel and fleeces like I do - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=75311.

If you make the fleece / towel longer than the actual cage they will find it harder to pull it up to eat, mine never chew on it at all (but chew on everything else!). Fleeces and towels and cosy for them :) I scoop up all the poops twice a day, then change the newspapers and wash the towel and fleece twice per week.
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How do you get away with only washing fleece twice a week? I use newspapers with fleece on top and it stinks after only one day, what am I doing wrong?
 
Hello I have three boars, two bonded and one neutered so I'll give you my best advice.

Firstly congratulations on your new bundles of joy :)) How old is Woody and Buzz? If they're still only young they could be testing out their dominance, as boars go through their hormonal stage between 8 weeks and 14 months which can be a very stressful time for both piggies and their slaves!

[*]Big is Best[/*]
What I'd suggest is, firstly making sure they have a large amount of space I'd strong recommend going a bit bigger than the recommend size 5ft by 2ft would be best or bigger if you can.

[*]Two of Everything[/*]
In my boys cage, and many other boar owners homes , I have two or in some case three of everything bowls, hay trays, hideys, drink bottles etc this stops them fighting over one and they have their 'own' item so they don't need to share.

If you can and have enough space create two 'lounge' areas in the cage, with two separate hay trays and food bowls, this way they can if things get heated have their own space to cool off and eat in peace.

I'd also suggest whilst they are going through their hormonal months buying large hideys with two exists this is really important as it stops one pig from being bullied into a corner. I find the cardboard boxes that you can pick up in supermarkets are the best as you can create as many entrances/exits as you like.

[*]Make life interesting![/*]

Try to spice things up in their home, have hay in cardboard loo roll chubes, stuff hay into plant pots etc. this way it stops them being bored and irritated with one another.

[*]Run Time.[/*]

Run time is, i find, important, it allows them to play, let of some energy and bond as well as allowing them some time out of the cage and to make their days much more fun.

If they are still arguing after the changes have been made it might be worth to try a bonding bath:

Wash both the boys in the same small pet shampoo, let them dry in a warm room in a run with plenty of hay (I mean LOTS!) whilst they're drying off and bonding over a spot of hay, clean the entire cage top to bottom, wash any bowls/toys etc and rearrange the cage so its different. Keep an eye on the boys, and if they seem happy and content after five hours let them back in the cage, keeping an eye on them over the next few hours and days.

[*]Still not bonding?[/*]

You could try for a short period of time (a few hours a day) if things are getting heated and stressful to put a wire mesh barrier in the cage and divide the cage off this can help them both cool down and get some peace and much needed rest.

If after all this things are becoming out of hand (ie lunging) you could split them into separate cages which are next to one another until they reach a year old which you then could try to reintroduce on neutral territory there is no guarantee this could work but it might. Other options include staying side by side for the rest of their lives, which some pigs live quite happily as they have a neighbour to shout at, try boar dating at your local rescue so they can find a friend of their own, or neuter and find a girlfriend for your boars.

Good Luck

Laura

P.s Some photos of my boys.x

Pp.s another tip,I'd suggest the Excel herbage calamine hay for your boys, its really good at relaxing them.

Plant Pots:
Awwwwwwsleepyboy.jpg


Bonding in the green house:
Ooominetoo.jpg


Loo Rolls on String:
APercy-Rooeating.jpg


The boys fun and fabulous home:
hometime.jpg
 
chilwell said:
How do you get away with only washing fleece twice a week? I use newspapers with fleece on top and it stinks after only one day, what am I doing wrong?
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Really it stinks after one day!? Maybe my piggies have different peeing habits lol, or different smelling wee!

They tend to wee in the same places, so I use more newspapers in the area. And the pee in their hay area loads, I take out the hay and change it everyday maybe thats why?

Do your guys pee everywhere? xx
 
Hi this happened to me with 2 boars of mine i didnt no what to do then my mum said wash the submissive one in the bath and dry him with a towel then do the same with the other and use the same towel this worked for me and they wouldnt be without eachother now x
 
deeandnick said:
Really it stinks after one day!? Maybe my piggies have different peeing habits lol, or different smelling wee!

They tend to wee in the same places, so I use more newspapers in the area. And the pee in their hay area loads, I take out the hay and change it everyday maybe thats why?

Do your guys pee everywhere? xx
Click to expand...

Yep! Do you use anything else with the newspapers, ie towels?
 
My boys buzz and zapp got funny so I bought cc grids from eBay and built a bigger cage and stuck with it unless blood is drawn. They seem much happier but I do let them out and run round the room. They Defo need lots of space these males.
 
I've had the same problems with boars before and what i did was wash them with babyshampoo so they have the same smell. It often helped and they stopped fighting. What you also can try is furnish the cage totally different so the cage is new for both of them. Most of the times they'll accept eichother then. I hope it will turn out alright.
 
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