Behaviour problems...

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Kym

Kym

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Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if it is anything to be concerned about but I thought I would ask anyway. I currently have four boars called Charlie, George, Jack and Bailey. They live in pairs in seperate cages. They have pleanty of toys, fresh hay and veg everyday and two of everything for each pair i.e. water bottles, food, bed etc... Charlie and George get on really really well. They are both very calm and gentle. However, Jack and Bailey are very different. They seem to squabble all the time. I have had them since the beginning of january and they have never broken into a fight. However, I don't really like they are very happy together. They are from the same litter and have always lived together. Bailey is quite gentle and calm (similar to Charlie and George) but Jack doesn't seem to like him at all. He is constantly rumbling and swaying at Jack. I didn't notice how much it was happening until I was off for a few days last week. It was all day everyday. I just think they must be so tired and fed up of trying to establish dominance. Does anybody have any ideas or advice?

Kym x
 
That is meant to say Bailey, not Jack. Apologies for the spelling errors!
 
try to separate them if they don't get on well keep them apart. maybe you should swap them around i.e. jack and george live together and charlie and bailey. if that doesent work contact your vet. ;)
 
I would never split Charlie and George, they are two peas in a pod :) I think that Jack would be better with females rather than a male but I'm not sure. Or maybe if he was neutered =/ I don't think I would want to put him through the stress of an operation though. As they are not fighting I will just leave them until I find out more. Best not to tamper until I know my stuff

x
 
From what I have read neutering does not make 2 boars get along so please don't put your boy Jack through that. It would be cruel to separate the two that are gettting along well as they are bonded. Really, if all that is going on is Jack rumblestrutting at Bailey, I would leave them be. It does not mean they are unhappy together, My 2 boys rumblestrut at each other all the time and the 6 month old is forever mounting the 15 month old. But the baby gets distressed if the older one is not with him and the older one runs to the baby when the baby is distressed. So, I don't worry.
 
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Rumblestrutting is perfectly normal. They're not fighting so I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Thanks guys. I just wasn't really sure. They never come to fight, they just look at each other with their heads raised and it all looks quite tense. Then they chase each other around and sway their hips and things. Bailey popcorns all the time but Jack hardly ever does. He just seems to want to make sure Bailey isn't being topdog, if you know what I mean. I will just leave them to it and monitor things. x
 
Hi Kym

There are a couple of 'sticky treads' at the very top of the Behaviour section that will be useful for you. They cover boar behaviour and tips for helping them get along.

HTH

Suzy x
 
I have read the sticky posts :) They are useful. It just that I wasn't sure if it was normal for them to be doing this continuously, like every couple of minutes unless they are sleeping. I have started to put a big pile of hay in the middle of the cage instead of in the hay rack and this seems to distract them for a good while :) I just want them to be happy :) I'm going to try the toilet roll/hay technique too :) one each of course :) xx
 
How big is their cage? A bit more space may calm things down if you're worried.
 
Its 4x2 (the white C&C Grids). I wouldn't have the room to make it any bigger because I have another for Charlie and George too x
 
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