Bonding an 8 month old and 8 week old boar.

[abbylexgh]

Hi everyone,
I have never posted on one of these forums before so I’m hoping it works effectively. I have 5 boars, 2 of them were brothers who had a fight when they hit maturity and I had to separate, blood was drawn.
I managed to find one of the brothers a baby friend at 7 weeks old, the bonding went very smooth, there was a few rumbles from the older boar but nothing major. They’ve lived in the same cage for a few weeks now, he occasionally rumbles if the baby runs into him or takes his lettuce.
I then found another baby friend for the other brother (who is very dominant). I made sure it was a young baby so that it would allow the older boar to dominate. They’ve been outside ALL day, he’s been mounting him and rumblestrutting but eventually they tired themselves out and fell asleep together. The temperature started to cool down so I brought them in to a fresh, disinfected cage with fresh toys, bedding and food. My older boar (8 months) will not leave baby (8 weeks) alone, he chases him, mounts him, pees on him?! And won’t let him eat.
I don’t want to separate as there is no blood drawn and no aggressiveness really, but the baby never gets a chance to himself.
The cage is a 2x4 c&c, they have a bowl and water bottle each, lots of room to run and only hides with 2 exits.
I have a boar that lives on his own in another room, this is because he is extremely aggressive- in case you was wondering where 5 boars came from.
Advice is GREATLY appreciated.

 

[Piggies&buns]

While the behaviour is still a normal dominance behaviour, do not intervene. Fully establishing a relationship goes well beyond the initial introductions and actually continues for a couple of weeks. You will see this behaviour for some time to come yet! Plus, moving them to the cage is a new territory so they will reestablish dominance again now you’ve moved them. Ensure there are plenty of hay piles so the youngster has plenty of different opportunities to get to food But monitor the situation.
Do be aware that while a 2x4 cage is a great size, boars can require more room. We recommend a 2x5 for two boars and lack of space can sometimes cause issues.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[Piggies&buns]

When you say your single boar is very aggressive, what do you mean? Often such behaviour comes from being incorrectly paired up with another piggy. I would, however, be a little concerned about him being in another room with no interaction with other piggies. It is best recommended that Piggies who live alone are placed alongside other piggies in a separate cage to enable interaction through bars to prevent loneliness even if they can’t physically be together.

 

[abbylexgh]

While the behaviour is still a normal dominance behaviour, do not intervene. Fully establishing a relationship goes well beyond the initial introductions and actually continues for a couple of weeks. You will see this behaviour for some time to come yet! Plus, moving them to the cage is a new territory so they will reestablish dominance again now you’ve moved them. Ensure there are plenty of hay piles so the youngster has plenty of different opportunities to get to food But monitor the situation.
Do be aware that while a 2x4 cage is a great size, boars can require more room. We recommend a 2x5 for two boars and lack of space can sometimes cause issues.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

I can extend it to a 2x5, it just means taking half of the cage apart! I’ll leave them to it overnight, and hope they are okay in the morning.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,
I have never posted on one of these forums before so I’m hoping it works effectively. I have 5 boars, 2 of them were brothers who had a fight when they hit maturity and I had to separate, blood was drawn.
I managed to find one of the brothers a baby friend at 7 weeks old, the bonding went very smooth, there was a few rumbles from the older boar but nothing major. They’ve lived in the same cage for a few weeks now, he occasionally rumbles if the baby runs into him or takes his lettuce.
I then found another baby friend for the other brother (who is very dominant). I made sure it was a young baby so that it would allow the older boar to dominate. They’ve been outside ALL day, he’s been mounting him and rumblestrutting but eventually they tired themselves out and fell asleep together. The temperature started to cool down so I brought them in to a fresh, disinfected cage with fresh toys, bedding and food. My older boar (8 months) will not leave baby (8 weeks) alone, he chases him, mounts him, pees on him?! And won’t let him eat.
I don’t want to separate as there is no blood drawn and no aggressiveness really, but the baby never gets a chance to himself.
The cage is a 2x4 c&c, they have a bowl and water bottle each, lots of room to run and only hides with 2 exits.
I have a boar that lives on his own in another room, this is because he is extremely aggressive- in case you was wondering where 5 boars came from.
Advice is GREATLY appreciated.

Hi!

Please make sure that your little one has got a refuge the big one can't get at with exits on opposite sides also make sure that your baby has access to hay and water that your big boy can't block. if necessary, a cardboard box with doors small enough for the baby and some soft hay and some water in there will do as an emergency. Best tie it to the grids.

Take the time to read especially the chapters on boar and baby bonding as well as our boar guide. You are bonding a baby boy with a full-on teenager in one of the trickier stages of that age.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (also includes chapters on the ages, how to navigate changes to the territory with boars etc.)

 

[abbylexgh]

When you say your single boar is very aggressive, what do you mean? Often such behaviour comes from being incorrectly paired up with another piggy. I would, however, be a little concerned about him being in another room with no interaction with other piggies. It is best recommended that Piggies who live alone are placed alongside other piggies in a separate cage to enable interaction through bars to prevent loneliness even if they can’t physically be together.

When I got him, he came with ringworm so had to be treated away from all my other piggies. When I tried to bond him then, he didn’t show signs of dominance, just attacked within seconds. I separated and re-introduced to my more laid back boar on new territory, but he was the exact same. He’s in the front room with lots of human interaction, he’s very happy and often spends the night on the sofa with us watching telly.

 

[abbylexgh]

Hi!

Please make sure that your little one has got a refuge the big one can't get at with exits on opposite sides also make sure that your baby has access to hay and water that your big boy can't block. if necessary, a cardboard box with doors small enough for the baby and some soft hay and some water in there will do as an emergency. Best tie it to the grids.

Take the time to read especially the chapters on boar and baby bonding as well as our boar guide. You are bonding a baby boy with a full-on teenager in one of the trickier stages of that age.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (also includes chapters on the ages, how to navigate changes to the territory with boars etc.)

Thanks for your advice! I will add a box for the baby to hide in. Do you recommend to extend to a 2x5? Will this guarantee to stop them arguing! I don’t mind, but my cages are stacked so it means taking all 4 boars out and re-doing the cage.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your advice! I will add a box for the baby to hide in. Do you recommend to extend to a 2x5? Will this guarantee to stop them arguing! I don’t mind, but my cages are stacked so it means taking all 4 boars out and re-doing the cage.

Give your teenager time to get over the worst of his excitement and plan your extension carefully. But your boys will need all the space they can get. Next to character compatibility, space is the second most important factor especially for sub-adult boars.

 

[abbylexgh]

Give your teenager time to get over the worst of his excitement and plan your extension carefully. But your boys will need all the space they can get. Next to character compatibility, space is the second most important factor especially for sub-adult boars.

Great, thanks! So maybe wait a few days for him to establish his new friend, and then do the extension?

 

[Wiebke]

Great, thanks! So maybe wait a few days for him to establish his new friend, and then do the extension?

The post-bonding dominance phase is on average two weeks. Please take the time to read the guide links. You should find them very interesting and helpful.

 

[Siikibam]

Some great advise given above. I just want to draw your attention to the lone boar in the other room. I’m afraid human interaction can never replace that with his own kind. Even interaction through the bars is better than nothing at all. Communication goes beyond just sharing a space.

Is there any way you could put his cage alongside the bottom one (you said they’re stacked) so he can talk to them through the bars?

Another option is to take him boar dating once rescues are up and running again.

 

[abbylexgh]

Some great advise given above. I just want to draw your attention to the lone boar in the other room. I’m afraid human interaction can never replace that with his own kind. Even interaction through the bars is better than nothing at all. Communication goes beyond just sharing a space.

Is there any way you could put his cage alongside the bottom one (you said they’re stacked) so he can talk to them through the bars?

Another option is to take him boar dating once rescues are up and running again.

He’s tried living next door to the other but he teeth chatters, tries to nibble at their fur through the bars. He refuses to eat if he is anywhere near them.

 

[Siikibam]

Could you put an opaque divider there so he can perhaps hear but not see or get to them? @Wiebke Or @VickiA perhaps could offer better advise?

 

[Wiebke]

Could you put an opaque divider there so he can perhaps hear but not see or get to them? @Wiebke Or @VickiA perhaps could offer better advise?

If a piggy is so badly upset by others, then he doesn't have to live together with others, @Siikibam .
There are a few piggies that really struggle with others. Where they still perk up and interact through the bars, direct contact is important. If contact is too stressful, then they are obviously happier on their own.

 

[Siikibam]

Thank you @Wiebke Are there cases where the upset eventually dies down? Or it’s a cut and dried thing?

 

[abbylexgh]

If a piggy is so badly upset by others, then he doesn't have to live together with others, @Siikibam .
There are a few piggies that really struggle with others. Where they still perk up and interact through the bars, direct contact is important. If contact is too stressful, then they are obviously happier on their own.

Thanks for the advice, he does get very stressed around other piggies. Even if they’re in the garden on the grass (runs next to each other) he won’t graze, he’ll hide and chatter and it’s very unlike him. He’s definitely a lone wolf