Bonding boys

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linzee

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Help!

Our 2 year old boy Skittles was bereaved unexpectedly a week ago. Today we picked up another 2 year old boy from a rescue and put them together in a neutral pen.

Initial signs were good, eating grass together etc. However, then new pig started chasing, teeth chattering, rumble strutting etc. He scratched Skittles ear. Things got a bit better, they went back to grazing together, but now they are back to chasing, teeth chattering etc. It doesn't look good but I'm no expert. I don't want to break them up if they might sort it out.

Any advice? When do you stick to it and when do you give in?
 
Are they both teeth chattering? Is there any submissive squeaking from the boar being chased, or are they chasing each other? Have a read of the guide below on levels of dominance and see. As for the scratch, could it have been a misplaced swipe? How long have they been in there together?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
Chasing, rumbling and mild chattering are normal low level dominance behaviours and part of bonding. It takes around two weeks post introduction For them to fully sort out their hierarchy and relationship so you will see a lot of dominance during this time. If things escalate into a full on fight and injuries occur, then that is the end for them and they need to be separated.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
 
Thanks everyone. What would a full on fight look like? There seem to be bits of Skittles fur in the pen. That can't be good surely?
Both teeth chattering. New pig doing all the chasing. One of them just squeaked VERY loud, not sure which.
They have been together about 4 hours, a little more.
 
linzee said:
Thanks everyone. What would a full on fight look like? There seem to be bits of Skittles fur in the pen. That can't be good surely?
Both teeth chattering. New pig doing all the chasing. One of them just squeaked VERY loud, not sure which.
They have been together about 4 hours, a little more.
Click to expand...

A full on fight is unmistakable - it’ll be a rolling around on the floor furball. If this happens do not put your unprotected hands in between them as you will get hurt - always use oven gloves or a towel.

Its incredibly hard for us to gauge from a written description - chasing and chattering is normal but only if it mild ans doesn’t get into the orange warning section of this guide Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
Thanks. I think we are definitely in the orange section. Does that mean it's all over? I think I can see a second scratch on our pigs bum now.
 
I wouldn't describe anything I've seen as a full on fight, but very aggressive.
 
Oh dear. It’s a shame if they decide they don’t want to live together. 🙁.
 
If they are in the orange and cannot come to an agreement then it’ll end in bullying or a fight.
They do need time to try to see if they can work things out and come to an agreement (one needs to be prepared to step down and be the submissive in the relationship) and you don’t want to separate them too soon but if they’ve been agitated with each other for a while and things definitely aren’t settling and calming down, then its probable that they aren’t compatible so they won’t bond sadly
 
Thanks. They are in a pen on the lawn so there is a limit to how long I can leave them before night. At the moment new pig doesn't seem unhappy but Skittles is completely still and not eating grass at all. I'm worried he's just terrified.

I think unless I see signs of significant improvement by 10pm I'm going to have to call it quits. Does that seem reasonable?
 
if it does seem things aren’t going well, then you can call it a failure. What you can’t do is stop and start boar bonding - it’s really a one time thing

Can you move them into a neutral area indoors? It’s fine to keep them in an indoor bonding pen over night if you think they need it and if you need it to be able go make a decision
 
Thanks. I'm not sure about having them indoors... do I set an alarm and check on them every couple of hours? I'd be worried about leaving them at all to be honest. But I take your point about it being a one time thing.

This is making me so nervous. I don't know what to do for the best!
 
So if they've now been in the bonding pen a little over 5 hours and you are still nervous about leaving them, behaviour is described as aggressive then you may be right to call it a day. After 5 hours if things were ok, then you'd be feeling more relaxed about it than is coming across in your posts!

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

How is Skittles doing now?
 
Thanks. I've moved them indoors into an indoor pen with lots of hay. Things seem to be going a little better. New pig seems very interested in Skittles (comes up beside him to eat hay) but Skittles still seems very wary. They are now both eating hay a little way apart. One of them (I think New Pig) is chutting quite a lot.

What would a good boar bonding look like at this point?
 
This is them at the moment. They are both munching away now. Things are looking a bit better.
 

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The 'illustrated bonding' guide I added in above can best explain all the elements you are looking for, if you've not already looked at it (although looking at it multiple times means you catch things you perhaps didn't quite see first time!)

its often that once they've had something to eat and had a nap, that the important time is when they wake up from that nap and seeing what occurs then.

If you can leave them in that indoor bonding pen until morning and then see how things go - bonding isnt always quick, they've got to be able to come to a decision during introduction and then formalise that decision and sort out the details during the next two weeks.

I imagine you'll be up in the night checking on them anyway!
 
Thanks. It is all a lot quieter now. They've eaten some hay. Skittles seems to be having a proper rest. New Pig also resting a bit - less so than Skittles but he must be nervous of new surroundings and everything.

From what I've seen New Pig needs to be dominant but does seem interested in Skittles; he doesn't just want to scare him off. Skittles seems very wary still but maybe he will come round and stop running away from New Pig all the time.

I will watch carefully for another hour or two. If there's no more aggression than I'll go to bed and leave them to it.
 
Update... they seemed ok overnight so have put them in the hutch together. It's a two tier one and after a bit of a munch on the hay I put in the bottom level Skittles ran upstairs where he is now staying. New Pig is hiding in the hay downstairs. They are not fighting but I'm not sure they are getting on either!

I will watch carefully to see how they get on. One thing that's clear is New Pig is very nervous generally, even if he's the more dominant of the two.
 
It’s good they have space to get away from each other. Make sure all hides have two exits and you have hay upstairs and downstairs. Not being next to each other and cuddling up doesn’t mean they don’t like each other. You also should remember that the bond takes a further two weeks to really stabilise.
 
Thanks, that's really helpful. Yes now I think about it Skittles was rarely properly cuddled up with his previous hutchmate, but they got on fine.
 
Do keep an eye on them and see how things go.
My two boys are well bonded but never cuddle together. My dominant boy is also the most nervous of the two
 
Is it best to keep them in the hutch now do you think? Or move them back into the run on the lawn when it's dry enough?
 
linzee said:
Is it best to keep them in the hutch now do you think? Or move them back into the run on the lawn when it's dry enough?
Click to expand...

i think id leave them in the hutch. Boars can need to re establish themselves in new environments so I’d not move them again while things are not yet entirely stable
 
Don’t mess with them too much while they are establishing their bond. Even cleaning them out could upset it. I always leave some dirty hay in the top and bottom of Percy and Peppers hutch after I’ve cleaned them out. Because when I put them into a totally clean area they get a bit stressy with each other. They’ve been together since November.
 
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