Bonding or bullying - when is it too much?

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Hi, I'd really appreciate some advice. I'm currently trying to bond a new boar with my one as we recently recently lost our other one. It has only been two days but its not been great so far - new boar was
 
Hi, this forum is great for information, so I'd really appreciate some advice. I'm currently trying to bond a new boar, as we recently recently lost one of our pair. It has only been two days in the same run but its not been great so far - constant chasing, nipping, and general harassment from the new one to our existing piggie. It seems that our original piggie settles for two minutes before being shifted on by the new guy! We picked the new one because he had been shy and submissive where he was before, and thought this might work with our other boy, but he's definitely been very dominant with us. He was very settled and friendly before the introduction so I don't think is scared. I followed all the advice on introductions - as far as I could - about preparing them and making the environment neutral etc. I know it can take time, and I'll know they need to be left to it, (so hard!), but my question is: what do I do if it doesn't settle down? I know it's usually game over if blood is drawn, or if they are being prevented from eating by the other one, but where is the line apart from that? I can monitor the eating situation and make sure he gets his share.. Our original pig is anxious, jumpy and unsettled. If it stays at this level, surely barely tolerating each other isn't OK?

Our last pair had their moments and we knew there would be a degree of dominance /boar behaviour to deal with, but there was enough evidence that they both got something out of the relationship so that was OK!

I avoided getting him neutered as he's 2.5 and I read that there are some risks, but I am now wondering if the risk is worth it if he spent the rest of his life in a more settled environment with a sow..

Any thoughts? How much tension is ok.. for the animals and for me haha!

Thanks very much!
 
Can you finish your post please?

when you say you’ve been trying and it’s only been two days, are they living together or are you putting them together during the day and separating at night? And where did you do the bonding?

How exactly are they both behaving? Have a read of the guides linked below and see where they’re sitting.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
 
How old is the new piggy?
Where did you get him from?

In terms of how he was before being bonded, it’s not an entirely reliable guide as you never what will happen until you actually put them together. What looks good on paper could actually be a total disaster upon actually meeting. Character compatibility is vital to a bond and if they don’t like each other, then it’s just not going to work.

He could be scared and it could be coming out as fear aggression.

So youve not been able to move them from the neutral territory bonding pen to the cage yet due to the behaviour? Is that right? Or have you put them into the cage you intend them to live in?

You are right though, tolerating isn’t enough. They need to live harmoniously and want to be together. However, it takes two weeks after introduction for a relationship to fully be established. While it is dominance behaviours during those two weeks, you leave them to get on with it but if things are tense, and don’t appear to be working, then you don’t need to wait for a fight before separating them.

As for neutering, then in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable vet, piggies can be neutered at an older age than your boy is. However, a relationship with a sow still comes down to character compatibility and mutual liking.

The guides below detail further

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Bonds In Trouble
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
 
Thanks that's really helpful - and thanks for replying so quickly! I'll maybe bear it for a couple of weeks and review /see where we are then.
They've been together in the neutral run consistently since we put them together and I've done my best not to interfere! He was from a rescue but had come from a home where he was badly bullied so I guess it could be that he is scared or defensive. We had them in cages next door to each other for a wee while and he seemed very comfortable with us and his neighbour- eg didn't jump at sudden noises, up at the bars to chat.. He is around 9 months so I suppose still in the feisty age! Older boy is 2 and a half-ish.
 
If he has a bad experience with previous partners, then I would read the moody guinea pigs green link above and look to the fear aggression chapter.
its a balance and what you don’t want to do is step in too early but equally if it isn’t working and your older piggy is appearing stressed, then there is no benefit in leaving them together.
As you can’t judge hay intake by eye, then weight them daily to ensure they are eating enough hay during this period.
 
Thanks - would make sense that he has some fear aggression, poor wee guy. I was told it was really bad bullying 😞 Will keep an eye on things but this is really helpful, thanks.. Also will look at those threads thanks
 
Also my incomplete post was the very first one I posted on this site so didn't know how to delete 😂
 
Just took him out to weigh him and found two big bites on his back 😔 so back in separate cages..
 
I’m sorry It’s not worked. Get your boy booked to check the bites. In the meantime you can clean them using homemade saline.
 
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