Bonding Or Bullying?

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Isaanne

Isaanne

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3.5 month old Aby named Bilbo who has had the cage to himself for 1.5 months now has a new friend - an 8 week old baby boar named Ash. They seem to get along, but the older one is clearly being very dominant. Some mounting, lots of rumble strutting on Bilbo's part and he won't let Ash eat anything but hay and drink water. They nap together, are both running around. Ash is frightened to death of us humans and runs away if a hand comes near or even when we approach the side of the cage he is on.

Bilbo walks up to us, loves being petted and hand fed.

I wanted to wait until Ash has been here for a couple of days before handling him but I figured he would never get any veggies - so I took him out to feed him and he would not eat at all. I did not leave the veggies in the cage or Bilbo would have eaten everything.

Feels pretty challenging right now - but mostly they seem fine.

What to do? Should I just keep loading them up with hay and let them work it out. Ash is so very young and Bilbo is a bit of a bully - though he is clearly very happy and excited to have a friend.

Edit: Just wanted to add that we followed the recommendations on introductions and there is two of everything and all the toys etc. that were there before are gone. Two water bottles, 2 open ended hideys, two hay racks, two nugget bowls and two salad bowls. Extra hay is in the middle of the cage and that seems to be what little Ash is eating.
 
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You have boars so you need to have two of everything. Two hideys, two bowls, two drink bottles, two hay racks, etc.... You also need a big cage so they can get away from each other if they want.
 
Hi! Your boys are still very much in the dominance phase. Make sure that Ash has got a place with two small exits that only he can get into - like a cardboard box that is filled with hay and that you can also put some fresh veg in, so he can eat where he is feeling safe.

Here is more information, which you may find helpful to understand what is going on. You are dealing with two different issues. Ash is not used to being a pet and is running on his prey animal instincts on top of all the dynamics and behaviours that come with boar bonding. It is going to take some time for Ash to work through both issues and start taking his clues from uncle pig Bilbo.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boar-dating-service-wales.59233/
 
Thank you this is super helpful.

Tried to create a place for Ash but he won't go in. He follows Bilbo around and when is he not Bilbo follows him. Bilbo still eats all the veggies but I know that Ash is getting hay and nuggets. I am only putting enough for 1 hungry piggy in there knowing that Bilbo will eat all of it but still putting it in two separate dishes far away from each other. Even when Bilbo is occupied Ash will not go near veggies placed in the cage for him.

It seems like this dominance phase is super long and if we are patient we can wait it out. I want to let them bond before getting Ash more comfortable as a pet.

I weigh Bilbo once a week and plan to start weighing Ash on the same morning - I want to see that he is growing (eating).
 
It sounds like things are going in the right direction! Taking turns means that they are both happy in each other's company. I would stop fretting if I were you. :)

I am sure that Ash will eventually pick up eating veg from Bilbo; it should only make 10-15% of a daily diet, so he is not going hungry.
 
Just wanted to update on my guys - they get along really well! They play together and sleep near each other. The little one Ash follows Bilbo around and when it is time to eat he prefers to eat from Bilbos veggie bowl (and Bilbo does not seem to mind).

Thanks for the advice.

I am worried that Ash is super skittish and hates to be held but we are going to be patient and slow with him so he learns about us humans.
 
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