Can I Get My Boys To Play Together

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jenny57

jenny57

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Hi there, I have 2 boars that where bought together from a pet shop. When the hormones kicked in they started fighting and trying to bite lumps out of each other, they have lived separately since then, about 2 years or so. They were my daughters but she had to give them up due to ill health, so they have moved in with me and live side by side in their respective cages.
I have bought them a large playpen that they love and play in individually but I was wondering if I could reintroduce them so that they could play together.
I have read the sticky and it was very informative, but being new to the wonderful world of piggies I feel I need a bit more reassurance. When they lived with my daughter they could not see each other but now they can, and Diesel is chewing on the cage bars. Is it because he wants to bite Buddy ?.
In the seven weeks that they have lived with me I have grown to love them very much, I want them to be has happy as possible but I don't want them to hurt each other so please can I have your words of wisdom, Many thanks Jenny x
 
The cage biting is because he wants to be in with the other piggy. That is perfectly normal behaviour! How does the other one react? Is he interested in his neighbour or is he carefully staying out of his way?

Whether they go back together depends on how badly they fell out before they were separated and whether their characters are compatible (i.e. not too dominant) enough now that the hormones have settled down somewhat. Please don't get your hopes up too high! it is great that you have them next to each other for interaction through the bars; that alone is giving them much more stimulation.

I would start with having both on your lap together. If hostilities/aggression behaviours are pretty imminent, you know that it is not worth going through a full intro; it will never work out! Please don't have any furnishings in the run except for a flat plate of hay. Make sure that you have got an oven glove ready at all stages. A riled up boar can bite deeply, as several members have found to their cost when coming in between boars with bare hands. The most critical time of a bonding is often when two boars wake up after their first nap together and find themselves in company.
Apart from our information stickies about dominance behaviours and intros, you will also find this blog thread from a rescue lady who specialises in adult boar bonding helpful: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boar-dating-service-wales.59233/
 
Hi Wiebke, thank you so much for your help. We tried sitting them on my lap but unfortunately Diesel mounted Buddy and was biting the back of his neck, as it was making Buddy squeal in fear, pain or both,we separated them. Did I do the right thing?
They seem happy with the status quo so, I think, after what happened tonight I will leave them as they are. I love the idea of boar dating but unfortunately as I am in the far north of Scotland, just a few miles south of John O'Groats and the lady and her lovely boys are in Wales it's just a bit too far to travel. Many thanks again I really appreciate it. Jenny x
 
Thanks for the info, I have looked at the website but can't see boar dating mentioned, it is unfortunately a four hour trek by car to Perth and we don't drive. Thanks again, Jenny x
 
jenny57 said:
Thanks for the info, I have looked at the website but can't see boar dating mentioned, it is unfortunately a four hour trek by car to Perth and we don't drive. Thanks again, Jenny x
Click to expand...

She has dated several bereaved boars for forum members, but it is admittedly a very long trip!

Not sure whether Buddy's squealing was protest or submission. You could try them together; the mounting is typical - my neutered boars do and even sows in season! Boar bonding is generally a mounting fest; it depends on how much Buddy will bear or whether he suddenly has enough.
 
My two brothers are boys and are 9 months and in march they fell out big time. They now live side by side and occasionally bite the bars to want to be in together. However as soon as I have tried to rebond them Edgar dominates Poe and then Poe snaps and beats him up as he is the bigger out of the two. They play together nicely but in open space no toys or hideys just with a shared plate of grass. If at any time they are closed in together the fighting starts. Maybe try them in a secure room rather than in a pen? At least they will have more room to run about and away from one another if one becomes hostile?
 
Hi Wiebke, I don't really know what to do for the best, I was thinking of trying them in the playpen tomorrow, but I don't think my husband is too keen on the idea. I will sleep on it and decide in the morning. Many thanks Jenny
 
Hi Glorious guineagirl, thanks for the input, its good to know other people have experienced the same problem. Diesel is bigger and likes to throw his weight around, and having no previous experience of piggies I found it quite unsettling to watch. My wish was for them to play together in the playpen, so maybe I will try them in there tomorrow with only some hay. I will let you know what happens. Jenny
 
Hi all, after much procrastination I put my boys together in the playpen. After a lot of frantic tusseling they settled down, after a couple of hours they were both really tired, we gave them a bonding bath together and they were as good as gold. I have put them back in their cage's for now and will put them together after tea. If all goes well I will pop them both in the playpen in the morning and they can play together all day.
 
Hi Hannah, Diesel and Buddy still have a bit of a grumble at each other but nothing serious. They were in the playpen from 10.30am until 8pm.Diesel seems more settled, he has stopped biting his cage bars. I thought he would be the dominant one but I think Buddy came out on top ( literally!). I am so happy that after more than two years they can occupy the same space without fur flying. They have their own cages next to each other so they can see and smell each other and I will leave it this way as they both seem really happy. Without the advice of members of the forum I wouldn't have had the nerve to try them together. I hope all goes as well for your boys reintroduction, please let me know how it goes, best wishes, Jenny x
 
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