Confused on their behaviour

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xkellyx

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Okay so I have the 3 boys who are about 11weeks now. In their cage they have a hidey hut and one of those large cardboard tubes- obviously other things but.. When I go in their room they hide and are still very skittish- they're improving when it's veggie time and mickey and tiger did just sniff in the air when I sat by their cage so I'm guessing they were sniffing for veggies- not that I had any...

Anyway, so all 3 of them run and hide. So I took both hidey places out the cage and sat talking to them- they all started popcorning and running round the cage- even Jett did and he's a very shy guinea pig who doesn't even come out for food until you're walking out the room so I guess this is because they're happy- so I would assume they prefer a bit more space with the hideys out.. So anyway I sit and watch and talk to them a little longer and I noticed they started 'yawning' to each other and kind of standing on their back legs- I am aware that they are hitting hormonal stage and they will be getting a big c&c cage next week. I'm just confused on their behaviour and do you think I should put the hideys back in or not? I've put the hidey hut back in but left the tube out for now.
 
Piggies always need hideys as they are prey animals it helps them feel secure even though they obviously feel safe around you.

When we put our girls in the run, they will popcorn and run around because of the extra space but they still like places to go and sit. The big C&C will help with more space and even with 3 hideys in it will give them lots of room.

It's early days with building up your piggies trust, it sounds like it is heading in the right direction and you are gaining there trust, keep going you'll soon have them sleeping in the open and Jett will be coming over for food. With piggies it takes some longer than others. It took us 2 years before Putt would contemplate eating form the bars, but she turned into an amazing lap piggie in the end, so its just a time thing.

No idea on the behavior thing sorry, someone may hopefully pop up with a suggestion :)
 
I have read somewhere that 'yawning' (when not tired) can be a sign of dominance/aggression as they are showing each other their teeth.
 
Yawning and showing teeth when on back legs is a serious sign of aggression and dominance and will probably result in bites....

Try these links to learn a bit more about their behaviour but it sound like living together as a three will not be successful long term (I'm afraid it rarely is for boars)

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?28949-Boars!-Simple-Dominance-Displays-or-Fighting
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?76162-Boars-A-guide-to-successful-companionship

Let us know how they get on but please be careful as if they start to inflict damage it's very difficult to then re-establish a bond between any of them. Good luck!
 
My first question would be is there any teeth chattering? If there is then you need to watch them closely. I have two sets of 3 mine have gotten past the hormonal stage but there was a few spats but mine are in big c&c cages so they can get away from each other if needs be which I find helps a lot. Also two of everything.
 
Yawning is a warning to other piggies to stay away. Your boys will run around because they have nowhere to hide and get in each other's way and feel threatened.

I would strongly recommend that you create three hidey places (even of you peg an old hankie to one corner to make a little "tent" ), so the boays can get away from each other.

Building up trust takes a long time, but it is worth it.
 
There is occasional teeth chattering but not a lot.

I have a fleece blanket over some of the cage which tiger likes to sleep under, mickey tends to go in the tube with Jett or sometimes Jett will go in the hidey hut. I have just ordered some cozy cups and tunnels which are being made next week out of Mickey Mouse fleece (can you tell i love mickey and Minnie Mouse ha!)

I will keep a close eye on them but do you think I should make a 5x3 c&c for all 3 or should I make two smaller cages and separate them now? I work during the day and would HATE to find they've had a serious fight while I've been at work as there's nothing I can do stop them :(

Once I have a c&c cage made up which will be next week I will have the cage their in spare so I could always keep them in the same room but separate. What would be best.. To have Jett (submissive) with mickey(most dominant) or tiger (seems to be competing with mickey? Tiger is a lot more trusting with me than the other two are. Seems to me like Jett and Mickey are always together and tiger tends to sit on his own. If I have tiger on his own I will take him boar dating so they're all in the same room just different cages. Also if I separate them will a 2x4 be big enough for 2 males

I just don't want them to fight, especially if I'm not there to stop it (oven glove at the ready!)
 
i think 4x2 is minimum for two boars As long as there is no blood drawn they should be fine but i would use it as an excuse and seperate them so you can get another boar. So many need homes (thats my excuse anyway). You could do a double decker c&c to save space
 
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