Dominance Issues..

[kayles]

I have read a lot of information on here last night.. but I just wanted a bit more advice, I have 2 boars.. about 4/5 months old now so I know they are going through their hormonal changes.. up until recently they have been fine together. In the last few days/week my big boy Conker has been teeth chattering and doing some hip swaggering.. he won't let my little Acorn near the hay and I'm worried he is stopping him from getting his share of the food..
the teeth chattering is almost constant when they are having floor time together.. how can I make it better for them?

My little boy has also become more subdued and quiet and often won't come out of his cardboard box.. how can I bring him out of his shell, they don't particularly like cuddles and being stroked.. worried I'm doing everything wrong! Please help me fellow piggy lovers!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Firstly, welcome! It doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong... more just hormonal boys being boys. Make sure you have two of everything, try putting some hay a piggy length or more away from the other hay so that Acorn has the opportunity to eat without being pestered all the time. Are you weighing them both regularly. Most members do a weekly health check which involves the weight as weight loss is generally the very first sign that something is wrong. Weight needs to be checked at the same point in the feeding cycle (usually right before or after feeding) for better accuracy. If you are worried perhaps weigh every few days for a while until you are sure that Acorn is getting what he needs.

 

[kayles]

Firstly, welcome! It doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong... more just hormonal boys being boys. Make sure you have two of everything, try putting some hay a piggy length or more away from the other hay so that Acorn has the opportunity to eat without being pestered all the time. Are you weighing them both regularly. Most members do a weekly health check which involves the weight as weight loss is generally the very first sign that something is wrong. Weight needs to be checked at the same point in the feeding cycle (usually right before or after feeding) for better accuracy. If you are worried perhaps weigh every few days for a while until you are sure that Acorn is getting what he needs.

I'm just about to go and buy another lot of stuff so everything in their hutch is seperate! Yeah, they have both almost doubled in weight since I got them.. Conker is almost 200g more! I'm going back to dinner time being inside the house so I can see who gets what, and tried hand feeding Acorn last night but he just bit my finger instead haha

 

[Lady Kelly]

I'm just about to go and buy another lot of stuff so everything in their hutch is seperate! Yeah, they have both almost doubled in weight since I got them.. Conker is almost 200g more! I'm going back to dinner time being inside the house so I can see who gets what, and tried hand feeding Acorn last night but he just bit my finger instead haha

Haha what a mischievous boy. As long as there aren't any weight loss/ health problems I believe they should work it out between them. Though sometimes I wish they could see how much anxiety they cause their piggy slaves!

 

[kayles]

Haha what a mischievous boy. As long as there aren't any weight loss/ health problems I believe they should work it out between them. Though sometimes I wish they could see how much anxiety they cause their piggy slaves!

Do you have any advice on how to bring the little quiet one out of his shell? He always hides from me and they are both so skittish with noise when they are in the house! Is this something that will come over time.. they don't come up to me for food, just run away!