Eating habits...

[emmaldrk]

I have a senior boar (nearly five years old) and a lovely four month old companion.

Is it normal for the more dominant boar (senior) to have to initiate eating veggies for the younger to begin eating? The younger boar will hang back too.

If I get the younger one out for lap time he tends not to eat either. If I have both out and the older boar eats then he will too.

There are no signs of aggression or bullying. They’re very firmly bonded but is this normal?

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s the dominant piggy’s right to get his choice of everything first, plus youngsters rely on the guidance of older piggies, so yes, this all sounds rather normal

 

[emmaldrk]

It’s the dominant piggy’s right to get his choice of everything first, plus youngsters rely on the guidance of older piggies, so yes, this all sounds rather normal

Thank you so much. That’s really reassuring. I know there is a hierarchy and thought it was a guinea pigs “respect your elders” approach to things.

I am just worried he isn’t getting as much food though. After eating, the older boar tends to go back into a hide to chill/sleep so he helps himself to the rest. I’ve been throwing in an extra few bits for him.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you so much. That’s really reassuring. I know there is a hierarchy and thought it was a guinea pigs “respect your elders” approach to things.

I am just worried he isn’t getting as much food though. After eating, the older boar tends to go back into a hide to chill/sleep so he helps himself to the rest. I’ve been throwing in an extra few bits for him.

as long as there is always hay available in multiple places around the cage, then he absolutely will be eating enough. don’t be tempted to give extra veg as it isn’t necessary, he will get what he wants, particularly if you scatter feed veg all around the cage - it encourages natural foraging behaviour but also means they both get some as the dominant can’t be everywhere at once!

 

[Wiebke]

I have a senior boar (nearly five years old) and a lovely four month old companion.

Is it normal for the more dominant boar (senior) to have to initiate eating veggies for the younger to begin eating? The younger boar will hang back too.

If I get the younger one out for lap time he tends not to eat either. If I have both out and the older boar eats then he will too.

There are no signs of aggression or bullying. They’re very firmly bonded but is this normal?

Hi!

Your younger boar will pick up his cues from the older at that age; especially if he is not used to eating veg before he has come to you. The weeks between weaning and teenage are the 'school' weeks where a youngster learns to master their environment and the intricacies of social etiquette by shadowing a willing guardian/teacher piggy.

Please accept that guinea pigs are prey animals; these instincts are still strong in your younger boy.
Here are tips on how you can work around them, invite your youngster to be a welcome and loved member of your herd and not wait until he has figured out humans. Keep in mind that pet shop and for sale breeder piggies have rarely had anything in the way of friendly human interaction and that they are therefore finding a pet home a rather frightening experience. Having a teacher companion will help to speed up the process but you learning to speak cavy body language and respect his high alert prey animal instincts will also go a long way to settling him in.
You will find these guides here very helpful in understanding where your little one is coming from. Some babies born to highly stressed mothers can set the high level of stress hormones as their 'normal' default setting even before birth. They will take a lot longer to work around and may never fully relax although they will hopefully come round to trust you implicitly in their own time.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely