Erratic Boar Fighting

[Lucy33]

Hi

I have two male guinea pigs, brothers who are approaching a year old. They’ve never been apart. They have frequently rumbled, strutted and mounted but in the last two months have got much more fractious with some teeth chattering and minor biting – so that one occasionally has blood on his nose. But they are only tiny scratches, not deep wounds. They just can’t seem to decide who is dominant and lose their temper with each other frequently. What I’d like to know is if temporary separation is feasible when they have these ‘patches’ or whether once I’ve split them up they’d never get on again. The fighting comes in flurries but is getting more aggressive in manner. It’s hard because I’m not sure how long to wait.

They have a lot of space, ample hay and food and choices of different hidey-holes in different places.

I know they are in a patch where aggression is likely to be worse at their age. They have a large double decker hutch and theoretically I could have one upstairs and one downstairs – but if I took out the ramp and temporarily had separate floors, would that mean it would be forever? I can’t split them so they can still see each other through a barrier, unfortunately. Is smell enough? Would I actually be making the situation worse in the long run? It would make it difficult in the winter when I only have one large indoor cage which is difficult to split. I could work something out but I don’t want to have to unless it is essential.

Argh. I’m just getting anxious as to the best thing to do…

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I have two male guinea pigs, brothers who are approaching a year old. They’ve never been apart. They have frequently rumbled, strutted and mounted but in the last two months have got much more fractious with some teeth chattering and minor biting – so that one occasionally has blood on his nose. But they are only tiny scratches, not deep wounds. They just can’t seem to decide who is dominant and lose their temper with each other frequently. What I’d like to know is if temporary separation is feasible when they have these ‘patches’ or whether once I’ve split them up they’d never get on again. The fighting comes in flurries but is getting more aggressive in manner. It’s hard because I’m not sure how long to wait.

They have a lot of space, ample hay and food and choices of different hidey-holes in different places.

I know they are in a patch where aggression is likely to be worse at their age. They have a large double decker hutch and theoretically I could have one upstairs and one downstairs – but if I took out the ramp and temporarily had separate floors, would that mean it would be forever? I can’t split them so they can still see each other through a barrier, unfortunately. Is smell enough? Would I actually be making the situation worse in the long run? It would make it difficult in the winter when I only have one large indoor cage which is difficult to split. I could work something out but I don’t want to have to unless it is essential.

Argh. I’m just getting anxious as to the best thing to do…

Any separation can come with the risk that it may be forever, so if you can, please try to sit it out if at all possible and as long as it doesn't go past scratches. Just separating the levels with no chance of interaction is unfortunately not at all ideal.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that your boys can keep it at their current level and calm down soon.

 

[Lucy33]

Any separation can come with the risk that it may be forever, so if you can, please try to sit it out if at all possible and as long as it doesn't go past scratches. Just separating the levels with no chance of interaction is unfortunately not at all ideal.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that your boys can keep it at their current level and calm down soon.

Thank you. I'm hoping things settle down, too. It hasn't helped that one fell and broke his teeth a few weeks back - now grown back - I had to hand feed him first to ensure he got his share and I think that may have affected the balance of dominance as previously the other was always first to take things from my hand.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. I'm hoping things settle down, too. It hasn't helped that one fell and broke his teeth a few weeks back - now grown back - I had to hand feed him first to ensure he got his share and I think that may have affected the balance of dominance as previously the other was always first to take things from my hand.

Yes, that may have played a role. Some boars can be very iffy about you observing the existing hierarchy. When they are at that stage, unfortunately, it doesn't take much to upset the apple cart!

 

[Lucy33]

Trouble is now I don't know who I should treat as the dominant one!

 

[Wiebke]

Trouble is now I don't know who I should treat as the dominant one!

Still treat the original boy as the dominant one unless the other has clearly taken over.