Fighting Boars, What To Do Next?

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chloeyerma

chloeyerma

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Hi, I have two boars one is around 9 months old and the other around 7 They have been living fine together since September though with a set hierarchy of the older one bring top pig. At the begining of January I moved house and I got them a new cage, the problems started then! I had them in a carrier on the way there and they had a big fight which ended in me getting a box from a garage! They fought when I had them out together. They always had there separate areas of the cage, but as it got worse the younger one wouldn't go in the olders area at all! There was alot of teeth chattering rumbling and side swaggering! On thursday I checked on the younger one and he had dryed blood round his nose so I took him to the vets and it was a scab covering a big scab and he also had a small wound on his back. I have separated them now, but the older one looked confused as to where his younger friend was even though he bullys him! What can I do now? Was I hasty to separate them? The younger one had started to get really panicy when I put him back in the hutch too. The vet said to neture them? Is that valid in helping boars get along? Help please!
 
Hi, I'm afraid I can't help too much with the bonding advice as I've no experience but I do know that neutering boars does not change their behaviour or calm them down like it does in other animals.

Good luck
 
It's always a dilemma when this happens but you definately did the right thing seperating them and Nicola is right, getting them neutered doesn't change their behaviour. The only reason to get them neutered is so that you can keep them with sows. I have put 2 links here that helped me when I was cosidering what to do.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/i-would-like-your-views-on-neutering.109767/#post-1492503

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

I went ahead and had my 2 boys neutered. I do not regret this decision BUT if you decide to look into neutering in more detail, make sure you find a GP savvy vet and discuss it thoroughly with the vet.

Neutering is not without it's risks. One of my piggies had some complications and had to go back to the vets for more treatment. I was beside myself. Fortunatley, he has pulled through and I am looking forward to when they are 6 weeks post op and I can start getting them paired with a sow each.

I hope this helps .

If you still unsure please ask more questions . Not everyone on this forum agrees on neutering but we all want to help you come to what you feel is the right decision .
 
Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry! It must have been such a bad shock for you! Both boys of yours are still in the very tricky, hormonal period, which lasts in spikes from 4-14 months. it doesn't take much, like a restriction of space or new territory to trigger a fight. Generally, piggies won't go back together after a serious fight with bites to the face and rump (which has sadly happened in your case). You were right to separate. I am sure that your poor youngster will be totally upset!

Your options for your two single boys are:

- Boar dating each boy under expert supervision at a good rescue for a new suitable mate, taking character compatibility and preferably a good age gap into account. By dating at one of our recommended good standard rescues, you minimise the risks of further fall-outs and maximise the chances of finding the right boarmate. You also have the rescue to fall back on if things go wrong down the line.
Here is our recommended rescues locator: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/

- Neutering in order to be bonded with a sow each. With guinea pigs, neutering only removes the ability to make babies, it won't mend their bond, unfortunately.
However, you will need to look for a vet with a very good track record in piggy neutering, as otherwise the risk of post op complications, especially abscesses, is quite common. You also need to factor in a full 6 weeks post op wait until a boar is 100% safe to live with a sow. I have the surprise baby from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boy living with me, just to prove that particular point!
That said, cross gender bonds are the most stable of all piggy bonds. Fall-outs are virtually unheard of. Again, I would recommend dating at one of our recommended rescues for mutual liking and a loving partnership - living with a "sowfe" who accepts him during the introduction is every boar's dream come true.
We have got a piggy savvy vets locator, but if you can travel as far as Northampton, depending on where in Oxfordshire you are, Simon Maddock at the Cat&Rabbit Clinic has as close to a 100% success rate as any surgeon can reasonably get.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/
http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/html/contact_us.html

- Living next to each other with interaction through bars/mesh. Not ideal, but a solution if neither of the above is an option for you and you cannot double the number of your guinea pigs.
 
You have done the right thing separating them. Can I ask how big is your cage and was there anything that set it off? Might help in the future.

Not all boys will get along, with boars its a lot down to personality. Sadly when you get a pair you can't always guarantee they will get past the hormonal stage and into adulthood. I have found the best pairings are non related males. One older and one younger. The older one will be past hormonal strikes and keep the youngster in place.

Neutering as has already been said won't alter them or how they are. Unless you want them to live with females I wouldn't advise it. I would go down the boar dating route if you want them to have a friend or keep them segregated so they can see each other but not get to each other to fight. Its not ideal but they will still have interaction and piggy company. I find my lone boy who won't tolerate other piggies in same space will sleep next to bars of cage of his neighbours and vice versa but happier by himself.
 
Hi, I am a bit neurotic with them, and the thought of nuturing does scare me! It wasnt bites on the younger pigs, they were scratches. I dont know if this makes a difference?
These two are non related, ones a pets at home and one is a pedigree lunkaryan. I wanted two of the latter but fell in love with the pets at home boy!
My hutch is 61x152x61. I thought this was a reasonable size?
I was in pieces! They have got on in the past, they used to share a hide and snuggle together! Its crazy how much it changed! They both looked so confused last night too! I just dont want them to be lonely!
 
that hutch is fine size wise.Is it feasible to get each a new friend or do you not have the financial means and space to do it
 
Well the other hutch is smaller, id have to get a bigger hutch. If it is what is best for them it will be feasible. Would it be best to go for an adult or baby? I dont know if anywhere around me does guinea pig dating (I'm from Aylesbury) I wouldnt wany to just get two more as I couldnt have 4 pairs of guinea pigs!
 
I am very sorry for your upset - you did everything right, but the timing for the move was just wrong and it was enough to tip a fragile relationship over the edge. Not something you could have foreseen!

You can give your boys one last chance on neutral ground tomorrow if you wish, but please don't get your hopes up. There will be probably hostilities quite quickly. Make sure that you have a towel and an oven glove at the ready. Sadly, once piggies make up their mind about another piggy, they stick to it! :mal:

There is a recommended rescue in St Albans called Hazelgrove, that should be within resonable reach? You can get the contact details from our rescue locator.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/
 
I agree with Wiebke tomorrow give them one last chance. I would bath them both and use a neutral area and see how the land lies between them. They may be able to sort out their differences but like Wiebke says once they make their mind up not a lot changes it as they are stubborn. One of mines remembered he hates another for 18 months :))

I have a Lunkarya too :)
 
I love lunkaryas they are so pretty. I got mine from Richard in east grinstead. Tommy is white and is the sweetest looking think. Clyde is massive with a very pointed face! I havent tried re introducing them. I'm a bit scared as they fought in my lap the other day and that was terrifying. Tommy the submisive one seems alot calmer, but clyde the 'bully' one has been running round his cage squeeking. I cant tell if hes happy with the new space or looking for Tommy!
 
I'd rather suspect that he his popcorning happily!

Some (dominant) boars prefer thhaving their own space although they will happily interact through bars with othetr boars while other (usually submissive) boars want company and somepig to snuggle up to.
 
chloeyerma said:
I love lunkaryas they are so pretty. I got mine from Richard in east grinstead. Tommy is white and is the sweetest looking think. Clyde is massive with a very pointed face! I havent tried re introducing them. I'm a bit scared as they fought in my lap the other day and that was terrifying. Tommy the submisive one seems alot calmer, but clyde the 'bully' one has been running round his cage squeeking. I cant tell if hes happy with the new space or looking for Tommy!
Click to expand...

Lunkys are one of my fav breeds, I find mine is so placid and all my piggies love him. Never gets attacked or picked on by my other boys infact they squabble over him :)) I agree if ones a dominant piggy he will be happy in his own space. I have one lone boy at the moment and he doesn't tolerate other guinea pigs in his own space but happy side by side. Sleeps next to the bars of his neighbours. Sounds like Clyde was popcorning with happiness.
 
Tommy is very placid compared to Clyde, hes quite meek and Clyde has been told to have behaviour problems by my step mother as how aggressively he squeeks at feeding time! Complete opposites! I will leave Clyde being a lone ranger then and will look into dating for Tommy. I have mine stacked not side by side due to space but i will put there runs side by side when they make it out again once the weather gets better! Tommy has changed so much since the split already, hes alot more confident and less scared. It was defiantly for the best!
 
Its amazing how splitting them can change life for a submissive one, things you didn't notice when they was together and they will come out their shells. Clyde may calm down as he is still a youngster. When he gets to 18 months he will hopefully calm down. I wouldn't say he has behavioural problems as all of mine squeak at veggie time, that's normal piggy behaviour. He is just a dominant piggy who likes his own way and has been pushing Tommy around, Tommy probably has had enough and pushed back and hence the fight. With males it goes a lot on personality and as they mature their characters emerge more so why the teenage phase is make and break for a lot of male pairs.
 
Behavioural problems was a joke, it just looked very funny compared to Tommy who isnt vocal at all, and Clyde who would be wheeking and right by the door! !
It has defiantly gone to splitsville for these two I think. So could Clyde maybe have a friend in about a year then? If he does calm down?
 
You can look for a boarfriend sooner - the trick is to find a character compatible friend through dating. On average it takes about 2 dates to find the right friend, but some boars can take up to 6 while others strike gold first time round.
This full (i.e. residential) boar dating blog will give you an idea what is involved in boar dating. Not all rescues have the time and resources to offer this form of dating, though; but this kind of bonding allows to bond boars of all ages with each other. You may have to travel further and there may be a waiting list at those rescues that offer full boar dating. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boar-dating-service-wales.59233/

Alternatively, with the right vet, you can consider having both boys neutered and living with a sow each. They will have to wait 6 weeks after the op, but once bonded, you won't have to worry about fall-outs. A lot of piggies have come into rescue around Christmas time, so there will a number of rescue sows coming off their mandatory pregnancy watch at around the time your boys would be ready for love! ;)
 
I will look into boar dating in my area, the vet I took Tommy to talked about neutering but I just feel funny about putting them through an operation. She kept saying the word risks but was trying to get me to do it (she was under the impression it would make them friends) I'm slightly neurotic about them, much to my familys amusement! I lost a guinea pig a year and a half ago to illness so now spend more money and time on my pigs than I do anything else! I dont want them to be lonely though so I will look into the dating side.
 
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