Help needed now about fighting

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SJP

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I have an older male (4 and a half) and a younger male (about 2 months). I had bonded them and all was fine. Recently they have been displaying a lot of dominant behavior. The younger pig does lots of mounting of the older pig. Both are teeth chattering and the younger pig is doing the yawning showing teeth thing. They will retreat to their pigloos but then they do this when they see each other again. There is also chasing around in a tight circle. HELP. I don't want to separate them too soon but don't want to leave them together when I go to bed in case they do each other serious damage. So far no actual bighting. Please advise if you can. Thank you
 
Sounds like they are getting ready to do some serious damage, I would separate give them time to cool off and then re-introduce on neutral group, I would give them a buddy bath together before drying them off on neutral group. Scare them into friendship.

You don't want to separate to quickly but if they do fight the chances of them becoming friends again are slim to nil.
 
When i introduced my boars they used to mount each other, this is due to the 2 month old going through his 'hormonal phase', which he'll grow out of. As for the other signs i don't really know.
 
Sounds like the younger one is hitting his hormonal stage...
It there any actual biting...? Or blood drawn...?
Or is it more like posturing and showing off rather then actual attacking each other...?
Can I ask what size cage you have...?
It might be that they need a bit more space... I have two boys that have to be in a six foot space otherwise they squabble...!
It might just be a wait and see... As long as both pigs are getting food and water... And that one isn't bullying the other or stopping it eat and drink or if any blood has been drawn... If that's happening then it may be best to separate...
x
 
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I don't really know much about this but have just rescued a 7 week old piggy through boar dating. So far so good. I was told to make sure that they had two of everything, so bowls, bottles, beds etc... and to make sure they had plenty of hay and toys to keep them occupied. Oh and a big enough cage should they need any space apart. Hope this helps :)
 
No blood drawn yet. I have already been through the process last week where I put a divider in their cage over night as I was worried. Today I introduced them on mutual ground and changed their cage before putting them back in. I also kept swapping them round when they were separated so they didn't get too territorial over their half of the cage. The cage is about a 120cm by 70cm. Most days they have floor time. If I separate them will I ever be able to put them back together.
Update just in from my boyfriend who is watching them at the mo - they are both in one pigloo - no fighting or noise. But they do this and then is flares up again. Am I over reacting - shall I just leave them?
Thanks for all the advise so far - you guys are fab.
 
I spoke to Suzy to ask what she would do.

She said 'I'd take out the individual igloos as losing sight of each other can trigger the dominance display when they come back out.
If they will not settle once they have a large covered area with large opening (a cardboard box on it's side will do)
then I would separate but usually a large bedroom which no one can control or be trapped in works.
 
SJP said:
No blood drawn yet. I have already been through the process last week where I put a divider in their cage over night as I was worried. Today I introduced them on mutual ground and changed their cage before putting them back in. I also kept swapping them round when they were separated so they didn't get too territorial over their half of the cage. The cage is about a 120cm by 70cm. Most days they have floor time. If I separate them will I ever be able to put them back together.
Update just in from my boyfriend who is watching them at the mo - they are both in one pigloo - no fighting or noise. But they do this and then is flares up again. Am I over reacting - shall I just leave them?
Thanks for all the advise so far - you guys are fab.
Click to expand...

There not short on space...
If it seems to go in intervals I would just watch and wait...
Just remember to keep an eye on both of them eating and drinking... Make sure one isnt being stopped or bullied... And if blood is drawn then it's time to separate...
I genuinely think it's just them sorting out the pecking order because one has hit his hormonal stage...
Good luck...!
And hopefully it will calm down soon...
One thing i might do is to take all the hideys out... And take a towel or blanket and cover half of the base of the cage with it and put the wire top over it to make a sort of tent... Like a massive hidey... But they can sit on top aswell... My lot quite like it when i do that...
x
 
Thank you - will try the one bedroom idea now. They have two food bowls, hay nets and water bottles.
 
Ok so they now have 1 hidey place instead of separate pigloos, made from a piece of fleece suspended from the bars. When they were separated before they both slept in the open so they could see each other. Perhaps this will help. Fingers crossed. Shall I only separate them if they bite each other?
 
SJP said:
Ok so they now have 1 hidey place instead of separate pigloos, made from a piece of fleece suspended from the bars. When they were separated before they both slept in the open so they could see each other. Perhaps this will help. Fingers crossed. Shall I only separate them if they bite each other?
Click to expand...

By the sound of it they don't need separating...
If they draw blood by a bite then yes defiantly separate...
Good luck...!
x
 
OK, so they now only have 1 hidey place. They are still rumblestrutting every 20 mins or so and a little teeth chattering but the younger pig is backing off more when the older pig retaliates to his harassment. Still no biting and they are both eating from the hay racks and food bowls. What do you think about leaving them together overnight?
 
SJP said:
OK, so they now only have 1 hidey place. They are still rumblestrutting every 20 mins or so and a little teeth chattering but the younger pig is backing off more when the older pig retaliates to his harassment. Still no biting and they are both eating from the hay racks and food bowls. What do you think about leaving them together overnight?
Click to expand...

I would leave them together... It sounds like posturing and showing off... It's more dominance then actual figting I think...
Sounds like they are winding down...
Hopefully once the hormonal pig has calmed down a bit they will sort the pecking order out and all will be fine...
I think it's just down to some perserverance and keeping a beady eye on them...
x
 
So this morning there is a slightly uneasy truce I think. A little rumble-strutting and teeth chattering from both... and the little pig will insist on mounting the older pig which kicks it all off again... but nothing sustained. Last night my boyfriend thinks that the older pig may have nipped the younger pig, but no lasting damage. Hopefully this will all calm down soon - any idea how long this may go on for...?
 
It's a bit tricky to answer that - it isn't clear how long they have been together. If it is a very recent introduction then it can just be the first day or two, splitting them up at any point and re-introducing them will only mean they go through it all again so unless they really fall out I would not consider separating them again. It is often the youngest boar that will do most of the humping until the boss tells them enough is enough.

I usually add a piggy sized teddy as many pigs will hump the teddy as it doesn't object or run away - if they will use a teddy it will help ease the hormones a lot.

The boars hormonal period is from 3-15 months with the strongest 6-10 months. Hopefully their bond will be well established before the teenage months kick in and the youngster won't challenge boss pig too much.

HTH

Suzy x
 
My boys have been together for about a month - maybe a bit longer. They were initially bonded after the younger pig was brought in as a friend for the older pig after the older pigs brother (and much loved piggy) sadly died. I think perhaps I was unwise to separate them about a week ago when the teeth chattering began because now they have to re-establish themselves. Will try the teddy. Thanks
 
flintstones said:
Sounds like they are getting ready to do some serious damage, I would separate give them time to cool off and then re-introduce on neutral group, I would give them a buddy bath together before drying them off on neutral group. Scare them into friendship.

You don't want to separate to quickly but if they do fight the chances of them becoming friends again are slim to nil.
Click to expand...

Yes I fully agree. When my 3 boars go through a 'Fighty phase' I put them all into the bath and wash them.....trouble sorted.
 
Thank you everybody. I left them together as no blood drawn and they are now much calmer... sleeping together etc and much less fighting behavior. The older pig is grooming the little pig but doesn't like it if the little pig tries to groom him. They both seem much happier. The teddy bear idea was great - I didn't have a teddy bear so knotted two bits of fleece and put them in - the little pig takes out his frustrations on them and both pigs sleep on them...very cute. Thank you so much for your support and help... I might have separated them too soon otherwise but as it is (touch wood) it looks like they may be friends... which was the idea as they were both on their own before I brought little pig home. You guys are stars. :))
 
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