Help!

[Potter0121]

We have 2 boy guinea pigs that are 6 months old now.When we got them we knew nothing and were assured that 2 boys would get on fine!......we adore them both but i recently bought another new indoor pen and the bullying from the dominant boar has got worse,there hasnt been any injuries but constant chasing and the submissive one became really withdrawn.As he wasnt eating and losing weight,I took him to the vet and after a £130 bill for an ear infection I perhaps too hastily decided to split them up.I then have spent most of today ringing petting zoos and rescues to take the dominant one but I adore them both and its really upsetting me,I just do not know what to do,after reading posts I am wondering if this is normal and I need to leave them alone to work things out,after all there have never been actual injuries and maybe the loss of appitite was down to his poorley ear.I had no idea that guinea pigs were so complicated.........any advice would be aprreciated.

 

[Wiebke]

We have 2 boy guinea pigs that are 6 months old now.When we got them we knew nothing and were assured that 2 boys would get on fine!......we adore them both but i recently bought another new indoor pen and the bullying from the dominant boar has got worse,there hasnt been any injuries but constant chasing and the submissive one became really withdrawn.As he wasnt eating and losing weight,I took him to the vet and after a £130 bill for an ear infection I perhaps too hastily decided to split them up.I then have spent most of today ringing petting zoos and rescues to take the dominant one but I adore them both and its really upsetting me,I just do not know what to do,after reading posts I am wondering if this is normal and I need to leave them alone to work things out,after all there have never been actual injuries and maybe the loss of appitite was down to his poorley ear.I had no idea that guinea pigs were so complicated.........any advice would be aprreciated.

Hi and welcome!

Your two boys are in the middle of the tricky teenage months, at one of the worst times. Your experience is shared by many who have bought a pair of boars that are not character matched. It is not their fault.

You may find the detailed information and advice in this guide here helpful to work out where you stand in terms of them getting on and what your options are, including a list of recommended good standard rescues we can vouch for if that is your very last option: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Please take the time to read it.

In order to be able to help you with local tips if possible, please add your county to your details. You can do this by clicking on your username, go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you.

 

[Piggiepalace16]

I have owned boars in the past and as you know it's all about dominance and hierarchy. I know my two used to fight (never drew blood) a lot that it came to the point of me thinking "should I split them up?" Instead however, I thought that maybe they just need more space?

As boars, they need a lot more room to get away from each other if needed and so that their isn't much territorial stuff going on either (can make this easier by spot cleaning at least twice a day, putting them on fleece etc.)

2 boars also need way more room than 2 sow's, I bought my two (as an idea) a two tier 5 ft × 2 ft hutch, with an easily climbable and accessible ramp. I also bought 2 bowls (1 downstairs and 1 upstairs) 2 bottles (the same again) several different places for their hay (stuffed in their wooden house, in their hay manger, both of their hay racks, in their tunnels etc.) And several roomy hidies so they don't have to sleep next to each, but have the choice to if they want to (they always seemed to though they'd kick each other out of the wooden house so one would end up sleeping outside of it.

If that doesn't work though again maybe you could possibly neuter them and pair them both with females for company? These two will tend to get a long better.

P.s. Their first hutch was a 5 × 2 I basically just doubled it.

 

[Potter0121]

Thank you for your advice,they have a hutch that fits on top of a 4x4 run with a ramp down and they have room to hide away ,I think I have made things worse by buying an indoor pen as i didnt realise that this starts the whole territory game off again.I just thought as the nights drew in,it would be nice to bring them in the house with us.
Is having a boy and a girl usually a succesful match?

 

[Tiamolly123]

A C&C cage would be ideal for them, plenty of room, unless you have cats or dogs.
Read the forum Wiebke suggest, like she says it's not their fault, they would react just the same, in the wild. Best thing is To have them neutered & put in with the girls is a good idea but only 1 boar in a group of Sows, if you put the 2 in with the girls they will still fight as they will be competing with each other. Could Luck.

 

[Piggiepalace16]

Yes with a boar the best match is between a boar and a sow rather than 2 boars, but maybe give it time for now? Like try to rebond them with extra bowls, water and hiding places and maybe give veggies half and half as well, so they don't fight over their food. And don't separate them at all unless blood is drawn or they do "fight". Mounting and rumble - strutting is completely normal for those establishing who's where in the hierarchy. Each time you separate them it just starts this all over again and will only make it much harder to rebond them each time.

My boys did this all the time and would settle down for a while and start it all back up again, but it's truly nothing to worry about, it hurts neither one of them but their pride lol

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your advice,they have a hutch that fits on top of a 4x4 run with a ramp down and they have room to hide away ,I think I have made things worse by buying an indoor pen as i didnt realise that this starts the whole territory game off again.I just thought as the nights drew in,it would be nice to bring them in the house with us.
Is having a boy and a girl usually a succesful match?

A neutered boar and a sow or two is the most stable of bondings and an option if your boys don't work out. However, you need to do your research re. finding either a good general vet with experience in guinea pig neutering or an exotics vets with practice in small furries ops to minimise the otherwise still common risk of post-op complications. You also have to factor in a full 6 weeks post-op wait until a boar is 100% safe to go with sows. The crucial bit with cross gender bonding is the initial acceptance by the sows. Ideally, you date your boars at a good rescue to make sure that there is mutual liking and acceptance to avoid any further problems. As social as guinea pigs are, they are also very big personalities and have their own mind as to who they want to get on with!

Please take the time to read the link I have given you in my last post; you can really find all the information re. pros and cons of your various options in there. So far, your boys have not yet fallen out permanently, so is all not lost.

We strongly recommend to bring any hutches under cover and out of rain, wind and frost during the winter months. Transferring your piggies from a cold hutch into a warm house and back is not good for them.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs