I'm devastated!

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flintstones

flintstones

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I have found out it is Marvin, theres no mites the scabs are were he's ripped the fur out of Fred 8...! I can't believe it! I watched him do it this morning and were did the evidence go you'll never guess! He ate the chunk of fur he ripped out of Fred! Maybe I seen it wrong not a chance, I took Fred and the poor fella was telling me all about, couldn't stop talking about it with his squeaks and I checked his backend and sure there it was!

What too do, should I just perserve as they both are not losing weight?
 
not sure if its the right thing to do, but if it was me, and one of my lads were picking on another (picking on/bullying/causing pain to the other,)then i would sadly seperate him. it cant be nice for the other piggie. perhaps just try a divider, so they can still see and hear each other, but not get at each other?
if it was just one expressing dominence over the other, and there was no pain/injuries being caused, then id leave them to it, but from the sounds of scabs..that to me would indicate pain for the victim :(
 
Have you tried the usual bonding tricks: bathing them together/putting them in a box and taking them on a car journey together?

I have no experience of boars, I'm afraid, so I may be giving you completely the wrong advice.
 
Spishkey said:
not sure if its the right thing to do, but if it was me, and one of my lads were picking on another (picking on/bullying/causing pain to the other,)then i would sadly seperate him. it cant be nice for the other piggie. perhaps just try a divider, so they can still see and hear each other, but not get at each other?
if it was just one expressing dominence over the other, and there was no pain/injuries being caused, then id leave them to it, but from the sounds of scabs..that to me would indicate pain for the victim :(
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I'm thinking that too, I've left together for now, but sadly I may have to rehome Marvin 8...
 
I think the general rule is if blood is drawn separate immediately, as you said there are scabs there has been blood, and therefore i think it would be unfair on Fred to let the bullying/dominance continue. How old are they?
 
Well I've not seen Blood, he's pulling tuffs of fur out, not huge one, but technially blood would classify as being drawning,

Fred about 2 and Marvin 14weeks!
 
Sorry to hear your piggies haven't been getting on. They have such a lovely big cage and two of everything, looking at your set up so you've done all the right things. Is there any way you could partition the cage for a while to let things calm down a bit? Marvin is quite young, maybe he will settle after a bit of time out. I feel sorry for Fred being bullied, its a hard decision to make because would Fred be happy on his own if you had to give Marvin up as piggies like company?
I would probably persevere for a while but there are other members on here with more experience of boar behaviour who may be able to help you.
Good luck - boys ehrolleyes
 
I would separate them too. I had to separate my two after they started fighting. They now live in a large hutch and I have a grid down the middle. So they can see and sniff each other, but they can't bite or get at each other.

They often lie there right next to each other chattering away so they have company and get on well that way. But put them together and they try and kill each other!
 
My plan is either,

1. have them living side by side ( more inclined too do)!
2. Get both piggies new companions (Marvin maybe get him neutered and a female) As Fred seems to be so laid back.
3. Get Fred a new mate and leave Marvin side by side!
4. I can get a spayed sow for Fred, and Marvin neutered and a wifey (already know were I can get a spayed sow from)
5. Last option rehome Marvin and just get Fred a new friend but I don't really want to do this!

at present they are still together Fred is going to the vet's tonight, hoping they can maybe help! There was chatttering or anything it just turned round and ripped it out! :{

I'm at work, so worried!
 
Idea's please!

The boys are still together there hasn't been any vicious bites. Just Marvin pulling Tuff's out Fred, I would be inclined to say he is bullying Fred.

Now me and Fred have a vets appointment. Should I take them in the same box, only take Fred and separate or try baths?
 
Oh Joanne honey this is a tough one. Poor Fred.

Personally i would allow Fred to have a neutered Sow as a friend as he sounds very laid back and that could work out brilliantly.

As for Marvin - I wouldn't want to re-home him either and IF you could home them both then do that. He's young - my vet said Mork was the perfect age for neutering as he was young. I am guessing same would apply for Marvin.

Also it may work to seperate them with the grids you have used to make their enclosure and just keep the two of them side by side. You wouldn't even need another cage as you don't have pets one of them culd just have an igloo and bed and be fine.

As my first course of action I would do that tonight and take it from there.

You can make all the decisions when you don't feel so stressed out sweetie.
 
I know doesn't help having pms too I just feel like crying! lol

The only thing I would worry about is being left with 4 piggies that don't get on lmao!

Tempted just to get Fred a friend and leave Marvin side by side since he's the bullying but thats just my protective side of Fred! rolleyes
 
Awww, I'm sorry too. I'm no guinea pig expert at all so I hope someone else can help. Poor Fred! But I guess Marvin is just a little kid too... still kids can't be allowed to do whatever they want...
 
JoanneG111 said:
Well I've not seen Blood, he's pulling tuffs of fur out, not huge one, but technially blood would classify as being drawning,

Fred about 2 and Marvin 14weeks!
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Marvin could be entering the guinea pig equivalent of adolescence, which would make his hormones all over the place and lead to him getting a bit bratty.

I would definitely put a divider down the cage so they can interact with each other but not get to the fur pulling stage. Then try re-introducing them once Marvin gets a bit older and through his "teens". Probably when he's about a year old.

Good luck and keep us posted!
 
Game Over!

Me and Fred have been to the vet I tried to take them both in the one box never even got the box closed and we had full on Scrap I had pull them apart. Fred's rump is all cut and he has an infection in his Rump... He's been givin an injection and 0.2 of baytril per day!

Marvin is being rehomed... 8...
 
Really sorry Joanne that it's not worked out. You really did do everything you possibly could to help the boys bond, it sadly just wasn't to be. Hope the injuries heal well, and you can help Marvin. x
 
Sorry to hear about this - Nutmeg's right you did everything you could. Poor Fred I hope he gets better soon.
 
I am so sorry that everything went pearshaped with your boys, but after that scrap in the box you won't be able to put them back.

As to spayed sows - spaying is nowadays only done for medical reasons (ovarian cysts) and is a far more invasive/risky operation, so you won't be able to find any in rescues.

The only rescue I know of that rehomes spayed sows is Rabbit and Guinea Pig Welfare in Rugby, and they do not have many girls in.
 
I *think* Joanne knows someone with a neutered sow already. I believe the same lady who may be able to re-home Marvin? (correct me if i'm wrong Joanne)

Poor you - you really have tried everything and spent such a long time trying to bond them. Bless poor friendly fred who never made a squeek when he was being bitten in the cage / pen. I feel so sorry for him.

Everything should be okay now, make sure you do follow the neutral ground inroductions again though - take no chances!
 
You know my feelings regarding the boys Joanne & i hope if Fred can have his wife, they like one another :)

Lisa you are right, the rescue sow is spayed :)
 
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I am sure that Fred would be very happy with a spayed girl; if he could have one that would be great!
 
There is absolutely no reason to rehome Marvin,when you took on those piggies you also took on the possibility of them falling out in which case you should be finding Marvin a friend as well,
He is not an aggressive/mean piggy he is just more dominant than usual,i would think about getting fred and Marvin new friends,maybe a boar each or spayed sows or get the boys neutered,the right friend for Marvin is out there and i bet he would get along with the right boy,maybe call a rescue centre as then both boys can pick there new friends.
I only had my boys Blade and Rajah for a whole few hours when Blade tried to rip Rajah apart for not a known reason,the first thing i did was seperate and both boys are getting new friends,its just part of boys xx
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
There is absolutely no reason to rehome Marvin,when you took on those piggies you also took on the possibility of them falling out in which case you should be finding Marvin a friend as well,
He is not an aggressive/mean piggy he is just more dominant than usual,i would think about getting fred and Marvin new friends,maybe a boar each or spayed sows or get the boys neutered,the right friend for Marvin is out there and i bet he would get along with the right boy,maybe call a rescue centre as then both boys can pick there new friends.
I only had my boys Blade and Rajah for a whole few hours when Blade tried to rip Rajah apart for not a known reason,the first thing i did was seperate and both boys are getting new friends,its just part of boys xx
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Bonnie if Joanne doesn't have the room to accommodate 2 more pigs nor the finances to provide for 2 more then the only option IS to rehome Marvin.
I've experienced boys' fall-outs many times, older boars bonded to babies they themselves have chosen only for them to fall out & start over again but where does it end?
With a roomful of cages or a shed full of hutches?
You cannot say what is the right thing for someone else, only for yourself as you have no idea about anyone elses personal circumstances.
There is no doubt a boar "out there" for my Haggis, but having had 2 failed boar pairings he's not getting the chance to choose anymore & i will have him neutered.
However, i have a sow(s) to bond to him, i wouldn't choose to take on any more pigs.
 
Niki said:
Bonnie if Joanne doesn't have the room to accommodate 2 more pigs nor the finances to provide for 2 more then the only option IS to rehome Marvin.
I've experienced boys' fall-outs many times, older boars bonded to babies they themselves have chosen only for them to fall out & start over again but where does it end?
With a roomful of cages or a shed full of hutches?
You cannot say what is the right thing for someone else, only for yourself as you have no idea about anyone elses personal circumstances.
There is no doubt a boar "out there" for my Haggis, but having had 2 failed boar pairings he's not getting the chance to choose anymore & i will have him neutered.
However, i have a sow(s) to bond to him, i wouldn't choose to take on any more pigs.
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I'm just saying if room was that tight then why not choose sows or a neutered boy/sow in the first place as they are generally more stable,it seems unfair Marvin will be losing his home because he is a little grumpier than usual,
But what your doing with Haggis is "getting him a friend" so that is the right thing,i dont see you considering rehoming him.I wasn't saying they need boars,if they had sows(spayed or neutered) then thats great too
i think there are certain things that should be expected when aquiring piggies
that some people seem to overlook, and now Marvin gets the raw end of the deal :(
ahh well just my advice but its up to joanne anyway,I'm just giving out ideas
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
I'm just saying if room was that tight then why not choose sows or a neutered boy/sow in the first place as they are generally more stable,it seems unfair Marvin will be losing his home because he is a little grumpier than usual,
But what your doing with Haggis is "getting him a friend" so that is the right thing,i dont see you considering rehoming him.I wasn't saying they need boars,if they had sows(spayed or neutered) then thats great too
i think there are certain things that should be expected when aquiring piggies
that some people seem to overlook, and now Marvin gets the raw end of the deal :(
ahh well just my advice but its up to joanne anyway,I'm just giving out ideas
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On the advice of this forum, rather than having Fred as a single pig she adopted him a baby boar, which is the preferred route to neutering. Not long after she was contacted by the rescue centre; they had a spayed sow which as you know are rare but she had already got Marvin.
She has done her utmost with these 2 boars & has been unlucky in that they've had a full on fight. She has no option but to separate & rehome one of them, the obvious choice being Marvin as he is the younger.
Haggis MAY get a friend, if i decide to take the risk & have him neutered (single pigs can be happy pigs) & whilst i am not rehoming him (because he is a rescue piggy & is not the pig he was when he arrived) i am rehoming his EX- cagemate purely because i do not have the room to fit, yet another hutch in my shed.
Haggis' FIRST ex- cage mate i kept & bonded him to another baby & thankfully they are fine.
I wouldn't say it's "up to Joanne" either more it's a matter of circumstance - there is a difference.
If i had endless room & lots of money i would keep all separated pigs & no doubt have double the amount i have now.
 
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Good luck Joanne. Marvin is only young and will no doubt find a home soon.
 
Joanne you can only do what is right for your circumstance now. No one will judge you if you decide to rehome marvin to make room for the spayed sow. I orignally got to supposedly bonded boars, but within a week they were fighting and i took both of them to a rescue and got a pair of girls instead, i am now in the process of getting one of the boars who i took a particular shine to in the 10 to 12 days i had him (can't really remember as the stress was causing me to have lots of seizures) neutered so he can come and live with my girls but that was not an option at the time
 
Joanne I'm so sorry to hear it all went so wrong on the journey. I was really holding out hope for you that this was just some adolescent spats and that Marvin would settle down again.

I know you love both your boys dearly and that you just want them both to be happy with a companion.

Did the vet think there was risk of infection in the wounds when he prescribed baytril? I'd recommend using a probiotic as well if you are giving antibiotics.

I wish I had more space for boys so I could so something to help you out. I'll follow the thread to see what happens. My only other advice would be don't rush into making a decision. Try putting a divider in for a few days and take some time to think over what you want to do. I have friends who know Cerys at Assisi and think highly of her so if you do have to rehome Marvin am sure she would be a good person to talk to.
 
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