More boar chattering!

[DougalandDiego]

Hi all,

Me again! I’m so sorry to keep posting but since I’ve been home more I’ve been spending more time with my two boar boys and feel that I’m more anxious about things as I have more time to spend thinking about it!

My two boars have lived in a 2x5 cage since we first got them last June/July. They should now be about 13 months old.

They have lived together fairly peacefully with the odd disagreement that has settled down after an hour or so (usual dominance chasing, rumble strutting). A few weeks ago they had quite a disagreement where there was a lot of chasing by the more dominant pig and teeth chattering. The submissive pig would squeal and run into the litter tray so we decided to upgrade their cage to a 3x5 which meant we could include four hideous/bridges, two litter trays, two bottles and we scatter feed their pellets in two small feeds morning and night.
We did this about two/three weeks ago and since there have been no disagreements that I’ve seen. Earlier I was doing work in the other room and heard a rustle noise from their litter tray so went and poked my head in the room and saw the dominant pig had chased the submissive pig into the litter tray. When I went in the room he ran off but there was quite loud teeth chattering and since I’ve been sat in their room (this happened about an hour ago) there have been no arguments just the odd rumble strut from the submissive pig as I’m imagining he’s trying to stick up for himself.
Sometimes the more submissive pig will fluff his hair up when this happens but I’ve read posts and looked at the advice on the forum that say fluffing their hair up and loud teeth chattering is the sign of a dysfunctional bond but they never bite each other or end up in a full on Peggy tornado fight. The teeth chattering hardly ever happens it’s usually just rumble strutting. it’s been very hot in england this week and especially warm today even though I’ve tried my best to keep them cool so could that have caused them to disagree?
Some advice would be really appreciated! Thanks in advance x

 

[DougalandDiego]

Hi all,

Me again! I’m so sorry to keep posting but since I’ve been home more I’ve been spending more time with my two boar boys and feel that I’m more anxious about things as I have more time to spend thinking about it!

My two boars have lived in a 2x5 cage since we first got them last June/July. They should now be about 13 months old.

They have lived together fairly peacefully with the odd disagreement that has settled down after an hour or so (usual dominance chasing, rumble strutting). A few weeks ago they had quite a disagreement where there was a lot of chasing by the more dominant pig and teeth chattering. The submissive pig would squeal and run into the litter tray so we decided to upgrade their cage to a 3x5 which meant we could include four hideous/bridges, two litter trays, two bottles and we scatter feed their pellets in two small feeds morning and night.
We did this about two/three weeks ago and since there have been no disagreements that I’ve seen. Earlier I was doing work in the other room and heard a rustle noise from their litter tray so went and poked my head in the room and saw the dominant pig had chased the submissive pig into the litter tray. When I went in the room he ran off but there was quite loud teeth chattering and since I’ve been sat in their room (this happened about an hour ago) there have been no arguments just the odd rumble strut from the submissive pig as I’m imagining he’s trying to stick up for himself.
Sometimes the more submissive pig will fluff his hair up when this happens but I’ve read posts and looked at the advice on the forum that say fluffing their hair up and loud teeth chattering is the sign of a dysfunctional bond but they never bite each other or end up in a full on Peggy tornado fight. The teeth chattering hardly ever happens it’s usually just rumble strutting. it’s been very hot in england this week and especially warm today even though I’ve tried my best to keep them cool so could that have caused them to disagree?
Some advice would be really appreciated! Thanks in advance x

four hideys/bridges*** haha

 

[Siikibam]

It just sounds like normal dominance. Top pig will always want the best spots etc so may change underpig out of hides, hay trays etc. It doesn’t sound particularly worrying to me.

Just keep an eye on them but sounds normal to me. We feel it’s worse but that’s the way of the piggy world.

 

[DougalandDiego]

It just sounds like normal dominance. Top pig will always want the best spots etc so may change underpig out of hides, hay trays etc. It doesn’t sound particularly worrying to me.

Just keep an eye on them but sounds normal to me. We feel it’s worse but that’s the way of the piggy world.

Thank you!
I feel it’s so hard as there is no one answer fights all scenario!
I do weigh them regularly and would split if the submissive pig was losing weight - the submissive pig is always out eating/very confident with us so I don’t feel he is being bullied but get so anxious when I hear them loudly teeth chattering on the very odd occasion because of it being listed under very aggressive behaviour. The dominant pig was treated for a URI a couple of weeks ago before we upgraded the cage so wonder whether the submissive pig was fighting for top spot as I think he’s fairly gutsy!

 

[DougalandDiego]

Thank you!
I feel it’s so hard as there is no one answer fights all scenario!
I do weigh them regularly and would split if the submissive pig was losing weight - the submissive pig is always out eating/very confident with us so I don’t feel he is being bullied but get so anxious when I hear them loudly teeth chattering on the very odd occasion because of it being listed under very aggressive behaviour. The dominant pig was treated for a URI a couple of weeks ago before we upgraded the cage so wonder whether the submissive pig was fighting for top spot as I think he’s fairly gutsy!

Fits all*** predictive text sorry!

 

[Ad&Syom]

Hi. I would advise to carefully inspect them for bitemarks and keep a separated cage ready in case of emergency. Ours started to be jerks when they were just slightly younger than yours. We had to separate them and they've been living as close neighbours since that time. They get room-time together only when we watch them.
At 3 years old, Revo has currently been ruling the world for 3 weeks but who knows when the wind will turn again...

I sincerely hope yours are better diplomats '-.-

 

[DougalandDiego]

Hi. I would advise to carefully inspect them for bitemarks and keep a separated cage ready in case of emergency. Ours started to be jerks when they were just slightly younger than yours. We had to separate them and they've been living as close neighbours since that time. They get room-time together only when we watch them.
At 3 years old, Revo has currently been ruling the world for 3 weeks but who knows when the wind will turn again...

I sincerely hope yours are better diplomats '-.-

That’s such a shame isn’t it! What made you finally seperate?
It’s hard because my more submissive pig is fairly gutsy which makes me think they’re fairly well matched dominance wise (which can be a blessing and a curse as I know he wouldn’t be bullied into not eating or drinking) he is always out eating when I go in the room and the more dominant pig does leave him be 99% of the time with the odd chase to move him out of the way (if I can even call it a chase - he goes near my submissive pig and the submissive pig runs off) and they obviously rumble strut a lot but I’ve been told that’s normal behaviour. I feel that I know in my heart of hearts they get on well as I’m very neurotic and if I ever saw biting or piggy tornados I would immediately separate but I look on the forum as I panic at the slight sign of dominance and see that teeth chattering and fluffing themselves up ia classed as very aggressive which makes me second guess myself!
The teeth chattering has only happened once so far tonight as I’ve kept a close eye! I'm hoping they calm down as they get older!

 

[Siikibam]

You also have to remember that they’re coming to the end of their teenage months. Hormone surges can still occur after that, but if they’ve made it through their teenage phase together then hopefully they should be fine thereafter.

 

[DougalandDiego]

You also have to remember that they’re coming to the end of their teenage months. Hormone surges can still occur after that, but if they’ve made it through their teenage phase together then hopefully they should be fine thereafter.

Thank you so much! Can’t wait for the next few months to be over so hopefully I can relax a bit! We’re moving house in less than two weeks so hoping they’ll be ok for that too -taking their old bedding etc. To put in their cage when it’s re-assembled in the new house so it smells of them!

 

[Ad&Syom]

That’s such a shame isn’t it! What made you finally seperate?

We separated them because blood has been shed. They still communicate a lot through the bars in a very peaceful way, calling each other when they want a piggy chat on the balcony


Also thanks to the guineapig forum, we're now trying to always feed Revo first to help setting hierarchy.

 

[DougalandDiego]

We separated them because blood has been shed. They still communicate a lot through the bars in a very peaceful way, calling each other when they want a piggy chat on the balcony

View attachment 144437
Also thanks to the guineapig forum, we're now trying to always feed Revo first to help setting hierarchy.

Ah sorry to hear that! Luckily today and last night my boys were fine so hoping it was just a small misunderstanding! No blood has been drawn yet despite the odd disagreements so fingers crossed we won’t have to separate! Your boys look very handsome!

 

[Ad&Syom]

Thanks ! It works well like that, we got nothing worse than a broken finger which confirmed the fact that poogies are very good at hiding pain .
We're happy it's getting better at your place !