Naughty Guinea Pig!

[Gemma_x]

I have four boars living together, Gingernut is 1, Fudge is 5, and Popcorn and Pumpkin are about 4 months. Popcorn seems to be the naughty guinea pig. He bullies gingernut, for example if they are all on the grass and Gingernut comes out from under the hutch he would keep chasing him back under. It seems that he has also been fighting with Fudge, or sometimes pulls out the other pigs fur. Fudge is the dominant guinea pig, but popcorn wont bully him as fudge will chatter his teeth or chase him away if he tries. Gingernut wont do this as he is a lot shyer. Pumpkin is shy as well. Popcorn seems to fight with all the pigs, but especially Gingernut. I want to separate them, but i'm not sure who with? Gingernut and Fudge have always been together, and thats the same for Popcorn and pumpkin, so i'm not sure what to do? Also its not because the cage is too small, because they have a double hutch with enough room in.
Thanks

 

[sport_billy]

Hello, Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are having problems. Will tag in a very experienced member on piggie behaviour @Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Of all the piggy constellations, boar trios and quartets are the most difficult and unstable ones. Popcorn has just started to hit the hormonal teenage months.

If you want to split them, I would recommend to pair up one younger with one older boar; the age difference will help to stabilise the bond over the next few taxing months they last in spikes until hormonally settled adulthood at 15 months old; even if it means to split up your two older boars.

You have to decide whether Popcorn is best off with Fudge (who can obviously keep him under control) or whether you want him with Pumpkin who he can dominate. Gingernut is just above Popcorn in the hierarchy and therefore the logical target for his dominance and ambition. Please be aware that when you split the boys, you will see renewed dominance behaviour in all pairs and in any constellation as the boys need to establish a new working hierarchy.