New Male Pigs!

[Char93]

Hello everyone! You may have seen my post about me losing my Alvin. I recently adopted 2 males from a lady who couldn't keep them. She claimed they already lived together however they are of different litters. I've brought them home together and they are now starting to get comfortable. However they keep teeth chattering at each other, there hasn't been a fight just one nipping. The next minute they are cuddled up together. I need advice on what to do in this situation?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone! You may have seen my post about me losing my Alvin. I recently adopted 2 males from a lady who couldn't keep them. She claimed they already lived together however they are of different litters. I've brought them home together and they are now starting to get comfortable. However they keep teeth chattering at each other, there hasn't been a fight just one nipping. The next minute they are cuddled up together. I need advice on what to do in this situation?

Just sit it out until they have finished establishing/re-affirmining their hierarchy in the new territory as all piggies need to do; the dominance is still very much in the medium range and not in the high aggression range. How old are the boys?
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

Please note that it is one of the persistent breeder myths that litter mates won't fall out. Whether boars share a stable and enduring bond depends simply on whether their personalities complement each other or not, irrespective of age or consanguinity. Two dominant brothers will fall out with each other the same as not related dominant teenage boars. Provided they like each other and get on, boars of all ages can be bonded with boars of all ages with the necessary care, ideally by dating at a rescue, so the choice is up to the piggies, not their human owner.

 

[Char93]

Just sit it out until they have finished establishing/re-affirmining their hierarchy in the new territory as all piggies need to do; the dominance is still very much in the medium range and not in the high aggression range. How old are the boys?
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

Please note that it is one of the persistent breeder myths that litter mates won't fall out. Whether boars share a stable and enduring bond depends simply on whether their personalities complement each other or not, irrespective of age or consanguinity. Two dominant brothers will fall out with each other the same as not related dominant teenage boars. Provided they like each other and get on, boars of all ages can be bonded with boars of all ages with the necessary care, ideally by dating at a rescue, so the choice is up to the piggies, not their human owner.

Hi, they are 6 months old she said. I just don't want them hurting each other that's all. Thank you for all the information

 

[Char93]

Also I thought about giving them a bath? ive read somewhere that this would help?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, they are 6 months old she said. I just don't want them hurting each other that's all. Thank you for all the information

It is generally a tricky time at that age. I agree that it is not easy to strike the right balance between separating too early (and the boys never going back together) and ending up with a full-blown fight.

Just give them space to get away from each other as much as possible and remove any potential issues that could trigger disputes as much as possible. As long as they are snuggling up with each other in between, the bond is still working.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-bullying-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.127295/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

 

[Char93]

It is generally a tricky time at that age. I agree that it is not easy to strike the right balance between separating too early (and the boys never going back together) and ending up with a full-blown fight.

Just give them space to get away from each other as much as possible and remove any potential issues that could trigger disputes as much as possible. As long as they are snuggling up with each other in between, the bond is still working.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-bullying-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.127295/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

If this is normal behaviour and it'll pass I'll just keep an eye on them and ride it out. I have a big run for the garden which I haven't put them in yet, would you advise putting them in there for a few hours? If so, together or apart?

 

[Wiebke]

If this is normal behaviour and it'll pass I'll just keep an eye on them and ride it out. I have a big run for the garden which I haven't put them in yet, would you advise putting them in there for a few hours? If so, together or apart?

At this stage, I would not recommend to introduce them to yet another new environment. Just ride it out! hopefully, it is going to settle down. 6 months is not the best age for boys to move; what they need now is as much as stability and constancy as you can provide them with in order to not rock the boat any further.

 

[Char93]

Thank you very much, hopefully it should die down soon