OK I gave in now I have 2 boys!

[Sabrinova]

I got Gilbert a little friend today, so far with no name. I introduced them & they both seemed really happy, Gilbert did some popcorning, they played and snuggled up together.

Then I put them both in the nice clean cage but now Gilbert's being a bit of a bully. He's constantly doing a sort of low growl, he keeps trampling the new one, standing on its head and shoving it out of the way. When the new one was hiding in the hay Gilbert kept burrowing underneath him. The new one is just sitting there or trying to hide and squeaking and on top of that Gilbert keeps mounting the poor little thing !

My friend says it's just Gilbert asserting his dominant position in the pack and that I just need to leave them to sort themselves out. This seems to make sense as he isn't actually being aggressive towards the baby, just bullying.

I have put lots of hay in the cage and a second food bowl.

Does this sound like normal behaviour for two boars? And how long do you think it will be before it passes and they both settle down?

 

[Niki]

Your friend is right, Gilbert is just making sure baby knows he is the boss. He should settle fairly quickly as long as baby doesn't get any ideas about being boss. I'd leave them to it as long as he's not stopping the baby eating or drinking & if you haven't already, get 2 of everything this lessens the chances of any possible fall-outs in future

 

[Sabrinova]

Thanks Niki

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

Yes to everything Niki said! I introduced baby Dave to Ben and for the first day or two, Ben was doing exactly the same as Gilbert is. He still does it every so often, although Dave is now big enough to stand up for himself!

 

[frank]

Its a case of the old western.... this town is not big enough for both of us.... it will calm down

 

[Goldie]

Any news on how things are going now?

 

[Sabrinova]

Update

Any news on how things are going now?

Sorry I've been quiet for a while. My second piggie, Alfie, died after just a week. He was never right, he just wasn't strong enough. The runt of the litter I think, and I suspect he may have been removed from his mother too soon. He and Gilbert became great friends after a couple of days, and I know that at least little Alfie had a happy last week.

I now have another little brother for Gilbert, Milo, who is strong and healthy and gorgeous! I have had them both checked out by the vet who says they are both perfect xx>>>

Gilbert and Milo were best friends from the first moment they saw each other, with no signs of any dominance or territorial behaviour, and I'm so pleased. A month on, they still get on brilliantly, like they've been together all their lives. I've just changed my avatar to show Gilbert and Milo eating their treats together ^)

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

So sorry to hear about little Alfie, sometimes there is just something wrong with them from the start. Glad to hear the new pig is settling in well, pics please!

Sophie
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