GrassyPiggies
New Born Pup
Hi everyone,
A little while ago I asked about the state of my two boars bond after their introduction to each other - After a temporary separation, I reintroduced them to each other, and they seemed to do substantially better - up until recently they were happily eating, sleeping and grooming next to each other. In the last couple months they had begun to teeth chatter and rumble strut quite frequently, which I put off as normal behavior, but it began to escalate to nipping - no blood was drawn. I made the cage larger, increased the number of hides and food piles, but it didn't change their behavior. Sparki was now the one turning and trying to bit Elliot, where previously it had been Elliot chasing Sparki - I assume Sparki had become so fed up with Elliot's behaviour that he retaliated after being very subdued - This caused Elliot to get rather quiet, and he had a significant change in behaviour, but this didn't change Sparki's behaviour. I was concerned at this point, but honestly just scared of the possibility of having to separate them.
Just yesterday, while the boys were having floortime, I found two scabbed over bites on Elliot's rump - they weren't deep, but they were very clearly bites. It was a bit of a wake up call for me, that I hadn't been paying enough attention to their behaviour, and I set up a separated cage for them that they have been in since. Elliot has returned to his former self and frequently rumble struts at the separation. Sparki likes to sit right next to the bars, and will tug rather firmly on them, so much so I had to reinforce the separation. They will also squeak for eachother if one is removed from the cage.
1. Can they have floor time separated by a fence, so one isn't left alone in the cage?
2. How can I stop them from chewing and pulling at the bars? (worried they could damage their teeth)
3. Was separating them the right course of action?
4. Is some of this behavior just because they are new to being separated?
5. Will they be happy living separated?
Sorry for such a long post,
Thank you in advance!
A little while ago I asked about the state of my two boars bond after their introduction to each other - After a temporary separation, I reintroduced them to each other, and they seemed to do substantially better - up until recently they were happily eating, sleeping and grooming next to each other. In the last couple months they had begun to teeth chatter and rumble strut quite frequently, which I put off as normal behavior, but it began to escalate to nipping - no blood was drawn. I made the cage larger, increased the number of hides and food piles, but it didn't change their behavior. Sparki was now the one turning and trying to bit Elliot, where previously it had been Elliot chasing Sparki - I assume Sparki had become so fed up with Elliot's behaviour that he retaliated after being very subdued - This caused Elliot to get rather quiet, and he had a significant change in behaviour, but this didn't change Sparki's behaviour. I was concerned at this point, but honestly just scared of the possibility of having to separate them.
Just yesterday, while the boys were having floortime, I found two scabbed over bites on Elliot's rump - they weren't deep, but they were very clearly bites. It was a bit of a wake up call for me, that I hadn't been paying enough attention to their behaviour, and I set up a separated cage for them that they have been in since. Elliot has returned to his former self and frequently rumble struts at the separation. Sparki likes to sit right next to the bars, and will tug rather firmly on them, so much so I had to reinforce the separation. They will also squeak for eachother if one is removed from the cage.
1. Can they have floor time separated by a fence, so one isn't left alone in the cage?
2. How can I stop them from chewing and pulling at the bars? (worried they could damage their teeth)
3. Was separating them the right course of action?
4. Is some of this behavior just because they are new to being separated?
5. Will they be happy living separated?
Sorry for such a long post,
Thank you in advance!