Separated pigs due to fighting

[BandoRoberts]

We had two guinea pigs, 2 girls. 1 died then we got a neutered boy. The rescue shelter said his temperament and age would be a good fit.

Introduced them slowly over 6 weeks since boy was recently neutered and it was the advice given, scent swapping and so on. Had them in the same room but separate cages so they'd get used to each others smell, hearing them n so on. Girl could make as much noise as she wanted and boy wouldn't react. Put them together finally and there was a power struggle as there usually is. Rumble strutting but nothing major but the boy would always chase the girl.

Girl pig is chill and happy to live and let live but the boy wants nothing but problems. Eventually he drew blood but she got him back too. Instant separation.

Still in the same room for now until we can figure out what to do but here is what's confusing me. If boy hears girl he's instantly interested and trying to talk, chewing at the bars and so on. If girl approaches the cage when roaming the floor there's rumbling again. Girl goes away and he's calling for her. if anything sounds like a squeek he's running around looking for her during the day. She seems just fine on her own

Anyone had this?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Unfortunately you can never tell whether a bond will work until you try - it literally all comes down to the actual neutral territory bonding.

As he is newly neutered, then this is obviously his first time with a sow and their reactions to first being with a sow is usually over the top and it will be constant mounting etc. He isn’t looking for problems, he is doing what comes naturally but he isn’t thinking with his brain! She will put him in his place as it is the sow who has to accept the boar, not the other way round. Usually boars learn not to push it and they calm down.

If a fight occurred and blood is drawn, then separating is the right thing to do but what actually happened?
Were all hides two exit?

His reaction to hearing her, looking for her, or rumbling at her if she goes near his cage is normal - he will still want to interact with her through the bars even if they cannot form a functioning relationship. They are wired to have companionship so it is essential they are kept side by side.

 

[BandoRoberts]

Unfortunately you can never tell whether a bond will work until you try - it literally all comes down to the actual neutral territory bonding.

As he is newly neutered, then this is obviously his first time with a sow and their reactions to first being with a sow is usually over the top and it will be constant mounting etc. He isn’t looking for problems, he is doing what comes naturally but he isn’t thinking with his brain! She will put him in his place as it is the sow who has to accept the boar, not the other way round. Usually boars learn not to push it and they calm down.

If a fight occurred and blood is drawn, then separating is the right thing to do but what actually happened?
Were all hides two exit?

His reaction to hearing her, looking for her, or rumbling at her if she goes near his cage is normal - he will still want to interact with her through the bars even if they cannot form a functioning relationship. They are wired to have companionship so it is essential they are kept side by side.

So they had separate huts with two exits in each, plenty of space to avoid each other the cage we got is huge. The fighting would usually start with the boy going over to the feeding area and rumbling at her until one runs off and it was normally him. She doesn't really react until he gets extra aggressive with her or hounds her continuously. She could be on the opposite side of the cage and he'll go over and start something.

Would you say reintroduction would be a good idea given everything was brand new? Borderlines bleaching all bedding, new huts and new everything. Thought about having two of everything in the cage. In hind sight 1 feeding area was a bad idea

 

[Piggies&buns]

As I said, he is going to be going to her a lot, rumbling and trying to mount her - this is normal. its his goal to mate with her but she will only allow him to do it when she wants to. If he pushes his luck she is going to tell him off.
It’s also entirely possible that they simply are not compatible and will never be able to form a bond.

A reintroduction will only be possible if it wasn’t a full on, fur ball fight. Going over to her and rumbling isn’t fighting - it’s normal behaviour. If she puts him in his place and he accepts her decision then things will be ok. if he goes overboard and harasses her, then she is going to react potentially aggressively.

If you are going to try a reintroduction, it needs to be done on neutral territory (not in the cage) and with no hides in the bonding pen. They need to be in the bonding pen for several hours to see if they can form a relationship. If they can and they are ok together in the bonding pen, then you need to clean down the cage they are to live in and then they can be moved to it. If things don’t work out in the bonding pen, then they will obviously need to remain separate permanently.

A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[BandoRoberts]

As I said, he is going to be going to her a lot, rumbling and trying to mount her - this is normal. its his goal to mate with her but she will only allow him to do it when she wants to. If he pushes his luck she is going to tell him off.
It’s also entirely possible that they simply are not compatible and will never be able to form a bond.

A reintroduction will only be possible if it wasn’t a full on, fur ball fight. Going over to her and rumbling isn’t fighting - it’s normal behaviour. If she puts him in his place and he accepts her decision then things will be ok. if he goes overboard and harasses her, then she is going to react potentially aggressively.

If you are going to try a reintroduction, it needs to be done on neutral territory (not in the cage) and with no hides in the bonding pen. They need to be in the bonding pen for several hours to see if they can form a relationship. If they can and they are ok together in the bonding pen, then you need to clean down the cage they are to live in and then they can be moved to it. If things don’t work out in the bonding pen, then they will obviously need to remain separate permanently.

A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Wasn't exactly a full on scrap but he bit her lip and she bit his nose, dunno if that's considered a fur ball fight. I'll try to neutral bonding area thing. I can whip up a makeshift cage for them temporarily and see how they get on through the day. Thanks for your help

 

[Piggies&buns]

Wasn't exactly a full on scrap but he bit her lip and she bit his nose, dunno if that's considered a fur ball fight. I'll try to neutral bonding area thing. I can whip up a makeshift cage for them temporarily and see how they get on through the day. Thanks for your help

It depends on how it occurred - if it was defensive because of being cornered etc

Let us know how things go if you try to reintroduce them