Separating after a fight

[Nutella&ice-cream]

My 2 boars are 8 months old. Ice cream always appeared to be the dominant one and Nutella always submissive. This was up until about a month ago when the hierarchy seems to have changed and Nutella’s hormones seem to have kicked in. They seem to be ok in their hutch and stay away from each other but if Ice Cream tries to get into the bedroom then Nutella chases him out.

Fast forward to today. We got them out into their pen to clean the hutch and Nutella started rumble strutting and annoying Ice Cream. Everywhere he went, Nutella would follow. They had a hidey each, food bowls each etc but still he wouldn’t leave Ice Cream alone. Then suddenly, they were fighting and Ice Cream has bitten Nutella’s ear and torn it. It was bleeding. We’ve cleaned him up and he seems fine, eating and generally normal.

We moved Ice Cream to the bottom part of the hutch and took out the ramp. They never went downstairs, only ever used the upstairs. Since then, he’s been in a hidey and not come out. I’ve put hay and veggies in there but he’s not tempted. I’m assuming it’s because it’s new and this is like when we first got them and because he is missing Nutella.

I don’t know what to do now. Do I keep him like that? He looks so sad. The only reason I moved Ice Cream and not Nutella was because Nutella was injured one and thought he might want the security of things being the same.

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Piggies&buns]

This guide will help you with information on teenage issues and when giving them time out and a possible neutral territory reintroduction may be possible. However, once a full on fight has occurred, they generally won’t go back together again and attempting it can result in a further fight.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Normally when two piggies can no longer live together, their cages are put side by side to enable social interaction through the bars to prevent loneliness. The issue here will lie with it being a two storey hutch, you don’t have that option of side by side interaction. Is there anything you can do to give them side by side interaction? It may help ice cream perk up even if they can no longer live together.

 

[Wiebke]

My 2 boars are 8 months old. Ice cream always appeared to be the dominant one and Nutella always submissive. This was up until about a month ago when the hierarchy seems to have changed and Nutella’s hormones seem to have kicked in. They seem to be ok in their hutch and stay away from each other but if Ice Cream tries to get into the bedroom then Nutella chases him out.

Fast forward to today. We got them out into their pen to clean the hutch and Nutella started rumble strutting and annoying Ice Cream. Everywhere he went, Nutella would follow. They had a hidey each, food bowls each etc but still he wouldn’t leave Ice Cream alone. Then suddenly, they were fighting and Ice Cream has bitten Nutella’s ear and torn it. It was bleeding. We’ve cleaned him up and he seems fine, eating and generally normal.

We moved Ice Cream to the bottom part of the hutch and took out the ramp. They never went downstairs, only ever used the upstairs. Since then, he’s been in a hidey and not come out. I’ve put hay and veggies in there but he’s not tempted. I’m assuming it’s because it’s new and this is like when we first got them and because he is missing Nutella.

I don’t know what to do now. Do I keep him like that? He looks so sad. The only reason I moved Ice Cream and not Nutella was because Nutella was injured one and thought he might want the security of things being the same.

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated.

Hi!

I am very sorry 8-10 months is one of the trickier stages during teenage where the boys are pushing things right up to the limit of endurance and sometimes past the line.

You can try a re-intro after a 2-3 days separation in the hopes that the hormones have died down somewhat by then but it is not the problem boy that counts (they will never be happy with a separation), it the other boy's that is/has been at the receiving that is the crucial one and that will give you the answer whether a relationship is still viable or not. If they perk up noticeably when away from their mate, then you know that the relationship has been too stressful for them and that they are not happy in it.

Please also be aware that ideally the two boars should be still able to interact through bars/mesh as the complex social guinea pig interaction and the ongoing stimulation that they still need has a scent component (pheromones), an audio component and a visual component (body language). There is also situational component to any interaction.

Please take the time to read these guides here; they are far more comprehensive and detailed than I can answer in a single post. There is no magic wand trick in the world that can heal a relationship and evaluating it and working out the best way forward very much relies on the dynamics and personalities of your two boys and your own resources and local availabilities. There is no one right solution. The guides will help you assess your own situation and work out the best way forward for you.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars