Little Ones
Forum Donator 2023/24
We got Sprout (now 5-6 months) from P@H to go with BB (now about 1 and a half years old) in December following a failed bond and acute pining episode. Things had been going well, both boys seemed happy together. Usually I would have gone for a piggy that was older and through rescue boar dating but this wasn’t an option.
Anyway, Sprout has clearly had a surge in hormones and I’m struggling to figure out whether to do a trial separation or whether to hold out. Things have gotten quite chaotic in the last week or so. There’s a lot of chasing and lunging - as in feet coming off the ground and throwing themselves at each other (usually Sprout throwing himself onto BB). BB is losing several fur clumps daily.
The only reason I haven’t separated yet is because they haven’t fought (to my knowledge) where they go into a puff ball and there also hasn’t been any blood drawn. At times things can get quite intense though. They’re in a 2x5 cage and there’s been times where they’ve been at total opposite ends and Sprout is chattering and being very dominant from across the cage and seeming very riled up. All hideys are a no-go, even if there’s two exits as they make the situation worse.
I can’t tell how BB is doing, he still seems to be eating and they do still eat beside each other at times. But things do seem to be getting progressively worse. BB doesn’t squeal in submission but responds by teeth chattering which makes me think neither of them want to back down from being in charge, but Sprout is very persistent in claiming the spot unlike BB. BB also has bowel disease, and at the moment he seems to be having flare ups so he’s doing squeaky poos at least once a day which I’m not sure is stress related.
I don’t know how long to leave it before splitting.
Any advice is appreciated
Anyway, Sprout has clearly had a surge in hormones and I’m struggling to figure out whether to do a trial separation or whether to hold out. Things have gotten quite chaotic in the last week or so. There’s a lot of chasing and lunging - as in feet coming off the ground and throwing themselves at each other (usually Sprout throwing himself onto BB). BB is losing several fur clumps daily.
The only reason I haven’t separated yet is because they haven’t fought (to my knowledge) where they go into a puff ball and there also hasn’t been any blood drawn. At times things can get quite intense though. They’re in a 2x5 cage and there’s been times where they’ve been at total opposite ends and Sprout is chattering and being very dominant from across the cage and seeming very riled up. All hideys are a no-go, even if there’s two exits as they make the situation worse.
I can’t tell how BB is doing, he still seems to be eating and they do still eat beside each other at times. But things do seem to be getting progressively worse. BB doesn’t squeal in submission but responds by teeth chattering which makes me think neither of them want to back down from being in charge, but Sprout is very persistent in claiming the spot unlike BB. BB also has bowel disease, and at the moment he seems to be having flare ups so he’s doing squeaky poos at least once a day which I’m not sure is stress related.
I don’t know how long to leave it before splitting.
Any advice is appreciated