Should I Separate My Two Boars?

[Chloe B]

Hi, I have two 6 month old boars living together in a 5x2 c&c, two of everything in the cage - they have always bickered a lot - lots of teeth chattering, chasing, raised hackles, one of them rumble struts the other, and sometimes they launch themselves at each other which can result in small chunks of hair being pulled out

The other day, during floor time, my dominant pig bit my other piggy on his nose, and there was a tiny chunk of hair on the floor, he was left with what looked like a shallow cut near his whiskers. I was taking them to the vet the following day anyway, the vet wasn't concerned about the cut but thought we should separate them. I'm not sure?!?

I'm going on holiday in a week so I'm not going to be able to keep an eye on them. They are ok a lot of the time, but after that fight I feel a bit worried. I've read a lot about people separating piggies too soon when they still stand a chance, so I was wondering what people's thoughts would be on my situation?

Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I have two 6 month old boars living together in a 5x2 c&c, two of everything in the cage - they have always bickered a lot - lots of teeth chattering, chasing, raised hackles, one of them rumble struts the other, and sometimes they launch themselves at each other which can result in small chunks of hair being pulled out

The other day, during floor time, my dominant pig bit my other piggy on his nose, and there was a tiny chunk of hair on the floor, he was left with what looked like a shallow cut near his whiskers. I was taking them to the vet the following day anyway, the vet wasn't concerned about the cut but thought we should separate them. I'm not sure?!?

I'm going on holiday in a week so I'm not going to be able to keep an eye on them. They are ok a lot of the time, but after that fight I feel a bit worried. I've read a lot about people separating piggies too soon when they still stand a chance, so I was wondering what people's thoughts would be on my situation?

Thanks

It is in the dodgy zone, but not yet ripe enough for separation. Shallow cuts can happen, and they are not serious. Your boys are currently in one of the most difficult phases.

I understand your worries with going on holiday at such a sensitive time. Keep an eye on them this week and see how they are doing.

 

[Chloe B]

It is in the dodgy zone, but not yet ripe enough for separation. Shallow cuts can happen, and they are not serious. Your boys are currently in one of the most difficult phases.

I understand your worries with going on holiday at such a sensitive time. Keep an eye on them this week and see how they are doing.

Ok thank you. They're going to be lonely while I'm away only being checked in on briefly once a day, so I'm worried they will be bored/unhappy and will be more prone to falling out

If I separate, it would be a case of putting two grids in the middle of the cage. If i did this for a week whilst I'm away, would it be bad for them to remove the divide again once I'm home?

And also, if separation does occur, do they also need separate floor time? I always sit in the floor space with them I don't leave them alone so they are well supervised.

 

[Chloe B]

 

[Chloe B]

Please I hope somebody reads this. My boys had a scrap during floor time again and straight afterwards one had his head on a tilt for a bit and seemed very upset. Think his eye was caught slightly but he brightened up and seems ok now.

I have put a divide in the cage now. They both seem so unhappy and they are biting on the dividing grids which they never do. Still squabbling and shoving their noses through the bars at each other.

They're confusing me, it's like they can't live with each other yet can't live without. I'm so worried about them and I am feeling clueless and hopeless. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing.

 

[Beans&Toast]

If they are biting at the bars to get back to each other maybe let them an see what happens. It's maybe just teenage hormones making it worse

 

[Chloe B]

If they are biting at the bars to get back to each other maybe let them an see what happens. It's maybe just teenage hormones making it worse

Ok thank you for your advice. I'm going on holiday this week so I feel I should leave it but I don't know if it's bad to suddenly remove the divide again at some point?

They seem to want to get to each other by biting the bars, but I do floor time with them together, and although there was no scrapping, they really weren't happy to be around each other. I've had them 4 months now and I thought they would have sorted out the pecking order! Every single day they're still deciding, I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something really wrong?!

I know who the dominant one is, however it's the submissive one who puts his teeth to use. I'm just totally baffled!