Should We Add To Our Two Boars?

[CharlotteArneil]

Hello,

I could really do with some advise. We bought a pair of young brothers 2 years ago who got on great for about 10 months. They then started to argue so we had them neutered which didnt really make a difference. It was clear which one was dominent (Dec) and the bullying was getting out of hand untill eventually he bit the other one (Ant)

We decided to separate them and they have been for a year. Only interaction is in the garden however they have to take it in turns which one goes in the run whilst the other gets the rest of the garden. They don't mind eachother company with the fence dividing them.

Then about two months ago I decided to let them both run around the garden to see what would happen now.

Dec the dominent one is still boss and doesn' let Ant out of his sight. Teeth chatter but there's been no biting and after chasing Ant around they eventually sit together.

My question is, does Dec need another distraction and will it offer Ant a break. Could we introduce two females?

We would continue to keep them sleeping in separate cages, with the plan to keep them in a converted shed from next summer.

Thanks

Charlotte

 

[Julie M]

If you get each of them a female then they would be fine. However you wouldn’t be able to put all 4 together as the boys would almost 100% certainly fight over the females.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,

I could really do with some advise. We bought a pair of young brothers 2 years ago who got on great for about 10 months. They then started to argue so we had them neutered which didnt really make a difference. It was clear which one was dominent (Dec) and the bullying was getting out of hand untill eventually he bit the other one (Ant)

We decided to separate them and they have been for a year. Only interaction is in the garden however they have to take it in turns which one goes in the run whilst the other gets the rest of the garden. They don't mind eachother company with the fence dividing them.

Then about two months ago I decided to let them both run around the garden to see what would happen now.

Dec the dominent one is still boss and doesn' let Ant out of his sight. Teeth chatter but there's been no biting and after chasing Ant around they eventually sit together.

My question is, does Dec need another distraction and will it offer Ant a break. Could we introduce two females?

We would continue to keep them sleeping in separate cages, with the plan to keep them in a converted shed from next summer.

Thanks

Charlotte

View attachment 75379

Hi and welcome!

You can get your boys each their own wife if that is an option; but they cannot live as a group - that is a surefire recipe for fights! If you have the space to keep two pairs, a cross gender bond is the most stable of all pairings, especially if you can date your boys at a good standard rescue. the pairs can live in adjoining cages and pens, just not together. Your boys would certainly be VERY happy!
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
View attachment 75380

 

[Swissgreys]

The way I understand it is that you have 2 options.

1. You could try and officially reintroduce the boys an start keeping them together as a pair full time again.
However this may only work when they have a huge amount of spaces to work with (your set up is amazing!), and they may end up fighting if they are together in a smaller space (like sleeping quarters at night).
Every time boars meet up they have to establish a social hierarchy again, so continually splitting them and then allowing them to be together is hard work for both boys.

2. If you do try being together full time, and it doesn't work out then you can introduce both boys to their own partner (male or female since they have been neutered).
But from this point onward the boys can never share the same space again, and must remain separate (but with their new partner of course). So they will be living as 2 separate pairs, but both boys will have a full time companion.
This would be the perfect solution if you are able to accommodate 4 guinea pigs in 2 different hutches.

Depending on where you live the best way to ensure a good outcome would be to contact a local rescue who can help find the perfect match for each of your boys.
They will also offer healthy and correctly sexed pigs, and be on hand to offer help and advice.

Good luck - your boys are very lucky to have such a wonderful owner.

 

[CharlotteArneil]

Hello and thank you all for your advise.

Amazingly they have been getting along better each day since this post! Shorter and less arguments on introductions and they've started to show characteristics of enjoying each others company again. They even slept next to each other on the sofa yesterday. Only took them a year!

So for now I'll keep letting them run around together, that way they get to share the whole garden.

Thanks again.

Charlotte x