Splitting boar pair

[Dan10]

Hi all ,

We are having to split two male skinny pigs due to their bond deteriorating over the last few months. We’ve tried and tried and now at the conclusion that the pair must be split.

We currently have a kavee 5x2 c&c for them and planning on buying further grids and extending it with a divide so each pig has a 3x2 c&c to themselves and can still interact with each other through the divide.

Is a 3x2 sufficient and is there any advice for do’s and don’t’s for having two pigs living separately but side by side?

Cheers!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all ,

We are having to split two male skinny pigs due to their bond deteriorating over the last few months. We’ve tried and tried and now at the conclusion that the pair must be split.

We currently have a kavee 5x2 c&c for them and planning on buying further grids and extending it with a divide so each pig has a 3x2 c&c to themselves and can still interact with each other through the divide.

Is a 3x2 sufficient and is there any advice for do’s and don’t’s for having two pigs living separately but side by side?

Cheers!

Hi

I am very sorry that the bond is not working. 2x3 grids is the minimum size for a singles cage. As long as you can offer some extra roaming/exercise time (they can time share the same space; the mutual scent marking and boarly behaviour counts as enrichment as it encourages natural behviours) and interact through the grids, this is OK. Guinea pigs do have a concept of what is group territory and what is shared space.

I would recommend to cable tie the connecting grids, especially if one of them is a rattler and to not having anything they can use to climb/jump over along the divider but I also find that some of my own piggies like to sleep in adjoining hay trays across the grids (it's territorial boundary marking behaviour). Securing the divider prevents major diplomatic incidents if something comes accidentally or intentionally loose. You may likely find that your two boys are actually happier with having their own space.

 

[Dan10]

Hi

I am very sorry that the bond is not working. 2x3 grids is the minimum size for a singles cage. As long as you can offer some extra roaming/exercise time (they can time share the same space; the mutual scent marking and boarly behaviour counts as enrichment as it encourages natural behviours) and interact through the grids, this is OK. Guinea pigs do have a concept of what is group territory and what is shared space.

I would recommend to cable tie the connecting grids, especially if one of them is a rattler and to not having anything they can use to climb/jump over along the divider but I also find that some of my own piggies like to sleep in adjoining hay trays across the grids (it's territorial boundary marking behaviour). Securing the divider prevents major diplomatic incidents if something comes accidentally or intentionally loose. You may likely find that your two boys are actually happier with having their own space.

Thank you for your reply.

Our boys are in our living room and get plenty of floor time to run around and human interaction. It’s a shame we are splitting them up but we feel that they will be happier being apart especially the pig that is on the receiving end of the aggressor.

I have additional c&c grids with cable ties en route! Let the building commence haha

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear of their fall out.

I also have a failed pair (although one now lives with one of my other bereaved boars).
They are happier apart as their bond ended with a huge fight.

 

[fluffysal]

I also have a pair of neighboars. It's actually my dominant boy who's happier with the separation. The other boy had been on his own as a youngster, we don't know how long for, so didn't learn proper manners and got rather fear aggressive following a squabble. If he matures enough, we are going to attempt a rebonding next year as things didn't get to the point of no return.