Suddenly Doing All The Humping :-/

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LozzyBee

LozzyBee

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We brought our 2 boars home from the rescue centre just over a week ago.

They had originally come from a large group of piggies so the rescue didn't know much about them at all, they for some reason thought they were both around 2...however Barnaby weighs 1kg, and Barlo weighs 600g.

They have been fine, and have been choosing to share things even though they had their own so I thought 'Fab - all is well, they're like brothers!' ... but the past few evenings Barlo (the smaller piggie) has had about 15 minutes of trying to mount/hump Barnaby - chasing him around the cage. Barnaby mostly just runs away, occasionally he defends himself, but he mostly just runs.

My worries are (bear with me - I worry about EVERYTHING!)

1. What if they were never a bonded pair? Does that happen? They had been at the rescue centre since early October and logically I think surely they couldn't have lived together for that long if they weren't?

2. Can they suddenly un-bond?

3. How do I know if/when they need to be separated?

Is it possible that Barlo is a lot younger and is going through an adolescent stage? I just feel so bad for Barnaby. He'll just be there minding his own business and then Barlo comes along disturbing him. Funnily enough Barnaby has tried sleeping outside of a hidey a few times and Barlo comes and bothers him until he goes into the hidey with him to sleep there - yet he's a menace to him!

Any advice? Words of wisdom? Encouragement that all will be ok?

They're in a 2x5 cage, I'd make it bigger but unfortunately that's the biggest we could have in our front room - it's like a feature as it is lol
 
Wiebke said:
Do you know roughly the age your boys are? Sub-adult boars suffer from hormonal spikes, and Bardo sounds like he's just hit one. They will hopefully get through it.

You will find the information and tips in this link here helpful: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
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Thanks v much for that link, useful to know what's to be expected and what's not.

Unfortunately the rescue really weren't too sure on their ages. I'm fairly sure Barlo is younger though, that's why I wondered if it's an adolescent phase. I really hope they do work it out. They obviously enjoy each other's company (hence the sharing of everything!), but they seem to be going through a little something right now :(
 
LozzyBee said:
Thanks v much for that link, useful to know what's to be expected and what's not.

Unfortunately the rescue really weren't too sure on their ages. I'm fairly sure Barlo is younger though, that's why I wondered if it's an adolescent phase. I really hope they do work it out. They obviously enjoy each other's company (hence the sharing of everything!), but they seem to be going through a little something right now :(
Click to expand...

His weight and his behaviour is typically that of an adolescent, unless he were a runt. 600g can be anything from a two months old to an 6 months old youngster, depending on his start in life. New territory always triggers a hierarchy sort-out; depending on how cnfident your boys are, this can come a week or two later once they are starting to settle in.

You may find our new owner's starter kit of information guides helpful:
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners
 
If they were in a huge herd at the rescue it will be the first time that they have to take on more responsibility in their roles as a pair now. So in a herd there's so many of them there isn't much to their roles except follow the leader. Sounds like they like each other but don't know what to do because it was never presented before. They'll be fine. I'd leave them in together unless one bites each other. It sounds like Barlo needs to figure his life out and get it together haha
 
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