Twins keep bickering any ideas why?

[Cgilchrist]

Hi I am a bit stumped and wonder if anyone might have any suggestions. Basically i have to male 'twins' frosty and snowy who are coming up to 2 and a half years old. apart from occasional mounting by snowy they have had no dominance type behaviour and are inseperable. However about 6 weeks ago snowy got a URI and had to be on Baytril as the septrin was not working. I was away and my OH forgot to keep up with the probiotics and basically snowy was constantly licking frosty's bum (I am pretty sure he was eating his poos to help his tummy) i got back and got the probiotics going again but one night when we went in to give them salad there was blood everywhere and Snowy had a split lip. we were only 2 feet away in the other room and would have heard any chattering etc easily. apart from the blood they were both acting completely normal. the problem is they had a little mild chattering later and we gave them hay and were fine, then they had another little chatter and jumped at each other, gave them nuggets and they stopped. basically now they always start little rumbling and chattering when we are around but no full on fights and no more blood but i am unsure whether they do it because they got food the last few times or because it's spring or what. they both had a bath together and we have given them exactly 2 of everything but they still keep playing up. they are both fine now, skin etc is all clear. Snowy is very submissive and seems to want to be near his brother all the time and normally puts up with his behaviour but I am a little worried that frosty is becoming a bully or do you think they are just after food they have had lots of floor time etc and still play up when they are out any ideas?

 

[chilwell]

I am having the same problem with my boys, I have 3 males in one cage all brothers but two of them keep lunging at each other. No blood here yet but I think I will have to separate them. You are not alone! I have a Snowy here too only he appears to be the bully...

 

[Wiebke]

I would think that it is a mixture of spring and illness.

Any illness is a danger to a group, so ill animals get bullied - which is one of the reasons why guinea pigs are so good at hiding it.

Hopefully things will calm down again. However, even adult guinea pigs of either gender can fall out at any time. It happens a lot less often than with young boars, but it does happen from time to time even among best friends for no obvious reasons.

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Cgilchrist]

the thing is his bust lip didn't look bitten more like when you bash your lip and it splits. they rumble for a few seconds then a few seconds later they are sitting next to each other eating from the same bowl or hay pile even though there are 2 piles! i don;t understand there rumbling and swaying almost seems a little half hearted then the get bored! :{

 

[clairelove]

I am having the same problem with my boys, I have 3 males in one cage all brothers but two of them keep lunging at each other. No blood here yet but I think I will have to separate them. You are not alone! I have a Snowy here too only he appears to be the bully...

Its very hard to keep a trio of boars together than it is a pair of males also massive amounts of space would be needed if you did try to keep them all (3) togetherxx

 

[Cgilchrist]

Had to seperate them

well they were out in the run didn't hear or see a scuffle but went out and snowy has a chunk out of his lip and a bloody nose so we decided to put them side by side for now 8... as we are off to a wedding tomorrow can't risk it. hopefully they will be ok next door to each other so can chat and have noses near but no nipping they have been bickering more and more so i think it is for the best really sad but have managed to pair up 2 of my other boys today so thats a little plus

 

[Wiebke]

I am sorry that you had to separate! Hopefully, they can get back together eventually. Some people have been having succes with re-introducing their boars a few months down the line.

 

[Cgilchrist]

Thanks it could be possible that he hurt himself on the chicken wire as he has a thin cut over the top of his nose kinda like a horses nose band
:{ but he also has a deep triangle shaped chunk out of his lip and a tiny hole on the otherside maybe give them a day or so next to each other then see how they are in the run. Right now they are both sitting next to the bars by each other really don'rt know what is best they have been together since they were babies and are over 2 now