Very Dominant Pig Challenging Most Submissive Pig

[CavySlave23]

I have been dealing with a situation for roughly less than a week involving two of my three boars. My two younger boars who are roughly 5 - 7 months old are having ongoing spats which can happen more than a few times per day and the thing is, their spats sometimes take a very serious turn for a few minutes to the point where I need to stop what I am doing right there and then so that I can closely observe them in case they progress to the next stage; which would require me to intervene to prevent any serious injuries from occurring. I don't want to deal with any guinea pig tornadoes if I can!

Separating the most submissive one from the trio is something I am reluctant to do since they both get along just fine with each other most of the time. It is these spats! If they did not suddenly take serious turns as often as they do, I wouldn't be that worried. This is a personality issue, not a space issue. I cannot fully trust them since they have already threatened to do each other serious harm more than once.

What is the best thing to do?

 

[Wiebke]

I have been dealing with a situation for roughly less than a week involving two of my three boars. My two younger boars who are roughly 5 - 7 months old are having ongoing spats which can happen more than a few times per day and the thing is, their spats sometimes take a very serious turn for a few minutes to the point where I need to stop what I am doing right there and then so that I can closely observe them in case they progress to the next stage; which would require me to intervene to prevent any serious injuries from occurring. I don't want to deal with any guinea pig tornadoes if I can!

Separating the most submissive one from the trio is something I am reluctant to do since they both get along just fine with each other most of the time. It is these spats! If they did not suddenly take serious turns as often as they do, I wouldn't be that worried. This is a personality issue, not a space issue. I cannot fully trust them since they have already threatened to do each other serious harm more than once.

What is the best thing to do?

Your boys are at the most difficult phase at the moment with the testosterone coursing through their bodies at maximum output; this is the time when most sub-adultboar trios fail if they haven't already. About 90% of boar trios don't make it to adulthood together, I am sorry to say. It is very gutting that shops and breeders still sell baby boars in that constellation.

You can either split with interaction through the bars for a day or two to see whether you can get them through an acute spike. provided you do not do it all the time (in which case it helps to destabilise the situation further), or call it shots if that doesn't do the trick. I fully understand that any permanent decision is upsetting for you, but you have to be realistic about the longer term.

 

[CavySlave23]

I took your advice and what you said on board but things have took an unexpected turn. Their spats are no longer what I would call spats. The more dominant one still chases the more submissive one from time to time nor do things escalate to the point where they threaten serious harm to one an other anymore. What do I do? My two younger boars are not related to my older boar and my older boars relationship with the two younger ones couldn't be anymore perfect than it already is.

 

[Wiebke]

I took your advice and what you said on board but things have took an unexpected turn. Their spats are no longer what I would call spats. The more dominant one still chases the more submissive one from time to time nor do things escalate to the point where they threaten serious harm to one an other anymore. What do I do? My two younger boars are not related to my older boar and my older boars relationship with the two younger ones couldn't be anymore perfect than it already is.

As long as things are have calmed down again, sit it out. The big hormones have in spikes and and difficult weeks; they are not constant. Because of that, you need to read the relationships all the time and play it by ear.

 

[CavySlave23]

As long as things are have calmed down again, sit it out. The big hormones have in spikes and and difficult weeks; they are not constant. Because of that, you need to read the relationships all the time and play it by ear.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your help.

All the best!