Why are they hating each other ?? help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dee
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Dee

We have our 2 guineas 8 months now they are brothers, they were 8 weeks when we got them, we had the usually teething problems and then they were the best of friends.

The past 3 days have been pure hell, I mean I am not going to bed till nearly 4am trying to separate them, we have one large cage and I have tried to use a divider as we can't afford a 2nd cage.

One of our guineas ( Snowy) keeps mounting the other (Bart), from reading other sites I have no clue if this is sexual ( they are both boys) I did read it can mean dominance ?

then the 2 will fluff out their hair really far like they got an electric shock, there is loud teeth chattering, dancing on the hind legs and sticking the bum right up in the air.

The guinea that keeps being mounted (Bart) is squealing and then stands in shock for absolutely ages and when I go to take him out he practically jumps into my arms ( not like him)

I am assuming they have either had a bad falling out or is it a phase or is it long term? it is so tiring, when I separate them they are practically climbing over the divider to be together but after 5 minutes it all erupts again.

Please can someone advise...
 
Welcome to the world of boars! Yes, unfortunately, your boys are at the stage where they are hormonal and narky and the boundries between them will be constantly tested as they test each other for dominance. They don't always do this, but it's not uncommon - I would only separate if blood has been drawn or if you notice on is bullying the other - not letting him out a hidey hole, get to the food, water etc. The mounting you are describing is down to dominance, they can start chasing each other as well. The teeth chattering happens when they get annoyed or angry, and rumblestrutting where they vibrate and low rumble whilst waggling their bottoms at each other. This is usually them displaying how amazing and manly they are. They may also do a lot of bottom sniffing and rub cheeks or a cheek over the others face etc, drag their bottoms over the floor - it's mainly scent and territory marking and normal, unless it gets aggressive, which is when they will need separating, even if for a short time apart.

Every time I bathe one of my bonded pairs they fall out and go through much of what you are describing - I put a mesh divider up between them and it usually works a treat to let them cool off and calm down. Sometimes it has to be left overnight, but usually a few hours does the trick.

One of the keys with boars is space - as much as you can give them, and two of everything - water bottles, food bowls, toys, hidey holes etc.

Have they had a change of circumstances to set them off, ie near females, a move from anywhere etc?
 
thank you for your reply, They haven't had any changes at all, after their last spout of tiffs I got them a bowl each and a bottle each and they both have their own house, that was ages ago (begining) and they took to it well, then I would find them asleep in one house cuddled up together and it was like this for months.

In the past 3 days it started, on the first day there was just lots of rumbling noises and the wagging of the bum but nothing else then day 2 the fluffing of the hair started (first time I saw this) and the teeth chattering, then day 3 the mounting and the squealing and chasing and dancing, the whole lot really...

It's fine when they are separated, I am afraid they will bite, I usually get to them before it gets worse, should I leave them and see does it get worse after the mounting or step in straight away ? I'm not sure whether to let them get it out of their system or stop it immediately ?

The mounting is definitely not sexual ?? I would hate for bart to be getting hurt, he is so placid and I feel so sorry for him when he stands there in shock...
 
Julie has about said it all really! Main thing is to try and relax yourself, take a no nonsense attitude as you would with naughty children as they seem to pick up on it if you are nervous.

I have several boar pairs and have only had to seperate one pair permenantly as they did draw blood. Another pair have fallings out from time to time, lots of chasing, mouning, rumbling etc..but they get over it after a while :))

As Julie says, the bigger the space you can give them, the better. Have you ever considered a c & c cage? much cheaper than standard cages..

www.cavycages.com
 
I checked those cages out here in Ireland and they are a little expensive here but I recon I should really invest in one.

Alot of what they are doing is first time to me, I have seen a few arguments between them before and it lasted one day max but this time I am, experiencing alot of new things and it is a bit nerve wrecking :))

I just don't know whether to let them get on with this thing going on or do I keep stepping in like I am doing now ?

I sure hope they make up soon. :))
 
No, the mounting is not sexual, it's definately a dominance thing. Not having seen them myself I couldn't really advise you exactly what to do, but I believe you will know when they are getting ready to fight - they will have a lot of exaggerated "nose offs" where they face each other and bob their faces up and down - these in themselves are not aggressive, but if its coupled with them going back on their hind legs as if they are about to rear up, a yawn (not really a yawn, more showing teeth - done in aggression) and very, very loud teeth clacking, rather than the more gentle sound of munching or if they are slightly annoyed with each other. You will know this noise instantly. This is when I separate. I don't tend to separate if they have a mounting session, unless it's getting vicious, like teeth being sunk in, or it looks particularly aggressive - again, you will know. Mounting between males is common and as long as carefully monitored, usually fine, it's just them sorting out who is top pig.

These links may help you to understand boars better - http://www.barmy4boars.co.uk/

and http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm there is a section on boar behaviour and what to look out for about three quarters of the way down the page.

C&C cages as Fiona has said are just fantastic for pigs and grids and correx should be readily sourced in Ireland - are you in Eire or the North?
 
Last edited:
Just to add that the very first pigs we had were bonded boys, father and son who fell out very nastily and had to be separated. We were in an identical postion to you, we didn't know what the heck to do! As with everything else, you learn to recognise different things and try different methods to see what works best for you and your pigs. It's all a learning curve!

Good luck!
 
Thank you so much for all your advice I feel so much more at ease now and thank you for those links.

I am in the republic of Ireland, I am going to google a few sites and see what's the best deal i can get.

thank you so much again.
 
No problem :)

Do you have Screwfix or B&Q in the Republic? Both of those sell the grids. Correx can be found in signmakers, they are made of the same corrugated plastic the For Sale signs are made from in front of houses and the website Fiona mentioned will give some amazing ideas and tips about how to put them together and all the clever and inventive things you can do with them, there are some good examples on the housing section of the forum as well.
 
Dee said:
thank you for your reply, They haven't had any changes at all, after their last spout of tiffs I got them a bowl each and a bottle each and they both have their own house, that was ages ago (begining) and they took to it well, then I would find them asleep in one house cuddled up together and it was like this for months.

In the past 3 days it started, on the first day there was just lots of rumbling noises and the wagging of the bum but nothing else then day 2 the fluffing of the hair started (first time I saw this) and the teeth chattering, then day 3 the mounting and the squealing and chasing and dancing, the whole lot really...

It's fine when they are separated, I am afraid they will bite, I usually get to them before it gets worse, should I leave them and see does it get worse after the mounting or step in straight away ? I'm not sure whether to let them get it out of their system or stop it immediately ?

The mounting is definitely not sexual ?? I would hate for bart to be getting hurt, he is so placid and I feel so sorry for him when he stands there in shock...
Click to expand...
chuck an old towel over them once they go to their hind legs, they'll be confused by the sudden darkness and the texture of the towel and usually forget the arguments. I've had to do this with my girls occassionally, it always works. x
 
Last edited:
It is always a very difficult and worrying situation. But it is a dominance thing between boars. If you have a dominant and a recessive boar, then ultimately you should be ok when things settle down.

But if you haven't then you may have to rethink their housing situation. It is always a shame and to be honest, an inconvenience, when you think you have two piggies that will live happily together and then all of a sudden, they seem not to be able to.

How are things now?
 
I've just had to seperate my two boys...now one is chewing the bars of the travel box which he's in and his brother is looking for him in the cage. Bingly has been trying to mount Darcy and I got a bit irritated at it told them both off and have seperated them. It's happened before and no doubt will happen again just keep trying. Good luck with your boys.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top