Worried About Dominance Behaviours.

[Jamjarpigs]

I have two piggies I rescued a few weeks ago. I was told one was just over a year and the other just over two.
Recently the dominance behaviour has been getting worse, with the younger boy chasing and trying to mount the older occasionally but never quite managing it.

Just woke up at about half three in the morning to them squeaking. The younger won't leave the older alone, keeps going into his hidey and mounting him successfully. The older is occasionally coming out for some hay and food but often being chased back again.

There hasn't been any outright fighting and I have three hideys in a 2x4. I'm worried that this new turn of events with my older boar not standing up for himself so much will continue. Right now there's a bit of peace with the younger drinking and the older eating, but he's really flattened himself out. As if he's hunched up and hiding.

 

[Wiebke]

I have two piggies I rescued a few weeks ago. I was told one was just over a year and the other just over two.
Recently the dominance behaviour has been getting worse, with the younger boy chasing and trying to mount the older occasionally but never quite managing it.

Just woke up at about half three in the morning to them squeaking. The younger won't leave the older alone, keeps going into his hidey and mounting him successfully. The older is occasionally coming out for some hay and food but often being chased back again.

There hasn't been any outright fighting and I have three hideys in a 2x4. I'm worried that this new turn of events with my older boar not standing up for himself so much will continue. Right now there's a bit of peace with the younger drinking and the older eating, but he's really flattened himself out. As if he's hunched up and hiding.

Hi! Have the boars been together when coming into rescue?Ho piggy savvy is the rescue you have adopted from?

We recently had a case of long term ongoing bullying becoming much more obvious in the new home with a larger cage, which required a renewal of the dominance in new territory. You may want to conduct a trial separation to see whether the boys still want to be together or whether your older boar is perking up noticeably when away from the younger - in the latter case, the bond is dysfunctional and you might want to consider whether your boys would be happier as live-alongside neighbours with constant interaction through bars for ongoing stimulation, but each having his own territory.
If they still want to be together, two of each and serving veg and pellets in several smaller portions (pellets for adults only require half to one handful per piggy per day) in a bowl each per boar which you remove after they have eaten. also make sure that access to hay (which should make up to 80% of the daily food intake) cannot be blocked. Replace any hideys with those that have two exits.
You can find more detailed tips in this link here: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Your first aim has to be to get to the bottom of what is going on, whether it is just renewed dominance or constant bullying, and then we can help you take it from there.

 

[Jamjarpigs]

Hi! Have the boars been together when coming into rescue?Ho piggy savvy is the rescue you have adopted from?

We recently had a case of long term ongoing bullying becoming much more obvious in the new home with a larger cage, which required a renewal of the dominance in new territory. You may want to conduct a trial separation to see whether the boys still want to be together or whether your older boar is perking up noticeably when away from the younger - in the latter case, the bond is dysfunctional and you might want to consider whether your boys would be happier as live-alongside neighbours with constant interaction through bars for ongoing stimulation, but each having his own territory.
If they still want to be together, two of each and serving veg and pellets in several smaller portions (pellets for adults only require half to one handful per piggy per day) in a bowl each per boar which you remove after they have eaten. also make sure that access to hay (which should make up to 80% of the daily food intake) cannot be blocked. Replace any hideys with those that have two exits.
You can find more detailed tips in this link here: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Your first aim has to be to get to the bottom of what is going on, whether it is just renewed dominance or constant bullying, and then we can help you take it from there.

Thankyou so much for your answer. I thought I had replied but clearly not. It's been a very stressful few days.

After putting the boys back together for an afternoon it became clear that it wasn't meant to be, and so since they have been separated within their original cage. Although Penfold (the younger more dominant boar) has been trying to chew the bars to get through, Remus has been happy with the separation.

I've spend a few days trying to contact the rescue I got them from but to no avail. I'm incredibly stressed and worried about what to do now. Honestly, I can't really afford to have them both neutered and living with sows but if that's what I have to do then I have to do it. I adopted them and took over their care and it's not fair to hand them back to a rescue that I now don't trust with them.

I'd really appreciate some help and advice on rehoming Penfold. He's so friendly and curious he'd make someone a lovely pet. I just can't keep them separate and give them the same level of care.

Also: what are the risks involved in having Remus neutered and introduced to a female when it is safe to do so? Is it almost guanranteed they would get along or could I be faced with more issues?

I'm at my wits end. I just want what's best for them.

 

[Wiebke]

Thankyou so much for your answer. I thought I had replied but clearly not. It's been a very stressful few days.

After putting the boys back together for an afternoon it became clear that it wasn't meant to be, and so since they have been separated within their original cage. Although Penfold (the younger more dominant boar) has been trying to chew the bars to get through, Remus has been happy with the separation.

I've spend a few days trying to contact the rescue I got them from but to no avail. I'm incredibly stressed and worried about what to do now. Honestly, I can't really afford to have them both neutered and living with sows but if that's what I have to do then I have to do it. I adopted them and took over their care and it's not fair to hand them back to a rescue that I now don't trust with them.

I'd really appreciate some help and advice on rehoming Penfold. He's so friendly and curious he'd make someone a lovely pet. I just can't keep them separate and give them the same level of care.

Also: what are the risks involved in having Remus neutered and introduced to a female when it is safe to do so? Is it almost guanranteed they would get along or could I be faced with more issues?

I'm at my wits end. I just want what's best for them.

The most important part is the boys are fine. Why can't you care for live-alongside boys? What they need is the interaction through the bars, as they are still bonded, just each with their own territory. Do you really want to give up Penfold?
We have got several members with "can't live together but can't live apart" long term boars pairs that remain firmly bonded and will grieve if one of them dies as if they had been living together. They still do!

Take a deep breath and don't try to rush into things. Your boys are fine as they are. If it upsets you to give up Penfold, then don't and keep both boys as they are now.

With the right vet, boars of any age can be neutered. They then have to wait 6 weeks until they are 100% safe to go with a sow. Crucial is initial acceptance and mutual liking, but most younger sows are accepting of a boar. Older ones can be a lot more difficult.
However, neutering is an elective operation, so if the thought of that is upsetting you (and it does many members), then don't go there.

Take your time to think things through, so your heart and mind are together and don't do anything that you will rue afterwards.

 

[Jamjarpigs]

I'd love to have them together but I'm at my
Max possible size and with it in half Remus is only in a 1x3 with Penfold in a larger section. They seem okay with this it just doesn't feel like enough for them

 

[Julie M]

I have 3 boys that can't live together(originally was 2 pairs and 1 boar Alby died) I've tried to bond each of them but without success. I have had to separate them and they each have their own 2x3 c&c linked in an L shape. So everyone has a neighbor they will tolerate. They seem happy now. As long as they can interact through the bars they will be ok. Is it an issue of space for the cage? As you can build the c&c in any shape you like. You could have 4 grids along the front and 3 deep? Giving each boy a 2x3. Hope you find a solution. I had to cover part of the divider between fudge and Peanut as they were calmer this way. (They can still see each other at a section of divider. And Fudge is joined onto Buddy's cage, as Peanut seems happier with it this way)