Puberty: What Should I Anticipate?

[Dichotomy83]

I have 2 boars, Milo (6 months) and Pepper (4-ish months) that have been living together for the past 6 weeks or so. They get along pretty well with little to no scuffles, play together sometimes, but dont sleep together in the same hut (only on rare occasion they will).

Anyways, Im realizing that soon both of my boys will be going through puberty. Im just looking to gain information on what things to expect, whats normal/concerning, and if theres anything I can do to help alleviate the stress during this time. Also, how long does puberty usually last?

Thanks in advance!

(oh, and theyre living in a 2x5 fleece lined c&c)

[Dichotomy83]

No one else has 2 teenaged boars here?!

This morning I woke up and found both of my boars chattering. (sounded exactly like teeth chattering). Pepper was puffed up and walking kind of slowly/sideways. I have NEVER seen Pepper rumblestrut before...could that be what he was doing? Milo was chilling in the hut the entire time Pepper was doing this.

[akstrohm]

Puberty lasts a few months. The behavior you described is normal. Make sure you have at least three hidey's with multiple entrances/exits and at least two of everything else.

[Dichotomy83]

Do you think thats what Pepper was doing, rumblestrutting?? It looked so different to me than when Milo rumblestruts! Also very weird to me, too, seeing as Pepper has always been my submissive Pig.

Should be interesting to see how this plays out!

I have 2 hideys and a ferret crinkle tube which could also be used as a hidey. There is only 1 water bottle, 1 pellet dish, and 1 veggie dish (on one side of the cage) and the hay box is on the opposite side of the cage. Could having them separated like this eliminate my needing to go out and buy doubles of everything? So far I havent seen any aggression when theyre trying to eat.

[JD In Van]

I have two 5 - 6 month old boys. They tooth chatter a bit, rumblestrut a lot. Neither has every firmly established he's the boss and so I'm sure they'll keep at it until one does.

The only things I have to keep an eye out for is food. Food always has to come in two servings on opposite sides of the cage. Most of the time they are happy to eat together but they will steal from eachother and that can start off a disagreement and a bit of snapping. They've never hurt eachother so I don't worry about it too much I just make sure there's always alternative options in the pen.

They've also started getting territorial of certain things - Buddy likes the green pellet bowl, Baby's not allowed to go near it. Baby likes the red hidey, Buddy's not allowed to go near it. I think this is all pretty normal.

[music91]

well the only help i can give you is my story...

i have a two year old piggy bubba and a 8 month old piggy mocha

i'd have to say bubba is litteraly most 2x the size of mocha, he is a BIG guinea pig, not just fat-wise. anyways, mocha is gonig through puberty right now and is moutning bubba all of the time trying to show dominence even though bubba is CLEARLY bigger and older than mocha. Bubba knows when to show mocha who is really boss though and if Bubba gets searious, mocha will listen. I'd have to say their will be alot of mounting and rumblestrutting but it shouldn't be too bad. remember to let them work out their dominance issues themselves and try not to seperate them when showing dominence unless their is squeaks of pain or blood.

good luck! u'll be fine