Putting Two Boars Together

[Emily F.]

I have 2 boars, Jack and Oscar. I would love to have them live together! Oscar is about 3 1/2 years old, and Jack is 2. Jack is very dominant, but not in an agressive way. Oscar is very laid back, and acts like a girl, lol.
I have a 2x5 C&C cage for them, that is divided in the middle, each pig on one side. I've had them together in their cage a little while ago, it went ok. I think it was a little fustrating. Jack, as I said before, is very dominant, he is always mounting Oscar, and rumblestrutting, but has never hurt Oscar at all. Whenever I go over to their cage, they are always sleeping on each side of the divider, and they eat right by the divider, etc.
During floortime together, it's the same thing, nothing bad happen. Oscar tries to bite Jack's ear, and I'm afraid if they live together, without the divider, someone will get hurt, even though I've never really seen any agressive behavior between them. When the were living together without with divider, it was also harder to pick up Jack, because he is shy. I don't want that to be a regular thing if I move them together.
What do you think?

Jack is having surgery on Monday, wish us luck!

 

[this_lil_piggy]

If Jack is having surgery on Monday then I would hold off on introducing the boys...Putting them together and taking them apart stresses them out and can actually cause tension between them. IT sounds like they are good together though, and having them together would be ideal. What type surgery is Jack having? I would leave the divider in until Jack is recovered from his proceedure. In the meantime, read over this page: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm to get a good idea of what to expect, and the proper way to introduce etc After Jack's recovery I would definitely try to get them together without that divider. If nothing else it means they both would have a lot more space as a whole.

 

[DocDolittle]

Firstly, just curious, the surgery is a neuter operation is it? If it is and you're doing it to try to make Jack less aggressive/dominant, than I'd just like to inform you that it's a myth that neutering elps with dominance. If the surgery isn;t neutering, than good luck with your boy!

It does sound like they'd be great together. I agree with this_lil_piggy, check out the cavy spirit link for proper introductions. Good luck!

 

[Emily F.]

Yes, I know to keep the divider in until a few weeks after Jack's surgery. He will actually be in a smaller cage, alone after his surgery.
Jack has a sebacious cyst that is going to be removed. I have already introduced them before, but thank you for your help.

Doc- No, it is not a neuter surgery.

 

[DocDolittle]

Oh, okay, thanks for telling me. I was just concerned, since it;s such a widespread rumor. Good luck with his surgery!

 

[Percy's Mom]

Jack, as I said before, is very dominant, he is always mounting Oscar, and rumblestrutting, but has never hurt Oscar at all.

Why is there a divider between them then? This is all perfectly normal behavior unless one of them is not being allowed to eat or is getting physically injured. Or was the divider put up because of the cysts? If that is the case, I would reintroduce them after the surgery and everything is healed up.

 

[Tulia&Susie]

They sound like they would be perfect for eachother. Like everyone said I would wait till after surgery when he's all healed up. Well good luck.

 

[Emily F.]

Why is there a divider between them then? This is all perfectly normal behavior unless one of them is not being allowed to eat or is getting physically injured. Or was the divider put up because of the cysts? If that is the case, I would reintroduce them after the surgery and everything is healed up.

The divider is up because as I have stated before, Jack is very dominant, and I'm worried that someone wil get hurt. It is also hard for them to eat together.

 

[DocDolittle]

Mounting and rumblestrutting are hardly aggressive behaviors. It's rare that an hour goes by without my boys rumblestrutting at each other, and they've been together for two years. Next time you try to introduce them, only pull them apart when they go into full -ready-to-attack mode, because anything less than that one of them will probably wimp out.

 

[Emily F.]

So.. Jack had his surgery this morning! Everything went well! I'm so relieved!
I'm going to pick him up now!
Thanks for everything

 

[ljm0104]

All that is normal behavior. Try putting two houses, food bowls, water bottles etc.... on opposite sides of the cages and that might help with the domiance over food......