Should they remain separated?

[luv*my*pigs]

I've got two boars, ages unknown, that came from a local shelter. They were there for 5 months, housed separately in small pet store cages. They came to my home in their 2x4 with a 1x2 hayloft three weeks ago.

Introductions went well and they've been living together for the past three weeks.

However, over the last few days I've noticed their dominance behavior escalating. This afternoon both were rumblestrutting at eachother and Chocolate Chip (larger) was rearing up and lunging at Strype. I noticed that Strype has a bite wound on his upper lip. I feel rather badly because I don't know when he received it, although it would certainly be since yesterday evening.

Up to this point they would do the nose faceoffs, Chocolate would win and Strype would run off rumbling about the cage. But he seems to not be backing down these days. And Chocolate doesn't seem to want him anywhere near.

My question is should I keep them separated? I've read much of the advice here to separate them if blood is drawn and so I have. But I've not seen the reason for that (not that it really makes a difference, I was just curious). Or can I try to reintroduce them again - and when should I try?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Try to re-introduce them. If they inflist a serious wound, then seperate. They are going through adolencence right now. Try a buddy bath as a last resort.

 

[lindsey's boys]

My pigs both ended up with a bitten nose. I did re-intros and now they're great friends.

 

[luv*my*pigs]

If they inflist a serious wound, then seperate.

What qualifies as a "serious wound"?

 

[Ly&Pigs]

If it's a very minor wound, don't separate them. If there is major bloodshed then separate. Half the problems come in when pigs are together, then separated, then put together again, then separated again, etc. That only makes sorting out the dominance issue harder and more frustrating.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Question-are your pigs doing any of the following?: (taken from CavySpirit social life page). If so, it's probably best to keep them separated.

Fighting with intent to harm
Bite attacks are no longer warning nips, they are lunges with intent to harm.
Combination of raised hackles, loud and angry teeth chattering, rumblestrutting in place with the head staying in one position while facing the other guinea pig doing the same thing. Usually a signal of a biting attack. But they may back down before they engage.
Both pigs rear up on their haunches, face to face. This is a clear, brief signal of their intent to launch full attacks at each other. Separate if possible before the attack.
Full battle. The pigs are locked together in a vicious ball of fur. This is very serious. Separate immediately, but be careful. Throw a towel over them and use a dustpan or something other than your hand to separate them. Unintended bites from their very sharp incisors can cause serious damage.

 

[luv*my*pigs]

Thanks Ly

I had read that stuff on Introductions from GuineaLynx and while Strype's wound doesn't seem serious, Chocolate Chip's intent to harm did.

I separated them when Chocolate Chip was "yawning" and rearing up and lunging at Strype. Both were teeth chattering and rumblestrutting in place with raised hackles. Strype was not backing down totally, he would evade the lunge, but be right in Chocolate's face in an instant. They had not got the the "vicious ball of fur" stage nor was Strype rearing up.

Did I intervene too soon? Should I attempt reintroductions?

 

[AmiableAnimals]

"Unintended bites from their very sharp incisors can cause serious damage."

I can attest to that. OUCH! And I didn't learn after the first time either. Had to do it twice before the lesson sunk in!

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I believe in your situation you did the right thing by separating the boys. Have you tried a buddy bath. When all else fails, this is when I recommend the buddy bath method. If the buddy bath does not work, you will need to keep them separated if they are acting the same way. I would give them time then try introductions again if the buddy bath fails.

 

[luv*my*pigs]

Having not seen Ly's post until I woke up this morning, I put them back together after supper last night and didn't leave the side of the cage until my husband made me go to bed. They were avoiding one another last night and had settled into peaceful sleep by that time.

This morning I woke up and they seem to be back to normal. Strype's lip is healing nicely and Chocolate Chip didn't chase him from either of the veggie or pellet bowls. He did decide that he wanted Strype's carrot bit and Strype backed away immediately, grumbling as usual, off toward the other bowl of veggies.

I'll continue to keep a close eye on them - If Strype continues to back down things should be ok. If not, I have enough cubes to build a 2x6 with a common grid wall - just would need more coroplast and I can get that at the printing shop 1/2 a block away!

Thanks to all of you for your advice!

 

[Cherryrosed]

I am glad that they are doing better. Hopefully they will get along now and you won't have to worry about separating them again.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I am glad you tried again and that it's working so far. Maybe Strype has realized that he isn't the boss and has become submissive to Chocolate Chip. Sometimes I think piggie puberty is as bad as human puberty especially in boys!