ADVICE URGENTLY NEEDED!!!

[nikinakinooo]

I am having HUGE problems with my boys, well 1 in particular. All my boys live outside in a big hutch, which has a mesh partition separating the 2 pairs. Hamish & Huxley 1 side, Wallace & Wilbur the other side. The problem is Wilbur, each time he gets a whiff of H or H he attacks Wallace (his brother), the hutch is big enough for Wallace to escape him but it's getting serious now with Wilbur continually bullying Wallace because he can't get to the other 2. I've blocked the mesh off with tunnels (on each side) thinking that would give him something to do and take his mind off gnawing at the mesh & he's worked out a way to move it! I've boarded it but he wees up it that many times i have to keep replacing it or he gnaws at it like a pig possessed. His sole intention is to get to the other 2 and kill! When i bring them out i have to be extremely careful that there is no trace of a smell as he goes nuts and usually takes it out on poor Wallace or me. I've been bitten on a few occassions throwing the towel in.
I have had many boys over the years and have never experienced anything like this.
Unfortunately i don't have any room to separate them by bringing 2 into the house and nowhere else in the garden to put them as my hutch was built inside a shed with a lockable stable door to protect the piggies from the dogs, as i know 2 of them wouldn't hesitate to kill.
I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me.
Niki

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Hi Niki,

really sorry to hear you are having these problems. Like you i have not previously experianced boys being upset by other boys being in close proximity. You could try buying 2 seperate cages the same size and putting them side by side (would take up same space but without the mesh a wall instead) but I suspect this might not solve your problem as they would still be able to smell each other. Alternatively have you thought of a two story hutch? Having your boys on top of each other?
Again they could well still be able to smell each other so it might not solev your problem.

How is Wallace? When you say Wilbur attacks him, what is he doing? Is he injuring him, or indanger of injuring him? Would you say he is bullying him/making his life miserable? Of course you already know if blood is being drawn they must be seperated for good, but if he is being bullied this too is very serious. I really feel for you as it sounds like there is not much you can do.

Will keep thinking about it for you, and hope some others have some ideas on this... but Niki do think about, as painful as it is even to consider knowing how much you love your boys whether rehoming one of the boys might be best for him if you cannot find a solution to this one. I know it would break your heart (as it would mine) but if they really cannot be moved away from the other pair, or if the bullying is serious it might be worth thinking about if Wallace and Wilbur might be happier apart whatever that entails.

Sending lots of good wishes their way, and yours... hoping this can be resolved some how so you don't need to think about that.

[nikinakinooo]

Thanks for that susie, i don't have the option of another hutch. the hutch they're in is approx 11ft long x 2ft wide x 22" high with "add-ons attached of 2ft long x 2ft wide x 22" high and their bed boxes are what join the two bits so if you can imagine looking at it from the top its a huge elongated 'n' shape and this is why Wallace can escape, he's usually in one bit with Wilbur in the other and all is usually calm until he gets a whiff of the other 2, who incidentally don't bother one bit. Thankfully the only blood that's been drawn is mine. i had them all out in 2 separate boxes while my partner cleaned the hutches (i was ill). All hell broke loose, chattering & squealing-Wilbur was chasing Wallace round the box with the sole intention of harm, i threw a towel in and unfortunately my hand got there first and i have to say that's the first time ever i have been bitten by a pig.
The bullying that goes on is a lot of low rumbled chatter, bum swaying, chasing, he would mount if he could catch Wallace and i get the feeling he guards the veg bowl, he does settle down and does allow Wallace back to feed but i can't stay outside all the time and so don't know what happens when i'm not there, which worries me.
I have given great thought to re-homing Wilbur (which would be my last resort). but would Wallace miss him? Would it be better to re-home them together to a home with no other males? I really do not know what to do-i'm in totally alien territory with this & as i've said all my previous piggies have been boys, most all non-related and it's been fine.

[susie]

What you describe, with the strutting and rumbling, maybe Wilbur just likes showing off. Hugo likes everyone to know he is there and does this but never hurts or upsets Bubba in anyway. As long as he is not hurting Wallace or stopping him from getting food, getting out of hidey holes etc I think its ok. But you know your pigs, and if there is cause for concern or not.

[nikinakinooo]

i'm gonna carry on monitoring the situation and i agree it might just be Wilbur feeling threatened by H & H and he's enforcing his "boss" position to Wallace. I'll keep you posted, thanks again

[janet]

i had a similar situation to this with ozzy and onzlo, they got on fine till they could see the pigs next door, then onzlo started attacking ozzy i would make a solid division to the cage so that wilbur is less stressed and less likely to attack wallace, things can change over night , i left ozzy and onzlo too long and ozzy paid the price for it, i went in one morning and he had a least a dozen bites over his back. Some of my boys can see the pigs next door but only the single boars or more placid ones, my more bolshy boys have a wooden partition beween them and it's like the pair next door don't exist. Ozzy and onzlo now live in a row of 4 single boars and are definately happier,

love janet

[nikinakinooo]

thanks for that janet,
i think i've cracked it (fingers crossed) i've just boarded up the mesh partition with floor boards and screws but i left a 2" gap at the top for ventilation, then i put their 2 storey tunnel in front of that. I'm cleaning the add-on bit of their hutch when i looks round to see Wallace on top of the tunnel (god only knows how he pulled himself up there) with his nose to the mesh-i've now moved the tunnel to the middle of the hutch! It still makes me chuckle, bless him, he was stuck between the roof and the top of the tunnel with no way down unless he did a free-fall jump (the tunnels are about 14" high). Although i should have known, he's like Houdidni-i have mesh runs under the hutches that have wooden struts in the middle and a tunnel for them to play in, Wallace can jump onto the tunnel and launch himself at the wooden strut and pull himself over the top of the mesh run and then darts for freedom. Thankfully they're in a shed so freedom's a long way away. I never knew guinea pigs were so supple and gymnast-like. ;D
It's been a funny old day, Huxley and Hamish were at it today wi the rumbling chatter, they had a bit of a scuffle but sorted themselves out and Wallace was showing his "masterful" side to Wilbur, i think it must be something in the water!!!
Peace returned when i gave them a bowl of mixed fruit and veg and sum tasty dandelion leaves-i'll see what happens tomorrow-one thing's for sure my boys aint boring and are keeping me on my toes lol ;D ;D ;D

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Janet how do your other boys get on? I am wanting to have a mesh divider between all my boys, basically so Rainbow can be in the middle surrounded by piggys. Its the only solution I can think of for him. He is defo. lonely right now. Would you say in the main it doesn;t bother your boys being able to se the other pairs or do more dislike it then like it?

[nikinakinooo]

Well people the saga continues..... The pairs are now totally separated from each other (the mesh is "cladded"). I went in to feed them hay, veg etc and observed......Huxley & Hamish were "chilling" in the sunshine, while Wallace & Wilbur had another "battle of wills" bum swaying, low-rumbled chatter, jumping, teeth baring, chasing......With my head in my hands, i thought "oh no" and almost as soon as it had started it stopped and both started feeding together.
I've now decided i can build under their hutches, giving them all a 2 storey hutch with a linking ladder between. If all else fails with these two at least then i'll be able to separate them (cos to get rid of them is NOT an option-i'd miss 'em too much) I'll keep ya posted on their progress

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Aw sorry to hear it has not settled down. These boys don't know what is good for them! Glad you have managed to sort out a possible solution with the two story cage... I know it would be the last thing any of us would want to rehome piggys... looking forwards to hearing about the new cage.

[janet]

i have found it depends on the personality of the pig, the laid back ones barely take any notice of the neighbours, baby seamus now lives alone with onzlo on one side and Hamish on the other, he spends all day threatening both of them, he thinks it's great, well he does now he's realised he can be as cheeky as he likes but they can't get to him, woody on the other hand was so stressed to have onzlo as a neighbour he became very stressed and lost over 5oz in weight, he's now living next door to placid old zac and pugs and has gained 10oz since feb, he's a right fat pig now. All i can suggest is try it and see what Ray thinks. I just have 3 cages out of 9 with solid dividers, 2 of these sets of pigs have had to be seperated in the past but have now been reintroduced and prefer not to see the neighbours, the last cage is Ziggy and Titch who isn't all there and goes hysterical over anything, so he's definately better with less stimulation, the rest can all see each other and for the most part are happy about it.
lovejanet

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Thanks for that Janet. Couldn't help laughing at the personalities of one or two of your piggys coming through there! Hope it does work out for Rainbow. It could be the solution I have been trying to find for him.

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

How are things going? Would be lovely to hear an update. Hope its all still going well and the problem solved!

[nikinakinooo]

admin said:

How are things going? Would be lovely to hear an update. Hope its all still going well and the problem solved!

Hi Susie,
Everything seems fine ;D I haven't seen any "unmannerly conduct" from any of them lol. Huxley loves his new 2 storey apartment, he's up and down the ladder all day, unfortunately i can't say the same for Hamish, he prefers to stay upstairs hiding in the tunnel. As for the "gangsta pigs" (as they've affectionately become known) they haven't attempted the ladder so don't know they have a lower floor, bless em I'm sure they'll figure out where the hole in the floor leads to in time but i am really happy that harmony has been restored. Long may it remain ;D
I want to say thanks to you and Janet for your advice with this and to say i luv this site, it's piggin great!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Susie (Barmy4Boars)]

Aww thanks. I'm blushing. Glad you found it helpful. As you now I have been in a similar situation and it is so stressful worrying about them and thinking about what you would do if you had to seperate. Glad it seems to be working out well now!