joe and michelle lyson

Hi,

We just bought a second guinea pig...our first one was a rescue I am not
sure how old he is for sure but I think he is about 3...We thought we were
getting a sow when we bought the second one...but it looks like he is a
young boar....they are not crazy about eachother...they don't fight just
kinda squeal really loud a eachother...the second boar (Muffin) is kinda
aggressive and won't always let the first boar(ninja) drink water....any
ideas on if or when they will start getting along? Ninja is very calm and
loving but muffin doesn't like to be held....is this something that will get
better the more he is handled?
Michelle

incs

Hi Michelle, congrats to all of you :-)

I guess Muffin is not used to being picked up, but Muffin will see you
handling Ninja and get used to the idea. The sooner they get used to 'hands'
the better: one day after birth I handled my baby boar and sow, pet their
mom first, then pet them. These babies are now 5 months of age and have
absolutely no problem being handled, though they *do* like to play the game
'catch me if you can' with me :-)

So if Muffin does not have a lot of experience with being handled, his
response is only natural. Use Ninja as an example, pet him first, then try
and pet Muffin. If Muffin keeps running away, go back to petting Ninja
again, make him purr if possible. This way, noticing that Ninja seems to
enjoy this, Muffin will get curious and a bit jealous, as a result of which
you can pet him too.

Also talking helps a lot, to make your new piggy feel safe with you; use
your voice as you could use it on
small children. Talk to them when you give treats, food, vegetables and talk
to them when you approch, pet and hold them. This way, your voice becomes
associated with pleasant, nice things (food, shelter, love). As your piggies
will pick up this 'link' from food mostly in the beginning (as Muffin is
still running from you) keep talking, doesn't matter what you say as long as
you say it in a soft, gentle voice.

Follow these three steps 'to heaven':
Quite soon your voice will be 'linked' to food. Soon as this happends,
you've made it to step one.
Then, if you can feed them treats from your hands, the voice is ALSO linked
to treats and hands; step two.
Over time you will notice both Ninja *and* Muffin start wheeking for
food/treats/love as soon as they hear your voice; step three.
Now your voice is THE calm-down instrument in times of stress or fear, THE
indication for food and treats and THE indication for hands and love. Both
for Ninja (who already knew all of this) and Muffin.

Quote from Peter Gurney, cavy guru:
"Boars can be put together immediately after weaning and do not have to be
of the same family. Or it can be done with a youngster up to about ten weeks
old being introduced to an adult. It will usually be chased about a bit by
the adult who sometimes tries to mate with it, particularly if it is a
recently weaned one that has been living with its mother or other sows. Very
occasionally, if the adult has a very high *** drive, this chasing can be
far too stressful for the young one and it is best to separate them.
However, in the main, things settle down after a day or so, so do persevere.
Boars are much happier having a companion and are far easier to handle when
they are in pairs.
If you have a pair of boars who live together contentedly, keep it that way
by not allowing any sows near them. The male of this, and most species, tend
to do the macho bit when the 'girls' are about!"

Hope this pile of information helps. About the 'not letting Ninja drink'
part: they will have to establish dominance. Ninja being a gentle piggy, it
is very likely you will see Muffin mount Ninja after some time; this
behaviour does not express a wish to mate but is just showing dominance,
just as the chasing away and the squealing. They will get used to each
other, give them some time. To speed things up a bit, you could both take
them on your lap and feed them vegetables at the same time; eating bonds.

Good luck!

Incs
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