Should I separate these boys..?

[jess_w]

I have two male chins that have been living together for around 4 months. They're both pretty young (less than a year), and it all seemed to be going great until a couple of weeks ago.

It seems like Jerry has started bullying Gus - for example if I put a new gnaw block in the cage and Gus starts to chew it, Jerry will chase him away until he's had his go. Sometimes they will just bicker for no apparent reason. I guess it's lucky that Gus is quite submissive so there haven't been any major scraps where blood has been drawn, but Gus seems to be losing some fur. I notice them bickering probably two or three times a day... but then a couple of minutes later they'll be snuggled up on top of one another!

I don't know what to do. Is it normal for paired chins to bicker a bit or should I think about separating them before it gets worse? It would be a shame for them to lose each other's companionship as most of the time they're getting on fine.

 

[Sandi]

I think that its one thing for them to be kacking a little at each other now and then but when you mention fur loss, I'd be real cautious about this one. It can turn much more serious overnight. On another note, If Jerry is already bullying Gus about chew toys, I'd be skeptical to think that he could also be bullying him and keeping him away from the food bowl as well. Some chins just don't like to share. If it were me, I'd separate them. Attacks happen quickly and the few that I'd read about happened overnight while you are sleeping.

 

[lauralynne]

Separate.

 

[mishellyshel]

maybe you can separate them but have shared supervised playtime??
i have all my boys separate, i just am too nervous that while i am at work something will happen.

 

[AmandaDi]

I would worry if they are already bickering. I had two males together and they lived perfectly together for a year... then one day I came home to fur everywhere and blood all over the walls... they got into a fight. Sometimes you just can't predict how they will behave.

 

[Laurie]

While everyone always tends to side on the side of caution, yes it is common for cagemates to bicker with one another. I have cagemates of boys and girls--Abby and Solange have lived together for 3 years and Abby is definitely the boss of Solange and will let her know it. I've seen her get irritated and spray Solange and them a few moments later grooming and snuggling occur. Mick St. John and Wesley have lived together nearly 2 years, they were weaned together although they are not related. They chase each other all around the cage every night! Yet no kacking or biting, but some fur slip in the excitement of the chase.
You have to pay attention to your chins. Do you think it's aggressive or just play--do you see biting and blood or just some scolding?

 

[jess_w]

I don't think it is play, but it's not very aggressive either. It's sort of like they're telling each other off really. I've never seen Jerry actually bite or go for Gus (or vice versa), but they will kack at each other and like I said Gus has lost some fur - however he is generally a pretty nervous chin, he fur slips all the time when I have to pick him up. But that makes me think, if he is so nervous, would he be better off on his own or would that make him even more reclusive?

I just want to do what is best for them - if I have to have another cage then so be it, but it seems like a pretty big step when they're used to snuggling up together and things have not yet got out of hand. I'm thinking maybe give it another week or two and see how it goes..?

I think Jerry is going through puberty at the minute so I'm also wondering if I separate them now, if they might live happily together again when they are adults?

I also heard neutering might calm them down a bit but I'm not sure if it's right to put them through all that just so they can live together...

 

[Essentia]

If there is fur slipping going on I would separate. That usually occurs when one chin is trying to get away from the other. If their bickering is that bad it could very well lead to something worse.

Are you just putting one item in the cage for both? One thing you can try before you go to full blown separation is to give them each their own items. With my father/son pair I have to give them each their own everything. Chew blocks, twigs, treats, everything. They have a tendency to steal from each other if I don't, and that can lead to kacking and bickering. Yet, any other time they are perfect together.