Fighting pigs..what to do?

**jazz1992** · #1 07-12-08, 09:01 am

The past few days, all my pigs seem to do is fight.
Not just chasing each other a bit, proper teeth chattering noses in the air fighting, weere I have to pull them off each other.
I tried pulling them off each other yesterday when they were fighting in there igloo but one of them bit me and drew blood.
The only way I seem to be able to stop them now is to shout and to scare them away in there pigloos.
Any idea what I can do?

**bunnys n pigs** · #2 07-12-08, 03:22 pm

Are your pigs altered? (neutered)

**Gemiinii** · #3 07-12-08, 03:29 pm

Altering them won't change their behavior.

When they're fighting, are they drawing blood from each other? And if you plan on getting into their fight, it would be better to do so with a towel so that they don't bite you by mistake.

**jazz1992** · #4 07-12-08, 03:50 pm

No there not neutured because there both males. And no there not drawing bloog, they got on fine the first few weeks after getting them but now like every hour they start fighting.

**Emmy-Dan** · #5 07-12-08, 04:46 pm

Sounds like they are trying to sort out which is gonna be the dormint one. Keep an eye on them and only get involved if there is risk of injury. Make sure they have plenty of space and their own hidy holes. Also make sure they have enough food, water, chew toys etc. This should help with boredom. I don't think shouting at them is the answer as they are probably scared and worked up enough. I know how worried you are as my girls have their arguments. Try standing near them talking in a normal tone and maybe this will be another distraction for them. Good Luck.

**jazz1992** · #6 07-12-08, 06:29 pm

Thanks. It seems to be mercadiez picking on jack for no reason. ajck will be there eating hay and mercadiez will come over rumbling its teeth etc at jack for no reason.

**jazz1992** · #7 07-12-08, 07:11 pm

So I just gave them loads of veggies and a paper bag (i heard thats a good toy) and there going abasaloutly crazy. popcorning to the extream. like there having a fit or something!

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #8 07-12-08, 08:17 pm

How big is the cage and how old are they?

**jazz1992** · #9 07-12-08, 08:23 pm

The cage is 2x4 and there around 3 months old

**Haley0489** · #10 07-12-08, 08:59 pm

Sounds like puberty to me.

**jazz1992** · #11 07-13-08, 12:06 am

Iv split the cage in two, as all they were doing all night was fighting (well mercadiez picking on jack) i tried to just let them get on with it but I couldnt sleep hearing the 2 pigs rumbling and going for each other all night, so I took jack out the cage for a bit and he basically fell alseep on my lap. After about an hour I put him back in with mercadiez but what did mercadiez do as soon as jack came back, starting grumbling at him and chasing him so I put 2 cubes down the middle of the cage just untill someone replys to this thread I guess. Shall I just leave them to fight? Iv been up all night, so have had no sleep thanks to the pigs.

**jazz1992** · #12 07-13-08, 12:38 am

Also the way mercadiez will walk over to jack really slowly,
teeth chattering, with his backside swaying while he walks,
almost as if hes stalking his pray, its really odd.

**gooberific** · #13 07-13-08, 01:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazz1992

Also the way mercadiez will walk over to jack really slowly,
teeth chattering, with his backside swaying while he walks,
almost as if hes stalking his pray, its really odd.

That's rumblestrutting, just still them trying to sort out who is dominant. It's rough, but they have to figure it out for themselves. I was worried about mine, too, and then I added a small area (1x2) onto the side of their 2x4 to put their hay and food and water and stuff, and they were nearly fine right afterwards. It gives them a little more interior space without having more obstacles. They're 5 months, and they still re-establish dominance when put back into a clean cage, or even after floortime and back into a spot-cleaned cage.

**jazz1992** · #14 07-13-08, 10:20 am

Okay. Iv just undivided the cage and there now back together. You can guess the first thing mercadiez does, he does look quite funny when he rumblestrutts i have to say. Jack finially starting to stick up for himself, so unless theres blood being drawn Im just going to let them at there silly sqwabbling.

**jazz1992** · #15 07-13-08, 02:34 pm

Iv now just redone there cage so its a 3x4, maybe this will help.

**Tergale** · #16 07-14-08, 07:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazz1992

Iv now just redone there cage so its a 3x4, maybe this will help.

I think that will make a difference. I have harvey in a 2x4 with a 1x1 cube on the side and I feel like thats to small just for him. I hope they get over their bickering soon.

Pigtopia · #17 07-14-08, 09:52 am

Boys! I had this with two of mine and they were in a 5x2 hutch that I have in my utility room. However they drew blood and had to be seperated. Do you have girls nearby? I made this mistake of keeping my Sows in the same room and this caused the boys to go mad.

Hopefully they will work the dominance out, keep a spare old towel handy to the cage as if they fight you can put the towel over them to seperate quickly and that will hopefully not cause any injuries to yourself. Good luck with the little darlings!

Thank you jazz1992, for this useful post, say these 2 members:
babyboo (07-13-08), bunnys n pigs (07-12-08)

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