Aggression: New Piggie Trouble

[adriangunn]

Hi,

After having to put one of our two piggies to sleep, my wife and I decided to adopt two new piggies, so our remaining fatso Guiness wouldn't be loney. We have a large "cubes" cage (2 x 6) and we divided it in half to segregate the new piggies from Guiness until they got used to each other. All the piggies in question are female. Guiness is about 3 and the newcomers (yet to be named) are both ~3 months. The newcommers were caged seperately at the shelter (all new arrivials there are) but we were told they had been brough in together along with 2 other pigs, so we assumed they would be OK together. They rode home in seperate boxes, and seemed fine at first once they were together in the cage. They were unafriad, exploring, popcorning, lots of converation, etc. But after about 30 minutes the trouble started. There was no rumblestruting or mounting, but periodically while bounding around the cage they would collide or come face to face in a tight spot (behind a pigloo, etc) and there would be a show down - head tossing, rearing, chattering, and a few tumbles resulting in some bit fur. They would be fine afterwords, and all would be well for a awhile until the next "crash". Between these incidents, they are fine together - most close contacts - bumps, jumping over each other, or sharing the food dish do NOT result in agressive behavior. It seems just when they startle each other (or when they attempt to "barber" each others behinds) does the the trouble start. This morning, one of the piggies had a small (5-6mm) cut or deep scratch on her face (ironically it was the more agressive of the two). Looks minor, only a teeny, tiny bit of dried blood, but they obvioulsy had it out in the night. Do they need to be seperated? Or are they just 2 young, nervous, excitied piggies that will "work it out" and settle down? Interestingly Guiness (the older pig) chattered at the newcomers for about 30 minutes through the bars, but now lies right next to the bars when the new pigs are near, talks to them, and very nicely rubs or sniffs noses with them through the bars. The little pigs have shown no agression to Guiness at all, and seem excited and fascinated by her, and spend a lot of time near her or trying to get in with her (sticking noses through the bars, digging, biting the bars).

Thanks,

Adrian & Nicole