Stealing her cuccumber

[sam_n_chass]

Tonight i fed Emma and Eve some red leaf lettuce, a few pieces of orange pepper, and two slices of cucumber. Ive seen Emma go for the same piece of lettuce Eve had in her mouth before but it always rips apart and i thought she liked sharing. Nope. Tonight was only the second time i fed them cucumber and when Eve was eating her slice Emma grabbed it and pulled it out of her mouth, nibble it a second then dropped it. Eve tried eating it again a minute later and Emma did the same thing only this time Eve didn't let go and the were actually pulling away from each other for a second. Eve let go eventually and then Emma dropped it and went to eat something else.

Anyone seen this before? Emma also mounts Eve quit a bit and is always tying to do whatever Eve is doing. Is she just trying to tell her that shes the boss around here?

[pigsforlife]

Emma is the alpha pig. The boss. Her behaviours are completley normal, she is just expressing dominance. How long have they been together? Where did you get them?

I wouldnt worry about the stealing the veggies thing either, my Lily does that. And Lily, funnily enough is the boss pig as well although she weighs the least.

[newbie meggie]

I find that my boss pig is slightly smaller than the other.

My bossie pig gets into a hiddey place that she likes and pokes her head out when the other is near and does the purring like sound.. seems like to me that shes just saying 'this is mine so bug off' haha still love her heaps though

The pigs been together for approx 2 weeks now .. I just hope that they'll grow to be best friends.

Quick question: My local shelter called me and said they have a rescue pig being a 3yr old de-sexed male. I was wondering him mixed with 2 females be ok???

[pigsforlife]

The "purring" is probably rumble strutting. Which is just another behaviour that pigs do to express dominance over each other.

How big is your cage?

So long as your cage is big enough all 3 should get along fine. Just be sure to quarantine the male for 3 weeks. For more information on this see Cavy Spirits Social page.

[newbie meggie]

At the moment it is 2x4 grids. If I do end up getting him cause they cannot hold him for me so he might be taken already.. the cage will be changed to a larger cage with I suspect my husband will put in a 2nd level as well haha.

When should piggie owners be worried about dominance behaviour?

[pigsforlife]

There is no need to worry unless there is blood shed or balls of hair rolling rolling around the cage.