fun on floor time

[ludacristhepig]

I am having trouble with floor time. I have 2 male pigs that used to run around with each other. Now, they are trting to kill each other for some bizarre reason. Now, they have floor time by themselves. I was wondering what kind of stuff I could be use to keep them both entertained while having floor time. I have shoe boxes, bags, and non-chewable balls they can play with and even some hay stuck in a toilet paper roll. I need some other ideas that they would love since they have play by themselves.

[Percy's Mom]

Are these 2 pigs that live together, or is floor time the only time they see each other? What are they doing that you are interpretting as "trying to kill each other"? Is their floor time area larger or smaller than their cage(s)?

If you can give us a bit more information about the situation, we may be able to help you get your boys back together as well as suggest other toys.

As far as those toys go, PVC pipe tunnels are big hits at my house as well as those made of old oatmeal containers. Crumbled paper and the other items you're already using are great.

[ludacristhepig]

Ok, there floor time is as big as my room, so their floor time is larger than their cages, they are in separate cages because 1 night, when they were living together, they went ballistic and started teeth chattering and actually jumped at each other.
Luckly, I was up at the time they tried to attack each other and narrowly stopped them. Now, they are in separate cages and each gets 4 hours to run around my room. They really never see each other but they most likely smell each other and they know that they are not the only guniea pig in the house. The only time they see each other is when one is in a cage and I'll hold one up to the cage and they'll smell each other for about 10 seconds and then I'll just take them away.

[Jenni_Feathers]

You should give them another chance to get along cause sometimes my boys will have a lil spar up then every thing will be jsut fine. Also sometimes they will challenge each other but olny during floor time- I tink its because of the large space.

[ludacristhepig]

Okay, I'll try.

[Jenni_Feathers]

How'd it go are they getting along again?

[ludacristhepig]

Nope, they go to each other, do the dominance thing and when one tries to pin the other, the one that is getting pinned starts teeth chattering but the other one doesn't teeth chatter.Any ideas?

[Tulia&Susie]

Why don't you try a buddy bath. That neutralizes the smell so they smell the same and such. Also are you trying to introduce them in your room where they had floortime. If so that's not a good idea. They have their scents their and they need a neutral area again. How old are they? Teeth chattering is ok it's when the actually lunge at eachother and all you see is a big furball or fighting. Then you need a towel and a dustpan(to separate).

[ludacristhepig]

Is a buddy bath when they just take a bath together? Also, one is maybe 2 years old and the other is probably a year old. How do I neutralize the smells in my room because my parents won't let them run around in the hallway and the bathroom has a closet that has roaches in it. I dont want them to be around roaches.

[Tulia&Susie]

Ya, buddy bath is just when you bathe them together that's all. It's not a first recommended thing because you don't want to bathe them to much for they will get dry skin. Do you have a playpen you have for the outdoors so you could introduce them there? I'm not sure if there is a way to neutralize your room. You would just have to make sure I suppose everything was clean right before you introduced them.

[ludacristhepig]

Well, i dont think the grass is safe here because I live in New orleans and there is alot of pollution here and we dont even have a lawn. And watabout the bugs outside? Also, when i let them get to play with each other, if one hurts or makes the other bleed what should i do?

[Tulia&Susie]

Originally Posted by ludacristhepig

Well, i dont think the grass is safe here because I live in New orleans and there is alot of pollution here and we dont even have a lawn. And watabout the bugs outside? Also, when i let them get to play with each other, if one hurts or makes the other bleed what should i do?

If you don't have a lawn that is ok. I have a lawn and it has never been treated so they love being outside and they even get to have their grass which they love eating. The bugs depending what area your in they usually don't bother with them. The fur protects them. If you haven't introduced them completely yet don't let them have "play time". Because they re establishing dominance and it makes things harder. You just have to find a neutral area. While introduing them if you see one bleeding or one really going at it(fighting really bad) then you need to just put a towel over them(so it's harder for them to see eachother) then have a dustpan and easily separate the two. If one draws blood then don't put them together again and treat the wound or bring him to a vet.

[ludacristhepig]

Well, I they were together for about 3 months and then they started fighting. Thats when i put them in separate cages. For the 3 months they were together, they were always with each other and one didnt want to be without the other. The oldest one was smaller than the younger one(he was skin and bones) until when he started getting to his appropriate weight, thats when they started to get in fights. I have introduced them completely and they loved having each other around. When they do fight, do they usually hurt the other real bad to where he's covered in blood, because i dont want to take the chance of letting them get into it.

[TX_2_Pigs]

Well so far it sounds to me like you should have just left them alone to work it out. It didn't sound like there had been any actual bloodshed, just your fear of it. It sounds like they started to have conflicts when the younger one hit puberty.

They will challenge each other from time to time but if you separate them at the first sign of a challenge, they never get to decide who will be the big pig. I know it is hard to watch them "go at it" but unless one of them draws blood, you really should just let them work it out.

You need to find someplace to introduce them that is neutral. If you have carpet it your room it will be difficult to eliminate all the odors. Try laying blanket down to cover up the existing smells. Introduce them and watch them for a couple of hours if you can. If they don't draw blood they will probably be ok.

Do you have a C&C cage? If the cage isn't big enough (you need at least 28 inches, 2 grids, by 56 inches, 4 grids, for 2 males) that could be another reason they can't be caged together. Make sure that before you try to house them together that you have thoroughly cleaned the cage they will be in. This includes washing and disinfecting the coroplast, water bottles, food dishes, toys, hideys and putting in fresh clean bedding. You should also have 2 or 3 of everything so they won't have to fight over it.

My boys are a little over a year old. They are brothers from the same litter so they have been together since day 1 and I still see them challenge each other. I just keep an eye on them to make sure they don't get out of hand. It doesn't usually last very long for them to decide that Chopper is still the big pig.

I hope that you will introduce them and give them a chance to be together.

[ludacristhepig]

I will try again today in a neutral area but what if bloodshed, what should I do.

[catzeye21138]

If there is any blood shed then it finally got serious. As long as they don't become "flying balls of fur" it should be okay. And trust me, you WILL know when/if they become one.

[HowietheGreat]

Little tuffs of hair will go floating. If it happens just throw a towel over them. The sudden darkness should make them stop. It was great advice from the rescue where I adopted Belle-it works.