Hello!
Recently I've been working towards understanding my pigs more, and I built them C&C cages. They are NOT neutered males, the same age, and very aggressive towards each other (the previous owners didn't notice? I don't know, it seems weird to me, too, don't worry): rumble strutting, yawning, growling, stand-offs, having issues sharing, butt-chasing, etc etc. All very annoying and stressful for both them AND me, too! They're going to hurt each other.
I thought it was because their cage was too small but they're in a 2X4 C&C right now and they're still doing it. So, I made them each a separate 2X4 C&C and put them in them. The cages are side by side, with the shorter walls facing in, so they can still see each other. John, the LESS dominant one was fine. He was adventured his new home happily, eating the veggies I gave him, doing very well. Paul, however, the dominant one who normally pushes John around, was in distress. He would hardly eat the veggies in front of him, and he checked every corner of the cage, even pulled the fleece up to look under it, and he squeaked out to John constantly, looking for him. He seemed very distressed, while John seemed fine. I put them back together for now, and went to class. So they're home right now in their new C&C, and they started growling at each other right away.
I don't know what to do. I can't afford to neuter them, and that's not even a guarantee that they will stop if I do. It seems like a lot of physical and financial stress for the possibility of it not helping at all. I really don't want to have to adopt one of them out, because I like having two. But I'm wondering what to do. Should I separate them and just make them deal with it, or should I merge their cages into one, with a hallway between the two (I have some extra grids). They would have plenty of space...
Help, please. I don't want them to stress, I want them to be happy.
Recently I've been working towards understanding my pigs more, and I built them C&C cages. They are NOT neutered males, the same age, and very aggressive towards each other (the previous owners didn't notice? I don't know, it seems weird to me, too, don't worry): rumble strutting, yawning, growling, stand-offs, having issues sharing, butt-chasing, etc etc. All very annoying and stressful for both them AND me, too! They're going to hurt each other.
I thought it was because their cage was too small but they're in a 2X4 C&C right now and they're still doing it. So, I made them each a separate 2X4 C&C and put them in them. The cages are side by side, with the shorter walls facing in, so they can still see each other. John, the LESS dominant one was fine. He was adventured his new home happily, eating the veggies I gave him, doing very well. Paul, however, the dominant one who normally pushes John around, was in distress. He would hardly eat the veggies in front of him, and he checked every corner of the cage, even pulled the fleece up to look under it, and he squeaked out to John constantly, looking for him. He seemed very distressed, while John seemed fine. I put them back together for now, and went to class. So they're home right now in their new C&C, and they started growling at each other right away.
I don't know what to do. I can't afford to neuter them, and that's not even a guarantee that they will stop if I do. It seems like a lot of physical and financial stress for the possibility of it not helping at all. I really don't want to have to adopt one of them out, because I like having two. But I'm wondering what to do. Should I separate them and just make them deal with it, or should I merge their cages into one, with a hallway between the two (I have some extra grids). They would have plenty of space...
Help, please. I don't want them to stress, I want them to be happy.