General Clarification on "alone"

[bernyb]

If your pigs' cages are one cage with a grid division (each side is proper size for 1 pig), are they considered alone?

My two (brother) teen boars cannot live together now, but hopefully can go back to being together when they are mature.

They talk, sniff each other, growl and rumblestrut, wave their noses in the air and try to steal each other's food through the grids. Sometimes friends, sometimes challenging each other. When one is gone for awhile for floor time, the one left behind will start to wheek loudly and frantically, so they must be freinds?

 

[Crystalkate]

Thats normal behavior. As long as they aren't fighting for blood I would leave them together.

 

[bernyb]

Oh, they were fighting for blood!!! Nugget always started the challenges (and still does through the bars), but twice Gizmo bit a chunk out of Nugget so up went the divider.

 

[Crystalkate]

I am sure they like each other. Guinea pigs are herd animals and like company. I am sure in the end he doesn't do it to hurt him, he is just very dominate. Sad they can't be together. At least they can talk to each other through the grid.

 

[piggypuppylove]

It's not ideal, but they should be fine until their hormones settle down and you can try to take down the divider. Safety should be the top priority, those teeth can do some damage.

 

[bernyb]

They are only 8 1/2 months old. I really hope adulthood will see them friends again. Too bad the addition of an older male wouldn't just solve it. That would only introduce more problems though. If they don't get along when they're older they will each just have to get a friend they can get along with I guess

 

[mufasa]

I think a divider is much better than having them where they can't see each other or interact at all. That's what I'm doing with Amy and Borat till Borat gets neutered. They can see each other and touch noses in their cages and also in their pool-pen during floor time. They interact a lot through the grids, and Amy's even been known to steal a carrot piece out of Borat's mouth if he eats it too close to the grid. I think seeing each other for all this time will help them get along when they're finally completely together.

 

[bernyb]

I think it will help too. It's cute when they steal food. I put their apple branch through the divider so they can share. One minute it's almost all the way in one cage, the next minute the other.

 

[Petlovr]

It's cute when they steal food. I put their apple branch through the divider so they can share. One minute it's almost all the way in one cage, the next minute the other.

LOL, that's cute.

I don't consider your pigs "alone". They have each other to talk to and interact with.