I need some seasoned owner's advice...

[sheslostcontrol]

I got my first pig, Stella, a little over a month ago. She seemed a little depressed and was not coming out of her shell so I got her a companion, Lola, a little over 2 weeks ago.
They play and run around together and have no problems. During floor time they will eat out of the same bowl and snuggle together. Now I am trying to introduce them into the same cage cause Lola is being housed in a quite small temporary home for now. When i put Lola in though Stella attacks her. She does this teeth chattering thing and runs after her and will nip at her. I have tried pulling Stella out of her home cage and letting Lola sleep there hoping maybe her scents would somehow inform Stella she was allowed or it was ok for her to be there.
I really dont know what to do at this point and I do not want them to be separately housed, especially since Lola's cage is small and I do not have the room to build another large cage for just her.
Anyone with some advice on how to get them together for good?

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

I got my first pig, Stella, a little over a month ago. She seemed a little depressed and was not coming out of her shell so I got her a companion, Lola, a little over 2 weeks ago.
They play and run around together and have no problems. During floor time they will eat out of the same bowl and snuggle together. Now I am trying to introduce them into the same cage cause Lola is being housed in a quite small temporary home for now. When i put Lola in though Stella attacks her. She does this teeth chattering thing and runs after her and will nip at her. I have tried pulling Stella out of her home cage and letting Lola sleep there hoping maybe her scents would somehow inform Stella she was allowed or it was ok for her to be there.
I really dont know what to do at this point and I do not want them to be separately housed, especially since Lola's cage is small and I do not have the room to build another large cage for just her.
Anyone with some advice on how to get them together for good?

Never place a pig in anothers cage until they have been introduced etc.
Clean the cage super well, clean all toys water bottles and food dishes. Let them run around for floor time together. Then place them in the freshly cleaned cage. It should work they should get a long, because Stella won't thinks she owns the cage if her scent isn't in there. That is what I did with my males when I introduced them. I learned the hard way when I placed another pig in a different pigs cage to play.They didn't get along, and the pigs got in a huge fight, and they bit me and they ended up hurt.

My suggestion may not work, maybe they need some more intro time before they live together, I read on the cavy spirit site that it can take months.

Oh also try to give them a bath together, they will smell the same and they will have been through trama together. They will forget about fighting, I read about this idea at the cavy spirit site.

 

[My Baby Mu]

You could wash the cage compleatly disinfect and eveything change around the cage (if you can) or the chubes and hidey houses. Then maybe Stella wouln't think that is her cage and if you put them in at the same time they may think it is both of there cages. I'm not quite sure I have never had sows before (I'm guessing there sows cause the name). Go to www.cavyspirit.com and they have introductions and 'dating games'. I don't have the exact page it is on so you'll have to find it.

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

You could wash the cage compleatly disinfect and eveything change around the cage (if you can) or the chubes and hidey houses. Then maybe Stella wouln't think that is her cage and if you put them in at the same time they may think it is both of there cages. I'm not quite sure I have never had sows before (I'm guessing there sows cause the name). Go to www.cavyspirit.com and they have introductions and 'dating games'. I don't have the exact page it is on so you'll have to find it.

Yep go to this website great advice there.

 

[sheslostcontrol]

Thanks for the advice you guys. I will try these tomorrow and hopefully they will work!

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Thanks for the advice you guys. I will try these tomorrow and hopefully they will work!

Good luck, sure hope it works!! If not you could always divide the cage in half and the piggies could live in the same cage just separated. That way they will still have contact with another of the same species.

 

[Denise]

My sows bickered so much that my husband had to build them a divided hidey house so they wouldn't touch. They were brought home together and have been caged together and often cuddled together in the beginning with no problems , but recently the house situation became a problem. Now they have their own space and other than minor food squabbles, all is good! Best of luck!

 

[sheslostcontrol]

I tried the bath and re-arranging of the cage today. Right now they are in the cage together and except for some very minor teeth chattering they have been pretty good. They took a nap in the hidey house and snuggled. Lola has been re-treating to her own little house though for some alone time. So far so good though. Thanks everyone!

 

[Denise]

Hope the cease-fire continues!

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

I tried the bath and re-arranging of the cage today. Right now they are in the cage together and except for some very minor teeth chattering they have been pretty good. They took a nap in the hidey house and snuggled. Lola has been re-treating to her own little house though for some alone time. So far so good though. Thanks everyone!

Thats great, hope it stays that way!!!