which is better???????

[oreo33]

I'm in the process of moving one of my gps to her new cage. I would have moved her into the same cage as my other pig but they pretty much hate each other. (shockingly they are both girls) I read somewhere that even if they hate each other they should still be close because the presence of there kind comforts them no matter how much they hate each other. well anyways i put there cages close (about an inch away) and they tryed to bite each others noses. If i pull them apart (about 2 or 3 inchs) then they still try to bite each others nose (they cant get to each other though) and get there heads stuck. so which of these options should i pick.

1. keep them on seperate sides of the room and risk them getting sad and lonely.
2. keep them about an inch away from each other and risk them getting hurt noses.
3. keep them about 2 or 3 inchs away from each other and risk them getting there head stuck.

if you have any more options please tell me

 

[ParanoidEv]

I have no idea on this one, but it's clear they are not happy pigs when they are together. Have you thought about getting another piggie for company and see how that works?
I don't know how attatched you are to your pigs, but maybe you could go to where you have got them and switch pigs?

 

[dagwellismypigy]

Is it mutual? If it is just one pig, you could get the other not-mean pigs a friend.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

When they were together what behaviors were they showing?

 

[oreo33]

mainly teeth chattering and im way to attached to my pig to switch her

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Teeth chattering is normal behavior. You might want to try introducing them again in a neutral area away from the cage and see how they interact. See this page for help: https://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

They have to be allowed to sort out any dominance issues. A lot of times people think that if they are doing things like teeth chattering, rumblestrutting that it means the pigs hate each other and that is simply not the case.

 

[oreo33]

i have introduced them that way before and they never claimed dominace and it shows teeth chattering under posture for possible attack, too. (just so you know im not saying this in a mean tone)

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Any pigs that live together will sort out dominance at some point or another. I know that teeth chattering is listed under both sections. But when they posture for possible attack you will see other behaviors with it usually like the nipping and snorting. I would try introducing them again rather than to risk them getting their heads stuck in the grids. I have read a few unpleasant threads about pigs having their head stuck in grids and getting seriously hurt or even dying.

This is also underneath the posture for possible attack on the social life page too:

These behaviors may sound serious and they should be monitored VERY CLOSELY, BUT do NOT separate the pigs exhibiting this behavior, yet. This is when the average pet owner loses it and pulls the pig out. Most of the time, this behavior will continue for a while until one backs down.

 

[oreo33]

oo thanks do you think the bath thing is a good idea in the article

 

[ParanoidEv]

Oh and don't be suprised if it doens't work. I have two girl sister pigs that don't know what to do with eathother! They do the usual teeth-chattering, rumblestutter and sneak on eachother but sometimes you can catch them sleeping side by side! That's piggy puberty I guess! They so look like human teenage sisters..

 

[3cavygirl]

I have two boars in one cage that get along pretty well, they do the rumble strutting, etc., but don't bite. They play and chase one another, too. I have a third boar that fights with one of the other two when they are in one cage, so he is in his own cage. When they are out for floor time, they get along okay though. I'm thinking it's because they are in neutral territory. Maybe they would do well at floortime but just not living together.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I think the "buddy bath" should be used as a last resort.

 

[oreo33]

really, why?

 

[dagwellismypigy]

Baths may stress the pig out and get them sick. Personally I have never experienced this and I would do it you think it's what needs to be done.