Advice about arguing piggies

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sally

sally

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We have had our 2 girls for over 2 years now and they live together in a Nero 3 cage in our living room. The cage is usually open and they are aloud to run free around the living room whenever they want. One was from P@H and the other one was from a rescue and is 1 year older.

Well about 2 weeks ago the younger one started to pester and bother the other one, moving her out of the way and constantly see if she has any food! She was also doing the bum wiggling thing to show her dominance.

So we got another cage and have them separate now. They both seem happier now, but what does everyone think should we keep them separate or put them back together?

Thanks for advice, sally
 
they where not fighting as the smaller one is very quite and would not fight, but the bigger one looked as if she was slightly biting the other one in order to get her to move out of the way if she did not move fast enough for her!
 
As far as I know, that is normal behaviour, especially when they get to that age where their hormones kick in, and they become "teenagers" I was told to leave mine to it, and that they just needed to work out which would be the "higher" one of the 2 and they would re-settle, unless they of course fought and drew blood. x
 
Sows tend to posture their dominance, unlike boars who will dipslay it by an actual act of aggression. ie biting. I would let them have their run around the floor and then put them back in the cage together with plenty of food. With any luck they will associate the cage with food and sleep and not scrapping.
I have had that approach work on many occasions.
 
i have notice that with freddie and basil but got use to it freddie will just turn his head and nip at basil . if i see him i tell him off not that he understands me lol. but they have never had a fight or if basil eating some thing freddie goes to have a nosy then there is a tuck of war over dandelion leaf when theres more on the floor you have to laugh at them bless
 
My two oldest sows nip the bums of the rest if they're in their way, they are just the dominant ones of the group. As long as there's no blood drawn I wouldnt worry about it and would keep them together :)
 
I agree with Piggiepooh completely, and keeping them apart is not good for their relationship or happiness either. They'd rather be together with the dominance thing going on than separate, it's part of their natural herd politics and familiar to them even though it can look horrid to us.

Best of luck, Sarah x
 
I'd agree too. The younger girl is just being a teenager - full of hormones, slightly stroppy and confused. She will get through it in her own time but its part of the learning process for her and splitting them up would be evern more confusing for her.

Squabbles are normal, they are just working out who is boss - my girls still do it from time to time and then they settle down again. Dont split them unless they draw blood (which is highly unlikely).

Good luck x
 
Sounds like the younger one is staging a bit for the top slot now that she feels in a position to do so. Let them work through it - it is normal dominance behaviour. It looks rougher to us than it is for the piggies. As long as there is no blood, they're fine.

Let them roam together and then move back in. If you want, you can have everything twice, but be prepared for the dominant sow to behave very *itchy until she feels secure in her dominancy - that can last a few weeks!
 
thank you everyone for all your advice I really appreciate it. We separated them because we felt so bad for the one being bullies, very human I suppose. We will take your advice and put them back in the same cage and see how it goes.
 
Good luck - and grow a thick coat of fur yourself for the next few weeks!

If you think that one may not get enough food, feed them separately, otherwise let the girls get on with it.
 
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