Angry Pig!

Lillygordon

Lillygordon

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I have 2 little handicap piggies that have recently started fighting! They have plenty of activities And room to roam. Iv added a second water holder and a second food bowl. They have been togeher since birth. They are both males but I was told since they have been together since day one they would get along. They only recently started fighting and now the one is even turning on me and biting me. Just in need of some ideas I don't have room for 2 gigantic cages!
 
Unfortunately what you were told isn't very accurate, as young male pigs of the same age are actually the most likely to have an irreparable falling out when they reach piggy puberty. Their hormones start flaring at the same time and both pigs want dominance over the other, and sometimes a working hierarchy is established, and sometimes it can't be sorted out and things get violent. That's why with male pigs, it's recommended to get a pair that are different ages, with one having already moved beyond the "hormone danger zone" (one mature adult male) and one baby.

What sort of fighting are they doing? Has any blood been drawn? Usually biting that draws blood is the sign of failed bonding that is taken to mean the pigs need to be separated for their safety. Also, if one of your pigs seems to be constantly bullied and harassed, and is becoming depressed and withdrawn, that is a bad sign and an indicator that separation is necessary. If not, you should set up two different feeding areas at opposite ends of the cage, with two hideys that preferably have multiple exits so no one can be trapped. It sounds like your boars have reached hormone rises at the same time and are fighting for dominance. Hopefully they can work it out and establish who is dominant!

Here is the thread with information about boar bonding and dominance: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Lots of helpful and important information there!
 
Lillygordon said:
I have 2 little handicap piggies that have recently started fighting! They have plenty of activities And room to roam. Iv added a second water holder and a second food bowl. They have been togeher since birth. They are both males but I was told since they have been together since day one they would get along. They only recently started fighting and now the one is even turning on me and biting me. Just in need of some ideas I don't have room for 2 gigantic cages!
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Can't add much more than @NatalieGee except I did the same as you and took on 2 sibling boars. They got on great until 9 months of age then had a massive fight, drawing blood, so had to be separated immediately.So, sorry but you will have to separate these 2 boys before they do real harm to each other. Would it be possible to put a divider down centre of their cage until you can work out how to go forward with them?
Another question - how do you mean when you said they were "handicapped"?
 
lots of teeth chattering, escpically putting them back in the cage after cleaning (they are in a small cage together when I clean so they arnt even out exploring) they will run at eachother and look like they are fighting but I have not seen blood. It has only been about a week that they have started this. They have a small outdoor cage that I let them spend some time in 1-2 times a week and they still enjoy that time and leave eachother alone then. I have 3 hiding houses, 2 feeders and 2 water bottles. All separate sides. One doesn't seem more dominant, and the one still enjoys his time out socializing with humans and the other still enjoys being with the cat (the second one isn't much of a human pig, he eats from your hand and that's about it). So they both still seem happy when it fighting. Do you know how long it normally takes for them to decide?
 
My human lover is Otis and he has no ears and a big scar on his back from his mom when he was born. And Marvin my cat lover has no back feet but gets along great.

My grandpa sells feed to one of the guniea pig farms that supply's stores with pigs and he can't sell any with "defects" so I took them
 
Lillygordon said:
My human lover is Otis and he has no ears and a big scar on his back from his mom when he was born. And Marvin my cat lover has no back feet but gets along great.

My grandpa sells feed to one of the guniea pig farms that supply's stores with pigs and he can't sell any with "defects" so I took them
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Bless you for taking on these poor wee piggies! I do hope there is an animal welfare person involved with checking out this Pig farm though?
 
Janice C said:
Bless you for taking on these poor wee piggies! I do hope there is an animal welfare person involved with checking out this Pig farm though?
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Yes the owner is a very nice man that loves his pigs. He sells the "non perfect pigs" to other corporations. But places like pet smart and petco won't take
 
That all sounds like normal boar dominance behavior! Just keep an eye out for broken skin and hopefully they'll sort it out soon. You could very likely see this behavior come back in surges until they're fully mature and even beyond, as hormones can go through spikes periodically. They sound like precious boys! Would love to see some photos :)
 
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