Bath Time For New Cage Release?

[PiggyProdigy]

Hey, everyone ! I read the forum post on bathing / when to do it / why and everything, and I was wondering...

My pigs are a little greasy and I'm making them a cage with my dad starting tomorrow (a really freakin big cage)

So would it make them happy and popcorning it up if they got baths and then moved into a new cage? They are already a bit greasy and that white buildup is building up sometimes and so if they were bathed would they be more relaxed coming into a new envirement?
I love all you guys your the best heart
I love my piggies too!
Thanks for any feedback

 

[Reenie]

When they move to the new cage you will most likely have a bit of dominance behaviour as they re-establish who is top piggy in this new territory, so giving them a bath would probably be quite a good idea.
Try to use their unwashed bedding and toys in the new cage,which will make it more familiar smelling, and also help with the dominance.
I'm not an expert,so someone might give you better advice. Good luck with the new cage, your piggies will be so excited!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Good luck making the cage! What size did you go for in the end?

I'm not 100% sure on the bath for bonding as I'm no expert on that but I don't know if the bath will make them more relaxed as piggies hate baths

The only thing I can think is it could make the marking etc worse due to scent marking? Boys are smelly creatures haha but someone may be able to give a definitive answer on this.

Have you got a massive, neutral run area for the re-introductions?

 

[Wiebke]

Bathing is not making your piggies relaxed and happy, nor does it prevent dominance behaviour.
If you feel that your boys need a bath, then please give them one. Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

However, I would strongly recommend to use your old dirty bedding and rub it generally over the new parts to make the new cage smell and feel like their own territory. This is much more effective in keeping the dominance behaviour down and avoiding fights. Your piggies will do their best to restore their own smell as quickly as possible anyway. It is a large part of their identity and even more important, their group identity.