Friends Or Foes?

[Carol D]

Hello! First off, before anything... I just want to thank you all for reaching out to me and all the helpful responses. You have definitely helped give my piggies a happier life style. Peanut and Buttercup thank you too!

When I first got my two piggies we had major issues with the both of them not getting along with eachother and because of this I have had to seperate them into two different cages. Each one has Mid-Western cages. I have placed the cages right up next to eachother so that they can still have some interaction between them.

For the past year they have still been showing dominant behavior amongst eachother. Once a month they growl at eachother and lay close to the bars that adjoin each cage. There is also, a lot of bar chewing pacing back and forth and climbing of the cage bars when this happens. Are these signs of this behavior?

Recently, for the past month both Peanut and Buttercup have been laying down right against this meeting of cages at the same time, but, I have not heard them growling at eachother. Could this laying down close to the cage bars be a sign of them trying to be friendly towards eachother. This is totally different behaviour than what is normal for them. I am worried that there may be a problem going on between them.

If this is the case, do you think that it would be possible to re-introduce them together again? I'm not sure what to do... It appears that both Peanut and Buttercup have settled into there cages and are also, content. I feel so sorry that they have had to be separated and wish that they could be together. I'd greatly appreciate any advice that you could give me.

Carol

 

[Wiebke]

Hello! First off, before anything... I just want to thank you all for reaching out to me and all the helpful responses. You have definitely helped give my piggies a happier life style. Peanut and Buttercup thank you too!

When I first got my two piggies we had major issues with the both of them not getting along with eachother and because of this I have had to seperate them into two different cages. Each one has Mid-Western cages. I have placed the cages right up next to eachother so that they can still have some interaction between them.

For the past year they have still been showing dominant behavior amongst eachother. Once a month they growl at eachother and lay close to the bars that adjoin each cage. There is also, a lot of bar chewing pacing back and forth and climbing of the cage bars when this happens. Are these signs of this behavior?

Recently, for the past month both Peanut and Buttercup have been laying down right against this meeting of cages at the same time, but, I have not heard them growling at eachother. Could this laying down close to the cage bars be a sign of them trying to be friendly towards eachother. This is totally different behaviour than what is normal for them. I am worried that there may be a problem going on between them.

If this is the case, do you think that it would be possible to re-introduce them together again? I'm not sure what to do... It appears that both Peanut and Buttercup have settled into there cages and are also, content. I feel so sorry that they have had to be separated and wish that they could be together. I'd greatly appreciate any advice that you could give me.

Carol

Hi!

The initial behaviour was very clearly territorial. It is much more difficult and often just a bit too subtle to figure out later on whether it is still territorial or friendly; even when you are experienced.

Since you can't ask the boys directly how they stand with each other, a formal intro on neutral ground is the next best thing you can do. Please read our bonding guide (skip the run-up obviously); you should find it helpful.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

You may likely find that while your boys have made peace, they still prefer their own space; that is the most common outcome. A very few will go back together and a few more are fine with sharing a neutral 'herd' setting like a lawn or exercise run. We call those permanent 'neighboar' pairs that are still bonded and will grieve when they lose their partner 'can't live together and can't live apart' pairs - quite a few of our forum members in your situation have them.

All you can do is give a meeting a try and take it from there to see where your own boys are situated on the slide from being back to full friends to carrying a permanent grudge. The majority of separated boars without a full-on fight with deep bites are somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.

Good luck!

 

[Carol D]

Thanks so much for your input. My two piggies are girls, is there a difference in this with this sex opposed to boars?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks so much for your input. My two piggies are girls, is there a difference in this with this sex opposed to boars?

No - it is much more common in fallen out teenage boars as you were not mentioning the gender of your piggies, I automatically assumed that your piggies were boys. All you can do is giving it a try.

PS: Please make sure that you mention the gender and age of your piggies in any queries; it often makes a difference in how we have to interpret behaviour and health.
Please also keep in mind that we are a lively forum with us jumping between lots of different posts every single day on top of our paid day job (our forum job is unpaid volunteering), our own piggies and our private lives so we won't be able to remember everything, especially not from a while ago; even more so once you move from thousands of posts to tens of thousands of posts...

 

[Carol D]

Thanks so much for your input. My two piggies are girls, is there a difference in this with this sex opposed to boars?

I have one other question... whenever I go near Buttercup while she is in her cage, she immediately runs to her water bottle and takes a drink... does this mean anything?

 

[Wiebke]

I have one other question... whenever I go near Buttercup while she is in her cage, she immediately runs to her water bottle and takes a drink... does this mean anything?

Nothing I can decipher. Just her personal quirk, and a new one on me - but then, most piggies have their very own little quirks. She may just not like being the focus of your attention so tried to look busy?

 

[Carol D]

I have one other question... whenever I go near Buttercup while she is in her cage, she immediately runs to her water bottle and takes a drink... does this mean anything?

Thank you so much for your advice and attention to my messages. It is wonderful that you take your own personal time to volunteer here. I truly appreciate your advice and attention. In regard to my piggies age, they are about a year and half old.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for your advice and attention to my messages. It is wonderful that you take your own personal time to volunteer here. I truly appreciate your advice and attention. In regard to my piggies age, they are about a year and half old.

Wishing you all the best. Once sows decide that they do not like each other, they rarely change their mind, though. You should usually see fairly quickly in any re-intros where things are heading.

Thank you for your appreciation. We don't want to read epics as a thread starter but if you can include some more essential information, that will help us to help you in your personal situation and not having to use our standard answer.