Is this normal?

[Claire W]

Although my 4 girls get on brilliantly as a group of 4, they also get on well in pairs (in the same hutch).

Eleanor and Eliza lived happily together for nearly a year until I made the decision to add a third pig to the group. Eleanor and Eliza accepted Erin but I felt sorry for her as she was sometimes left out. Ena came along a few weeks later and I now feel my piggy family is complete.

I have noticed though that Eleanor and Eliza are still firm friends and Erin and Ena are becoming close as well. I am very happy that the younger ones are getting on well but is it normal for each piggy of the group to have their 'special' friend?

 

[Spishkey]

totally normal

 

[Wiebke]

Very normal indeed!

I have special friendships within the tribe as well. Apart from the original pairs still keeping their special ties, Nia and Taffy are often hanging out together (my sheriff and his deputy) and so are my two youngsters Telyn and Ffowlyn. Ceri and Fflur used to sleep together in one big heap and were fast becoming best of friends by the time we lost Fflur. Even though Ffion prefers to hump girls and her man instead of the other way round, she and Llewelyn are often sleeping next to each other.

I rehomed Ffowlyn mainly as a playmate for Telyn, and it has worked out really well!

Good on you that you have ended up with a group of 2+2 instead of 3+1!

 

[Claire W]

Thank you. I feel much happier now Ena still tends to stay under the hammock by herself quite often whilst the other 3 are in the bed but it is her choice and I have never witnessed her being chased out of the bed or anything.

 

[Wiebke]

double post! Sorry!

 

[Wiebke]

I have noticed that many new piggies will find their special corner in a group cage. It is usually respected by the others.

Fflur used to doze in the toilet/hay corner (she'd obviously lived on hay all her previous life and was most comfy on it), Cariad and Ceri love the little nook under the ramp and Ffion loves sleeping on the balcony where she can keep an eye on what's going on (if she isn't crashing out completely), whereas Cariad mostly naps downstairs.