I have been posting a lot but am in new territory with my piggies.
It has been a few weeks since my 2 boars were no longer able to live together. We built them a new C&C cage with metal bars between them (they each have a space that’s 2.5 feet by 4.8 feet). They have been fine minus some chewing on the bars. In fact, Griffin, my more dominant pig, has been more excitable and seemingly happier than before. Felix seemed his usual self. Popcorning and loud wheeking all the time. Until this morning.
When I went to feed them, they were both quiet. Usually Felix is loud when it’s time for breakfast (Griffin is usually quiet for breakfast but loud for dinner). Sometimes they seem more sleepy so I didn’t worry. Fed them both just fine. They both ate. All was good. As I was about to leave for work, I grabbed some water bottles from the freezer and wrapped them in towels to put in the cages as it’s going to be a really hot day and it’s something cold to lay against (I did this last summer and they liked it). When I put the water bottle in, I saw Felix run really quick. It seemed maybe out of fear but maybe was also the usual zoomies. I made sure the had full hay and water and continued getting ready. As I was leaving and not even really close to the cage Felix began to freak out. Not fun zoomies, and not running into an hidey. He ran full speed, head first, into the barrier between the two cages and didn’t it over and over again. Smashing his face. I was terrified. I picked him up and he continued to panic in my arms (I was on the ground so not to drop him). I got him sort of on his back (though not flat so I didn’t hurt his spine) and he immediately calmed down (this is usually a position he doesn’t like. I didn’t intentionally put him
In this position but it Kinda ended up that way). I rubbed his belly a bit and his breathing and heart rate calmed down. As I went to put him back in the cage, he immediately hit that high freak out mode. I managed to get him calm again, he had his face tucked firmly into the crook of my arm and just stayed there. I was able to put him back in the cage with a small freak out and run into the hidey. I stepped away to let him calm down and then went to check on him again and he freaked out again. Smashing full force into the wall again. I put a soft hidey in the way of that wall to make it harder to smash and he ran into that hidey and then didn’t move for 30 minutes (or longer). My partners suggested I put some pellets in the cage (his favourite). He didn’t react to them at all. I was very late for work and thought maybe If I leave, he’ll calm down. So I had to go
(I really didn’t want to leave him alone).
All this time, Griffin was completely fine. He was sitting in his hidey. Came out to eat the pellets. Didn’t even seem to notice that Felix as freaking out.
The best way to explain Felix is it seemed like “blind fear”. Like he was so scared and panicked he couldn’t even see what he was doing or where he was going. Has anyone else had this happen? Should I be worried? We’re going to make a vet appointment. My partner didn’t see it but I explained it to him and he thinks it might be a vision issue but I honestly think it was just fear related not sight related...
It has been a few weeks since my 2 boars were no longer able to live together. We built them a new C&C cage with metal bars between them (they each have a space that’s 2.5 feet by 4.8 feet). They have been fine minus some chewing on the bars. In fact, Griffin, my more dominant pig, has been more excitable and seemingly happier than before. Felix seemed his usual self. Popcorning and loud wheeking all the time. Until this morning.
When I went to feed them, they were both quiet. Usually Felix is loud when it’s time for breakfast (Griffin is usually quiet for breakfast but loud for dinner). Sometimes they seem more sleepy so I didn’t worry. Fed them both just fine. They both ate. All was good. As I was about to leave for work, I grabbed some water bottles from the freezer and wrapped them in towels to put in the cages as it’s going to be a really hot day and it’s something cold to lay against (I did this last summer and they liked it). When I put the water bottle in, I saw Felix run really quick. It seemed maybe out of fear but maybe was also the usual zoomies. I made sure the had full hay and water and continued getting ready. As I was leaving and not even really close to the cage Felix began to freak out. Not fun zoomies, and not running into an hidey. He ran full speed, head first, into the barrier between the two cages and didn’t it over and over again. Smashing his face. I was terrified. I picked him up and he continued to panic in my arms (I was on the ground so not to drop him). I got him sort of on his back (though not flat so I didn’t hurt his spine) and he immediately calmed down (this is usually a position he doesn’t like. I didn’t intentionally put him
In this position but it Kinda ended up that way). I rubbed his belly a bit and his breathing and heart rate calmed down. As I went to put him back in the cage, he immediately hit that high freak out mode. I managed to get him calm again, he had his face tucked firmly into the crook of my arm and just stayed there. I was able to put him back in the cage with a small freak out and run into the hidey. I stepped away to let him calm down and then went to check on him again and he freaked out again. Smashing full force into the wall again. I put a soft hidey in the way of that wall to make it harder to smash and he ran into that hidey and then didn’t move for 30 minutes (or longer). My partners suggested I put some pellets in the cage (his favourite). He didn’t react to them at all. I was very late for work and thought maybe If I leave, he’ll calm down. So I had to go
(I really didn’t want to leave him alone). All this time, Griffin was completely fine. He was sitting in his hidey. Came out to eat the pellets. Didn’t even seem to notice that Felix as freaking out.
The best way to explain Felix is it seemed like “blind fear”. Like he was so scared and panicked he couldn’t even see what he was doing or where he was going. Has anyone else had this happen? Should I be worried? We’re going to make a vet appointment. My partner didn’t see it but I explained it to him and he thinks it might be a vision issue but I honestly think it was just fear related not sight related...
things are looking much much better
i have no idea whats happening with him. last night he was almost his normal self. today, a while different pig.