The Lone Piggy

[Black Jack]

I know I'll probably open up a huge can of worms with this one but .......... it occurs to me that whilst all books and internet sites on cavies say you categorically MUST keep them in at least a pair as it is cruel (and some even go so far as to suggest psychologically damaging) to keep a lone cavy, I realised the other night that all these books etc say it is BEST to house long haired pigs alone to avoid the possibility of barbering! So surely if it would be cruel to keep short or rough haired alone then the same must apply to long haired varieties! By the same (or actually reverse) token if it is OK to keep a lone long haired then why not short or rough haired? Am I missing the point here?

I'd really like to know members' views, be they for or against the lone piggy. O0

 

[gp-d]

I think piggies should always be kept with at least one other piggy. Cages are often made for at least two anyway. As for keeping long haired piggies with one that babrbers them I don't see any harm in that.

 

[dazie]

Right, I have long haired piggies and short haired living together happily and if they barber its news to me and they have a very good way of hiding it. So I would say if you do home them together just keep a eye on them but I have never heard it suggested to keep one piggy on its own because it has long hair. It may be for breeding as I wouldnt want my prize piggy being barbered all to often.

I keep one piggy on his own as he is apparently aggressive toward other piggies he is very timid and I feel terribly sorry for him but I think he likes his own space. He can see and hear most of the other piggies (not females) and he is fairly happy with that. There are a few of us on here that keep some of our piggies on their own or just own 1 piggy but give it mega loads of attention

 

[Karenza]

I have a lone boar - his home is right next to his friend's. He seems perfectly happy on his own, whereas his next door boar is clearly lonely and so he has been neutered and is awaiting his partner. The lone piggy seems happy that way and I don't have to fret about neutering They were living together originally but began to fight.

 

[jnenbnb]

I have two smooths living together and i have a male-female pair of an Aby x and a Sheltie x, so far the Shelties hair isnt quite as long as most but the boar hasnt barbered. I think all piggies that will get on with others should be kept in pairs, i think its rare to find a pig that wouldnt get on with any other pig at all but there are some, in this case i think its fine as long as they can see/hear other pigs. As for keeping long haireds separate i think thats for show standards isnt it? As far as i've read, barbering doesnt do either pig any physical harm, i could be wrong though? x

 

[piglover]

Thr ar xcptions to vry rul!

I hav 3 singl boys; [colorr]1 has outliv 2 frins an is now f up with othr piggi[COLOR=Black]s
[color[COLOR=Black]r[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]]1 who s[COLOR=Black]ms p[COLOR=Black]rf[COLOR=Black]ctly cont[COLOR=Black]nt[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black] to liv[COLOR=Black] alon[COLOR=Black] an[COLOR=Black] liv[COLOR=Black]s b[COLOR=Black]si[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black] Bully, [color[COLOR=Black]r[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]]1 who I amit woul[COLOR=Black] [COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]arly lov[COLOR=Black] to b[COLOR=Black] with oth[COLOR=Black]r piggi[COLOR=Black]s, but hav[COLOR=Black] tri[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black] him with oth[COLOR=Black]r boys; young an[COLOR=Black] ol[COLOR=Black] but h[COLOR=Black] is too aggr[COLOR=Black]ssiv[COLOR=Black] towar[COLOR=Black]s th[COLOR=Black]m, h[COLOR=Black] liv[COLOR=Black]s b[COLOR=Black]si[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black] Archi[COLOR=Black]. Girls ar[COLOR=Black] not an option in my tiny stu[COLOR=Black]io flat as I also hav[COLOR=Black] two cont[COLOR=Black]nt[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black] pairs who with on[COLOR=Black] "whiff" of a girli[COLOR=Black] woul[COLOR=Black] s[COLOR=Black]n[COLOR=Black] th[COLOR=Black]m ma[COLOR=Black] - I know, I ha[COLOR=Black] [COLOR=Black]nough troubl[COLOR=Black] intro[COLOR=Black]ucing n[COLOR=Black]w boys into th[COLOR=Black] room.

I may try Bully with a baby wh[COLOR=Black]n h[COLOR=Black] is a bit ol[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]r but at pr[COLOR=Black]s[COLOR=Black]nt h[COLOR=Black] s[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]ms cont[COLOR=Black]nt [COLOR=Black]nough chatting to Archi[COLOR=Black] through th[COLOR=Black] bars an[COLOR=Black] w[COLOR=Black] hav[COLOR=Black] no room for anymor[COLOR=Black] piggi[COLOR=Black]s at pr[COLOR=Black]s[COLOR=Black]nt! I must also conf[COLOR=Black]ss that Bully g[COLOR=Black]ts th[COLOR=Black] lion shar[COLOR=Black] of cu[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]l[COLOR=Black]s an[COLOR=Black] att[COLOR=Black]ntion mainly b[COLOR=Black]caus[COLOR=Black] h[COLOR=Black] [COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]man[COLOR=Black]s it (!) an[COLOR=Black] also I f[COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]l h[COLOR=Black] [COLOR=Black][COLOR=Black]s[COLOR=Black]rv[COLOR=Black]s it!

 

[maisynpoppy]

i think that its best to pair up piggies when ever possible, but there will always be circumstances when that cant happen e.g when a piggie doesnt get on with others