Two Dominant Pigs, Help?

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Jordyn Warner

Jordyn Warner

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Hi I have two dominant pigs. An American (Harry) and an Teddy pig (Teddy). The American pig is bigger and knows he's the domaint one so he doesn't course any problems. However my other pig is desperately trying to me the domaint pig. All he does is follow the the other around the cage rumblestruting and chattering. There isn't any fighting however it is constant and seems to be making them both quite miserable. By rights they shouldn't be bonded and I would not have put them together personally however they came together. They have a large cage. And a lot of toys to keep them occupied. They have two of everything. And both get equal attention. does anyone have any other suggestions that could help calm them down. Or is it a lost course? Id like them to be as happy as possible but I can't seem to help.
 
I have thought that getting them neutered may help calm them down but I obviously want this to be the very last option. Any one know weather this would help calm them down?
 
Hi I have two dominant pigs. An American (Harry) and an Teddy pig (Teddy). The American pig is bigger and knows he's the domaint one so he doesn't course any problems. However my other pig is desperately trying to me the domaint pig. All he does is follow the the other around the cage rumblestruting and chattering. There isn't any fighting however it is constant and seems to be making them both quite miserable. By rights they shouldn't be bonded and I would not have put them together personally however they came together. They have a large cage. And a lot of toys to keep them occupied. They have two of everything. And both get equal attention. does anyone have any other suggestions that could help calm them down. Or is it a lost course? Id like them to be as happy as possible but I can't seem to help.
 
You mind me asking how big is the cage?

Did they live together before you got them? Has blood been drawn?
 
Hello thank you for answering.:) the cage is a 2x5 c&c and the previous owner brought them separate and bonded them. I check them over every day and no blood has been drawn but they seem so miserable. All I hear most of they day other than when they are eating, out or sleeping is rumbling and chattering. This has been going on a while and they have plenty to keep them entertained:(
 
It sounds like the teddy pig is dominant and trying to reinforce that, with the american not challenging it.

How old are they? Growing males will have hormonal spurts.

In all honesty it sounds norm. No fighting means they shouldnt need seperated. As long as both are maintaining their weights if adult or slowly increasing weight if their growing piggies, there shouldnt be any problems.

Is anyone being bullied?
 
I'm not an expert on this, I think I just got lucky introducing my girls. A couple of things come up to mind, both boars can be reaching into puberty which causing this (just a speculation).

Have you tried rearranging the cage? Perhaps add another grid square? Another option (which I'm not a fan of) is bathing both of them together, I've heard from some folks it works for them.

Does their hidey houses have two holes for and entrance/exit?
 
They are both over a year old, however they are both dominant. We're the American may not make any problems In the cage he does show absolutely no signs of submissive behaviour. He holds his own again Ted and does have the occasional rumble back throughout the day. They both show a lot dominance. However Ted never stops. This is why I'm so confused that I haven't needed to separate them yet. I just don't know how to make them less miserable:(
 
They have been though there puberty stage and I rearrange the cage when I clean it but that only keeps them occupied for a little while I will try bathing them together they are dew another bath anyway. And both of here play sticks tunnels are pushed against the side of the cage, on opposite sides no there is only one entrance:/ I will deffo try the bath thing and will see if I can make space for another square thank you!
 
If Ted doesnt stop, he is more than likely the dominant one. A piggy doesnt need to be submissive to be "the submissive" pig, just slightly less dominant than the other. The fact he doesnt feel the need to challenge it, and the fact he lets ted do this constantly, he is more than likely a little less dominant and not bothered by it.

Ofcourse this is just my opinion- i cant see your boys interacting.

If both eat well, seem happy and maintain their weights.. There shouldnt be an issue. Not all pairs are cuddly and best friends. If the only one ted is bothering is himself, he will soon calm down once he realises its not necessary anymore x
 
Wish I could I help further. I've had two dominant sows in the herd in the past, I expanded their cage and made sure all their housing had an entrance/exit and once that happened things just settled.
 
Okey I wll try putting there houses in a different place too thank you :) there last expansion helped for a few days so I'm deffo going to expand again and see if that helps again. Because then they will be able to stay out of eachothers hair a bit more :)
 
Hi @Jordyn Warner I'm going to ask an admin to merge your 2 threads as they are identical but in different parts of the forum. We do ask that members to try to keep to just one post in one thread on the same topic. It can cause confusion otherwise. One of the team can do this for you.

@LisaAli or @sport_billy Please can you merge the other thread with this one Two Dominant Pigs, Help?
 
Neutering doesn't change a boars temperament so you would be putting them through unnecessary surgery.Sounds like they are doing fine, hang in there
 
Jordyn Warner said:
Hi I have two dominant pigs. An American (Harry) and an Teddy pig (Teddy). The American pig is bigger and knows he's the domaint one so he doesn't course any problems. However my other pig is desperately trying to me the domaint pig. All he does is follow the the other around the cage rumblestruting and chattering. There isn't any fighting however it is constant and seems to be making them both quite miserable. By rights they shouldn't be bonded and I would not have put them together personally however they came together. They have a large cage. And a lot of toys to keep them occupied. They have two of everything. And both get equal attention. does anyone have any other suggestions that could help calm them down. Or is it a lost course? Id like them to be as happy as possible but I can't seem to help.
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Hi! How long have you had your two boys? Any new territory means a full re-establishment of the hierarchy, which can take a few weeks. It doesn't sound like your two boys are close to a fight or a fall-out, however.
 
Sometimes it can be hard for the humans to sort out who the dominant one is (though the pigs know.) But one of them is in the top position and one subordinate or else there would be actual fighting for the top spot. My guess would be that the pig rumbling all the time is the dominant pig, by virtue of the fact that the other pig is not busting him down a peg. It's not always the largest pig or the oldest pig who is the dominant one, it's more down to personality. Personally I would let them work it out unless there is actual fighting. It would be a shame to separate them and then have them refuse to go back together. Right now it sounds within the realm of them working things out and I wouldn't interfere unless there's an actual fight.
 
Hello thank you for your answers.
A few days ago they had a huge fight in the middle of the night Ted got badly hurt. With cuts all down his back and face. He had been to the vets and is on antibiotics. And they have both been split up.
There behaviour is now even more unusual. They both sleep by the partition in the cage and try to get though to each other. But also chatter and rumble at each other. Ted doesn't do much any more and just mopes around but this could be dew to the stressful few days of vet trips and medication. And harry is fine. They are both eating and drinking as normal but I'm still keeping a close eye. Struggling to find the space to expand the cage so they both have a good amount of space however this is hard as I practically live in one room lol (shared house) so I'm thinking of giving one of them to a good home with other pigs and finding a more suitable pig for the other. Still can't think witch one I would keep. It's hard :(
 
Jordyn Warner said:
Hello thank you for your answers.
A few days ago they had a huge fight in the middle of the night Ted got badly hurt. With cuts all down his back and face. He had been to the vets and is on antibiotics. And they have both been split up.
There behaviour is now even more unusual. They both sleep by the partition in the cage and try to get though to each other. But also chatter and rumble at each other. Ted doesn't do much any more and just mopes around but this could be dew to the stressful few days of vet trips and medication. And harry is fine. They are both eating and drinking as normal but I'm still keeping a close eye. Struggling to find the space to expand the cage so they both have a good amount of space however this is hard as I practically live in one room lol (shared house) so I'm thinking of giving one of them to a good home with other pigs and finding a more suitable pig for the other. Still can't think witch one I would keep. It's hard :(
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I am very sorry that they have had a big fight. :(

Could you build a two story cage with a hayloft on the other level, so they can still interact for mutual stimulation. We can help you better explore all possible options (which to a large degree depend on your local possibilities) if you please added your country, state/province or UK county since we have members from all over the world. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
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