Shadowchaser
New Born Pup
Second question thread of the week from someone completely clueless.
I recently adopted 4 females. I have no idea how old they are. They are all together in a bluebell hutch which is bigger than the one I got them from in (3ft) so they are used to being squashed in. Thanks to this forum I know it’s too small and have a shed in planning.
Anyway, I’ve had them a week. I’ve barely seen them! They constantly hide in the sleeping area. I’ve given them two hides and they alternative between hide and sleeping area but won’t come out to eat. If I open the door they scatter as far away as possible and squeak at eachother. They run so fast they almost fall out of the hutch at times, if I’m feeding them or changing hay, almost running in a blind panic. Should I be trying to interact with them at this stage or just leave them alone?
Secondly, nobody will go down the ramp. I put them downstairs and they went up easily enough but won’t go down. I’ve made it less steep and carpeted it as well as putting lots of treats on the ramp and downstairs but still nothing. I was hoping to put the hutch in a shed and make it free range but lock them away at night for safety and warmth which won’t work if they can’t go up or down. Any ideas?
It’s hard to say how well they get on. I’ve definatley got two that are more confident than the others and one loner who spends almost all of her time alone. Is this okay? Should I worry that she’s not with the rest? I’ve not found any injuries and that one is potentially the one that’s the friendliest human wise, or runs the slowest! Could she just be an independent personality?
Finally, I read in the guides about the leader or dominant pig. Is there a way to tell who is where in the group?
I recently adopted 4 females. I have no idea how old they are. They are all together in a bluebell hutch which is bigger than the one I got them from in (3ft) so they are used to being squashed in. Thanks to this forum I know it’s too small and have a shed in planning.
Anyway, I’ve had them a week. I’ve barely seen them! They constantly hide in the sleeping area. I’ve given them two hides and they alternative between hide and sleeping area but won’t come out to eat. If I open the door they scatter as far away as possible and squeak at eachother. They run so fast they almost fall out of the hutch at times, if I’m feeding them or changing hay, almost running in a blind panic. Should I be trying to interact with them at this stage or just leave them alone?
Secondly, nobody will go down the ramp. I put them downstairs and they went up easily enough but won’t go down. I’ve made it less steep and carpeted it as well as putting lots of treats on the ramp and downstairs but still nothing. I was hoping to put the hutch in a shed and make it free range but lock them away at night for safety and warmth which won’t work if they can’t go up or down. Any ideas?
It’s hard to say how well they get on. I’ve definatley got two that are more confident than the others and one loner who spends almost all of her time alone. Is this okay? Should I worry that she’s not with the rest? I’ve not found any injuries and that one is potentially the one that’s the friendliest human wise, or runs the slowest! Could she just be an independent personality?
Finally, I read in the guides about the leader or dominant pig. Is there a way to tell who is where in the group?