Am I Being Mean? Letting My Male See My 2 Females But Not Get To Them

[Joeykins]

I have 2 seperate runs on my lawn one where my 2 girls to out to play, and one where the little boy I've adopted after he was being too aggressive to the others in his previous home. He lives alone at mine at the moment (my girls a housed in my different room, they can hear each other wheeking but not see each other). The two runs have about a foot of space between them so they can't 'touch' but can see, hear and smell each other.

When I put them on the lawn for grass time the girls are happy and calm but poor Bumble goes a bit wild. Not in an aggressive way, he wheeks at them (his 'dinner time' wheek) and runs back and forth along their side of the run, he also popcorns and bubbles and generally gets very excited. The girls will sit happily munching grass and watching him. They all have places they can go to in their runs if the need to hide out from each other, so they aren't forced in each other's faces. He used to live in a mixed group, so he is used to being around other piggies.

I can't introduce them directly as he isn't neutered, and with his history of being aggressive I doubt the chances of them integrating successfully are strong enough to outweigh the risks of the op etc.

Is it mean on him to let him see and smell other pigs without being able to get to them etc? I thought it might be good for them to be able to 'speak piggie' to each other, especially as he lives alone, but I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing!

Jx

 

[Cookie16]

No it's not mean! It's a good way for him to have a bit of contact and they will get to know each other a bit. I've just been through neutering with my boy a few months ago. I used to have the runs and cages right next to each other. Alfie also used to run round and round the outside of the girls cage, when I let him out!

Some people would say don't, but we also let them meet under very strict supervision on our laps. I felt if my daughter and I had one piggie each they were not going to get close enough to make babies!

He was quite demanding and hard work while he was on his own! Squeaked a lot and wanted picking up!

I think if they have had a chance to hear and smell each other, it should help the bonding. We didn't have any problems.

 

[Joeykins]

Aww bless I hope integrating them is going well

I've allowed them to meet through cage bars, and sniff each other's noses - Buttercup does a scared whimper but is still very keen to sniff and investigate - Daisy couldn't care less, and Bumble, well, he rumbles at them at first then starts doing his 'dinner time' wheek - so I'm guessing he likes them!

Once he has settled down a bit I might let them meet with close supervision - although my daughter is only 5 and I don't trust her piggie-wrangling skills! (Her attempt to capture an escapee in the garden over the summer was basically her running after it, windmilling her arms.......)