Bar Chewing

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P_and_B

P_and_B

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I'm babysitting two sows right now, and they chew on the bars of their cage A LOT. It's really noisy, and I know it can't be good for them.
Any help would be great.
Thanks!
 
Pop a empty toilet roll tube full of hay in to amuse them and try to distract them. Are they wanting anything?
 
Piggies bar chew for food usually. If they have hay,water and pellets then they are seeking vegetables. My Amelia Jane does this and I have tried clapping my hands,clicking my fingers,ignoring her picking her up. Nothing works!
 
I just fed them, but I would believe it if they still wanted more veggies. I don't want their little bellies to pop though, so I will try some of these helpful suggestions.
Thank you sporty_billy and piggyfan!
 
I will sometimes just go and fluff up the hay :)) This fools them and 'the bellies' are satisfied once more...
 
Rory does it to make us aware he wants food, or if we happen to be doing anything near his cage and he isn't satisfied he's been given enough attention. Only giving him food will halt the biting but sometimes just mixing up the pellets tricks him into thinking he's won. Although sometimes he inspects his bowl, realises there's nothing new and goes "waiddaminute...?" And quickly returns to make us know he's not stupid.
 
I've got 2 males housed in separate halves of a large run. At first they were forever chewing the bars but I've put a 30cm/12" high piece of correx on either side of the bars to keep them off the bars, this has worked a treat. This may not be an option if you're only babysitting but may be of use to others.
 
When mine do this, they are mooching for food... even if I just gave them food. Apparently, you can never have too much food if you're a piggy!
 
Very true. They're such funny creatures rolleyes
 
I've got ones who do this for food and then one who does it when he want's some fussing and to be stroked. Then when you stroke him he gives the most in heaven, head tilted up, eyes shut and mouth open in ecstasy face. If you stop he then chews the bars again until you continue to fuss him and when he's fed up he drops down from the bars and walks off.
 
Twinkle and Cosmos do it to get attention, usually when they have just been lured back into the cage for bed time. Twinkle especially sits at the cage entrance occasionally pinging the cage bars to get our attention when the staring doesnt work. Saturday night stayed up late watching the remembrance service on bbc1. This meant supper was late, we got the stare, the bar ping, then we suddenly got a deep disgruntled wheek followed by a long stare. Supper was duly given and peace resumed.
 
Are they bored? Is their cage big enough (I know you are only baby-sitting them and they are not yours...)
The only pigs i have had that chewed their bars were two that I took on from family members who were housed in a too-small cage and chewed it chronically out of frustration - they stopped once I got them in a suitable set up. They were two boys in an 80cm indoor cage :( :(
 
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