Barbering as new behaviour after 3 years

[AdamB123]

Hi, new to the forum in terms of posting but have used it a lot over the years for help and guides. But we're having a problem at the moment that I felt was worth asking about.

We have two girls who have been together for over 3.5 years now. Recently one of the girls has started barbering the other. She will chase for a little while and when the other stops, start eating the hair around her butt. This is new behaviour - she hasn't done this at all over the time we've had them.

I've read the guides on here and elsewhere about barbering and that mostly it's a normal thing, but it's the fact that it's new behaviour that is throwing us off at the moment. The other piggy obviously doesn't like it and will scream in submission at times when it's happening, but it doesn't stop it.

Both piggies have unfortunately recently gone through a period of bloat, which we wondered whether it could be the cause, but both are happy and healthy at the moment and it is still occurring. The piggy doing the barbering has also taken to biting the correx in the c&c cage which again is relatively new behaviour.

Any insights on what might cause new instances of barbering after not experiencing it for over 3 years would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Piggylove82]

I can't give you an explanation for it. But. I too had a pair of girls, adopted at 18 months, had them for a further 3 years. And in the last 6 months or so, one barbered the other. I have no idea why. Neither had any illness, nothing changed hutch wise or food wise. They'd just lay next to each other and one would chomp the other's hair!

 

[AdamB123]

I can't give you an explanation for it. But. I too had a pair of girls, adopted at 18 months, had them for a further 3 years. And in the last 6 months or so, one barbered the other. I have no idea why. Neither had any illness, nothing changed hutch wise or food wise. They'd just lay next to each other and one would chomp the other's hair!

Interesting that this happened to your two as well. Did you do anything about it? How did it end up being resolved? Do you just leave them to it?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, new to the forum in terms of posting but have used it a lot over the years for help and guides. But we're having a problem at the moment that I felt was worth asking about.

We have two girls who have been together for over 3.5 years now. Recently one of the girls has started barbering the other. She will chase for a little while and when the other stops, start eating the hair around her butt. This is new behaviour - she hasn't done this at all over the time we've had them.

I've read the guides on here and elsewhere about barbering and that mostly it's a normal thing, but it's the fact that it's new behaviour that is throwing us off at the moment. The other piggy obviously doesn't like it and will scream in submission at times when it's happening, but it doesn't stop it.

Both piggies have unfortunately recently gone through a period of bloat, which we wondered whether it could be the cause, but both are happy and healthy at the moment and it is still occurring. The piggy doing the barbering has also taken to biting the correx in the c&c cage which again is relatively new behaviour.

Any insights on what might cause new instances of barbering after not experiencing it for over 3 years would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi

Have you read our barbering guide, which looks at all possible explanations and is to my knowledge still the most differentiated and comprehensive article on this subject?
Barbering is by no means just social grooming gone overboard in newly bonded young piggies even though that is the most common scenario, especially if long-haired piggies are involved.

Please have your two girls checked; your barber could have ovarian cysts that could trigger some dominance barbering; their bloating episode could also have caused her to feel insecure about her leadership. If the barbering is getting so bad that it impacts on the relationship, a 2 day trial separation is the best way of asking the piggy at the receiving end whether they still want to be with their companion or not.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Bonds In Trouble

 

[Piggylove82]

It didn't get resolved. To begin with I thought she was self barbering. It wasn't around her face, or shoulders, only around her back half. But then one night I saw them both on their snugglepads and Milly was just casually grooming Molly and giving her a hair trim! Molly didn't move at all, didn't make any noise, didn't show any signs she wasn't happy. It was just the ends, not short to the skin. I still don't know why it happened. Neither seemed unhappy. At times I'd tell Milly to stop doing it, but she'd just roll her eyes at me then start doing it again. Milly passed away in March, I lost Molly just last week. Her hair had grown back by the time she passed. I bet Milly was waiting for her at the rainbow bridge, and said "c'mon let's go give you a hair cut"

Interesting though, I adopted a couple of girls in March, where one is long haired and she'd had some barbering going on along her sides. I just noticed the other day it's stopped and her hair has grown.

To me, barbering is a mystery

 

[AdamB123]

Have you read our barbering guide, which looks at all possible explanations and is to my knowledge still the most differentiated and comprehensive article on this subject?
Barbering is by no means just social grooming gone overboard in newly bonded young piggies even though that is the most common scenario, especially if long-haired piggies are involved.

I have indeed read it through, but couldn't find anything in there that described the current situation, with it just happening out of nowhere after being together without issue for years.

Please have your two girls checked; your barber could have ovarian cysts that could trigger some dominance barbering; their bloating episode could also have caused her to feel insecure about her leadership. If the barbering is getting so bad that it impacts on the relationship, a 2 day trial separation is the best way of asking the piggy at the receiving end whether they still want to be with their companion or not.

They have both been spayed after having cysts earlier in life so it's unlikely to be a hormonal issue. At what point would you say it becomes so bad that it impacts on their relationship? For example if they're otherwise fine but have the odd bout of barbering during the day is it best to just leave it? And if they don't interact in any other way except one barbering the other is it better to separate, for example?

 

[AdamB123]

It didn't get resolved. To begin with I thought she was self barbering. It wasn't around her face, or shoulders, only around her back half. But then one night I saw them both on their snugglepads and Milly was just casually grooming Molly and giving her a hair trim! Molly didn't move at all, didn't make any noise, didn't show any signs she wasn't happy. It was just the ends, not short to the skin. I still don't know why it happened. Neither seemed unhappy. At times I'd tell Milly to stop doing it, but she'd just roll her eyes at me then start doing it again. Milly passed away in March, I lost Molly just last week. Her hair had grown back by the time she passed. I bet Milly was waiting for her at the rainbow bridge, and said "c'mon let's go give you a hair cut"

Interesting though, I adopted a couple of girls in March, where one is long haired and she'd had some barbering going on along her sides. I just noticed the other day it's stopped and her hair has grown.

To me, barbering is a mystery

Thanks for the feedback. It seems like it helped that Molly wasn't unhappy with being groomed. Our girl screams when it first starts each time, so we're unsure whether she'd be happier with a split cage setup (but then subsequently can't understand why this would have changed when they've been together fine for so long).

 

[Piggylove82]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems like it helped that Molly wasn't unhappy with being groomed. Our girl screams when it first starts each time, so we're unsure whether she'd be happier with a split cage setup (but then subsequently can't understand why this would have changed when they've been together fine for so long).

I wish I could help. Just wanted you to know you're not alone in having this happen

 

[Wiebke]

I have indeed read it through, but couldn't find anything in there that described the current situation, with it just happening out of nowhere after being together without issue for years.


They have both been spayed after having cysts earlier in life so it's unlikely to be a hormonal issue. At what point would you say it becomes so bad that it impacts on their relationship? For example if they're otherwise fine but have the odd bout of barbering during the day is it best to just leave it? And if they don't interact in any other way except one barbering the other is it better to separate, for example?

The aim of trial separation is to look whether the party at the receiving end is noticeably perking up when away from her companion (bullying). You also want to see whether there are territorial dominance behaviours like a 'power lie in' through the bars (it is a boundary marking behaviour and not the desire to be back with their friend that is usually misinterpreted) and you want to see how they are with each other when they meet again on neutral ground. This can tell you a whole lot as we can't ask them directly what is going on.

Please take the time to read the links. There is generally not a snap your finger - here is the answer solution when it comes to complex relationships. You have to be more like a detective dealing with silent murder witnesses when you try to work out what is going on.

Is the barbering general all over or located in a specific area? The piggy at the receiving end will often protest loudly but if it is dominance related, they won't walk away. Has the leadership changed in the wake of the bloating episode?

 

[AdamB123]

Is the barbering general all over or located in a specific area? The piggy at the receiving end will often protest loudly but if it is dominance related, they won't walk away. Has the leadership changed in the wake of the bloating episode?

The barbering is always on the butt. Sometimes the receiving piggy will run away and be chased, other times she'll let it happen for a while before getting annoyed. Most times she's screaming throughout. The piggy on the receiving end of this is and always has been the underpiggy in the two. She's always been rather timid and the other piggy (the one doing the barbering) has always been number one. It doesn't appear as though any of that has changed during the bloating episodes. The dominant piggy will also at times lick the underpiggy's eye, which she is happy to allow even for a longer period, and is as far as I know a sign of affection. So it's a bit of a strange combination of behaviours at the moment. Especially with the barbering just coming up out of the blue.

 

[Wiebke]

The barbering is always on the butt. Sometimes the receiving piggy will run away and be chased, other times she'll let it happen for a while before getting annoyed. Most times she's screaming throughout. The piggy on the receiving end of this is and always has been the underpiggy in the two. She's always been rather timid and the other piggy (the one doing the barbering) has always been number one. It doesn't appear as though any of that has changed during the bloating episodes. The dominant piggy will also at times lick the underpiggy's eye, which she is happy to allow even for a longer period, and is as far as I know a sign of affection. So it's a bit of a strange combination of behaviours at the moment. Especially with the barbering just coming up out of the blue.

Just keep an eye on them for the duration until you get more clues to give you an idea as to what is going on.The screaming/loud complaining is normal for any piggy that doesn't like being barbered.