Barbering other piggy's hair?

[CiaraPatricia]

One of the other pigs has chewed off loads of Meeko's hair. 8... He looks awful. I evened it out a bit with the clippers. Was thinking of clipping it all off, but I want it to grow back again quickly. He looks a bit better now . . .

I'm quite upset about it, I know it's shallow and it's just hair, but when I first got Meeko he was matted, had bald patches from mange and was dirty. But then his coat got long and he looked like a proper sheltie. I put so much effort into grooming him.

He doesn't care at all of course, and maybe it'll be a bit cooler for the rest of the summer. I just am proud of my long haired animals, because you can physically see how much time and effort I put into grooming them.

I'm guessing they did it because they haven't had any grass lately, thought they have nice hay all the time? I hope they'll stop doing it though.

I know he doesn't need long hair, but I do like it long. It showed he wasn't neglected anymore . . . and he didn't seem to mind long hair or overheat. It was definitely one of the other pigs who did it, because it was even chewed on top of his head. Those bullies! At first I thought it had been cut by scissors, but dunno why someone would do that.

 

[flips]

Oh no. Silly piggies. I can understand why you're upset but on the plus side I would see it as a lovely thing that they get on well enough to groom each other in this way (I've always thought barbering was a sign of affection rather than bullying).

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Yeah, I guess it is kinda cute that they groom each other. I have actually seen the boys (well just two of them) grooming each other and I'm so glad they get on.

I'm starting to get used to Meeko's new look anyway.

But now I'm a bit scared that the pig who groomed him could be sick from eating so much hair and it could block up his intestines or something . . . though they seem fine so far.

 

[Leilalouise]

My peruvian pig Carmen is a long-term barberer. I got her from the local rescue where she had come in with her sister - she had eaten the majority of her sister's hair and also eaten her own hair from wherever she could reach. I've had her roughly 18 months now and she still barbers furiously. She lives with 7 other pigs and both of my abyssinians are barbered regularly & occasionally she turns her attentions to some of my smooth- coated pigs too. She still munches her own hair too (until she has her Summer haircut which stops her for a bit). I was initially worried about her eating so much hair but the vet wasn't too concerned and she's never been ill so I assume it must digest down OK...