barbering

[EmmaClaire]

Hi all i need to know if anyone else has come across this, i have been keeping piggies for 12 yrs and never come across this, i have a 5 year old female who recently lost her cage mates so i adopted woody from the rspca they get on great but my chunk is a bit domonearing they have never fort and have lived happily together for 3 weeks now BUT last thursday i came home from work to find woody had had his hair cut i went mad blamed my daughter blamed everyone in the house i got the torch out side looking for the missing hair and in the bin because it was cut in a perfect straight line right across his back i called everyone lyers, the next day i looked up on the internet its called barbering when one pig chews and swollows another pigs hair to show dominance i couldnt believe it had to appologise to everyone, has anyone else had this happen i hope she doesnt keep doing it she has ruined his hair style will she do it again thanx for reading this i know its long winded but i coulnt believe it xx

 

[paulag]

It may not be a dominance thing. It may simply be that she's mistaken his lovely fur for hay. Make sure she has plenty of really nice hay/dried grass to munch on.

Paula

 

[aalur]

i've had quite a few piggies do this to each other, i've even had one try and do it to my hair so be careful |) Not really sure on the part about it showing dominance as a few of the piggies i have had who do it, have been the submissive piggies.
Chances are she will keep doing it, which is a shame if you have a pretty, long haired piggy,but not much you can do, she's obviously found her calling as a piggy hairdresser