Behavior of pigs in adjacent cages

Handy

Handy

New Born Pup
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Hi all,

I've not posted on here for a while, I used to have two lovely piggies called Stormy and Raven but sadly Stormy passed away a few months ago at the age of 6. We spent the first afternoon in our new house burying him in the garden 🙁

Anyway, 5 weeks later we introduced Raven to his new buddy, a 2 month old skinny pig called Jessie. They got introduced in a lovely new cage in a new house and although Jessie was antagonistic (he actually steals Raven's food out of his mouth rather than eat from his own bowl), they were getting on fine.

Need less to say, Jessie has hit 3 months old this week, decided he wants to be boss and all hell has broken loose, the fighting progressed to Jessie getting cut (think it was a bite rather than a scratch), I separated them, cleaned everything out of the cage, re-introduced in a different room and after a few hours of seeming fine they went for each other and Jessie bled again.

I've now split the 2x5 cage into 2 cages with grids down the middle, but last night had to put proper opaque separators (basically like plastic covered grids that belonged to my daughter's wardrobe) down the middle because they wouldn't stop gnawing at the bars, were being very aggressive towards each other and Jessie kept trying to squeeze through the grids (he's still small enough that he probably could if he tried hard enough but more likely he'd get stuck).

I've taken the opaque separators back out today and there's been a bit of rumblestrutting but otherwise they've seemed fine, however there's an odd thing they've been doing and I'm wondering if it means Jessie has submitted. Raven keeps lying right against the grids, then Jessie rumblestruts over to his side of the grids, then Raven stays lying there while Jessie sticks his mouth through he bars and looks like he's trying to nibble his face and side. He's clearly not biting him because Raven isn't bothered, so I'm thinking maybe grooming, but Jessie still rumblestruts while doing it. Am I OK to just let this happen? Or should I be putting the separators back in?

Think I'd be happier if I'd got a big fluffy pig that wouldn't fit through the bars rather than a skinny pig, he looks so scratched and battered from the fights yet he is the one that keeps trying to get into the other cage and start it up again!

I'm kind of assuming they're separated permanently now and I'm considering returning Jessie to the refuge keeper once the lockdown is over so he can be re-homed into a proper bonded pair, but I just want to keep them both safe and happy for now. Any advice welcome. Thanks x
 
The bar biting etc does eventually calm down once separated. It sounds like Jessie wants to be with his friend, but it’s the other piggy’s behaviour you have to go on. If he seems happy living alone in his own space then you have to leave them separated.

However, splitting a 2x5 is not enough space for each of them. They need a minimum of 2x4 (120x60cm).

When you say fighting, was Jessie chasing Raven around and trying to mount/hump him? And was Raven squealing in submission or turning to confront Jessie? I think skinnies’ injuries will look worse due to lack of hair. But I’m not sure I would try them together again.

If it’s an option then please take Raven to a rescue where board dating is an option - he can then pick his own friend.
 
No they full-on reared up facing each other and attacked, I had to throw a towel on them 🙁 I know the space isn't enough but I don't have an option at the moment as I can't return him to the refuge and I don't have room to fit two bigger cages side by side anywhere, if I need bigger they'll have to be completely separated. Didn't know board dating was a possibility, that would be nice!
 
Are you able to set up a play pen around the cage that they’d have 24/7 access to? Or could you change the layout to an L shape and make each side bigger? It’s really not fair to give them such a small space.
 
Unfortunately I can't no, there isn't the space for it. It's not a permanent arrangement, I don't currently have a kitchen either cos of the lockdown and am having to cook on a camping stove, these strange times mean I have to make do with things that are less than ideal. However when the minimum cage size is 2x3 grids, I hardly think two 2x2.5 grids is so cruel that they can't deal with it for a few weeks, especially when one is old and lazy and the other is still tiny. I know you're trying to help and I appreciate that, but I'm already in an unhappy situation here with not much I can currently do about it and this is making me feel worse rather than better.

As regards my original question, am I better to leave them with the grids as they are so that they can still see each other but so that the little one can keep trying to squeeze through, or am I better to put the solid separators back in to make sure he can't try and squeeze through and hurt himself please? And is the nibbling thing likely to be just grooming or is it something I should be worrying about?
 
The minimum is 2x4. If you can then give them each plenty of floor time daily. Hopefully things will be on the up soon. I’m not trying to make you feel worse, I’m just giving you the information. What you can do or do with it is up to you. If you can’t make it bigger then you can’t.

Leave in the grid where they can see each other If you’re worried the baby will squeeze through you could perhaps cable tie an extra grid to the divider to make the holes smaller.

As for the kicking etc it may be grooming but I’m not sure. It’s likely he can’t really get far in anyway.
 
Siikibam said:
The minimum is 2x4. If you can then give them each plenty of floor time daily. Hopefully things will be on the up soon. I’m not trying to make you feel worse, I’m just giving you the information. What you can do or do with it is up to you. If you can’t make it bigger then you can’t.

Leave in the grid where they can see each other If you’re worried the baby will squeeze through you could perhaps cable tie an extra grid to the divider to make the holes smaller.

As for the kicking etc it may be grooming but I’m not sure. It’s likely he can’t really get far in anyway.
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Thank you for your help x
 
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