Heyli
New Born Pup
Hi,
I currently have a neutered boar and two females in a 7ft x 3ft c&c cage. The two girls tolerate each other but no one is super friendly with anyone i.e. no snuggling or following each other around. They all keep themselves to themselves really.
Yesterday I went to rescue another girl as I have the room and a whole lot of love to give another rescue piggy.
I chose a submissive girl who was getting a bit of a rough deal in the cage she was in with some other girls (her backside had evidence of barbering and she was getting told off by the other sows) but mainly because she was curious about me and came up to see me.
Brought her home, introduced them all in a completely neutral space in my bathroom for about an hour. All went VERY well, the new piggy was so well behaved and polite. I cleaned out the main enclosure so it was all fresh and ready, lots of hay etc etc and popped them all in. The new pig was respectful and shy and allowed my girls to be dominant and there was obviously chasing from my boar. But then out of nowhere MY girls started fighting each other and one got a nip on the nose. There was teeth chattering, rumbling and everyone was very stressed, even my boar was chattering (he never does this). Just the presence of the addition of a new pig caused the dynamic to completely change.
I contacted the rescue who asked if I wanted to return the new pig...and because I didn't want to upset my trio to irreparable levels I agreed. But all I can think about today is that sweet girl having to go back, she was so placid and lovely and now she's back getting picked on until she is rescued.
It's a real tug on my heart strings but I don't have anymore room for more enclosures and it would be unfair on my three to half the original enclosure to rescue her and one other.
I guess I'm just after some reassurance I've done the right thing as I'm feeling pretty sad/guilty having to take her back
I currently have a neutered boar and two females in a 7ft x 3ft c&c cage. The two girls tolerate each other but no one is super friendly with anyone i.e. no snuggling or following each other around. They all keep themselves to themselves really.
Yesterday I went to rescue another girl as I have the room and a whole lot of love to give another rescue piggy.
I chose a submissive girl who was getting a bit of a rough deal in the cage she was in with some other girls (her backside had evidence of barbering and she was getting told off by the other sows) but mainly because she was curious about me and came up to see me.
Brought her home, introduced them all in a completely neutral space in my bathroom for about an hour. All went VERY well, the new piggy was so well behaved and polite. I cleaned out the main enclosure so it was all fresh and ready, lots of hay etc etc and popped them all in. The new pig was respectful and shy and allowed my girls to be dominant and there was obviously chasing from my boar. But then out of nowhere MY girls started fighting each other and one got a nip on the nose. There was teeth chattering, rumbling and everyone was very stressed, even my boar was chattering (he never does this). Just the presence of the addition of a new pig caused the dynamic to completely change.
I contacted the rescue who asked if I wanted to return the new pig...and because I didn't want to upset my trio to irreparable levels I agreed. But all I can think about today is that sweet girl having to go back, she was so placid and lovely and now she's back getting picked on until she is rescued.
It's a real tug on my heart strings but I don't have anymore room for more enclosures and it would be unfair on my three to half the original enclosure to rescue her and one other.
I guess I'm just after some reassurance I've done the right thing as I'm feeling pretty sad/guilty having to take her back
four happily bonded piggies. We got Zula from the same rescue the others all came from and the girls have accepted her and the hierarchy hasn't been compromised.
