Introducing 2 groups of piggys

[CandyFloss]

I have 8 piggys in 2 groups. 1 group has 5 in it - 2 pigs and one of thems 3 grown up babies. The other group has 3 in it. All females.

I got the group of 3 last October and they met the other group a couple of times happily but one time I thought one of the 'grown up babies' was getting aggressive. I was just about to move house and could not have housed them together at the time so didnt worry about it.

Last week I built a C&C cage which is 7 foot long by 28" wide and has 3 levels. The group of 3 are in the basement but its quite dark and the group of 5 have the upper 2 levels. Until now they have been side by side in cages and able to see each other through the bars.

I thought maybe now as the cage is quite new and theyve recently been chatting through bars it might be a good time to introduce them and have 1 group. The advantages would be that the group in the basement could come up to the lighter levels (which get the sun sometimes) if they wanted. It would be easy enough to add another ramp and connect the basement to the upper levels.

Any advice ? Ive read the sticky so know a neutral place to introduce them is best. I didnt want to do it too soon as Toffee was very underweight (dental problems) but she's fighting fit now and a bit bigger.

Should I do this ? or am I better leaving well alone and keeping the 2 groups ? If I do this is it best introducing them all at once or get a couple to meet at a time ?

Sorry Ive wittered on - thanks for reading

x

 

[CandyFloss]

Okay well I've just got the answer to these questions

The idea to integrate the 2 groups was as bright as getting a chocolate teapot as it turns out! mallethead

I followed the rules, got them together over a big pile of food in a neutral place when I had time to watch them ...... and ..a couple of minutes into it... all h*ll broke loose..... Toffee got bitten....one of the black piggys was running about with her fur in her face and Sherbet got scratched (probably by accident in the cafuffle). I had plenty of towels etc to hand so rescued them as soon as it happened but I think they all hate me at the moment..... especially as I could only rescue one at a time which left the others under attack ....

Wounds are now treated, piggys all weighed and back into clean cages....

The morale of the story .... if it aint broke dont fix it.... rolleyes

x

 

[flintstones]

If you want to try it again, what you may want to do is let your dominate female of the bigger group meet the smaller group if she accepts them, then add the rest one by one.

Or you can do it the other way round and add the most submissive building upto the dominant.

Advice given from Suzy, as I don't have a clue .

Neutral place as you did before.

 

[CandyFloss]

Thanks Jo.

Not sure I want to try it again to be honest (drinking wine now to recover....lol....any excuse ) ..... but what you've said makes sense..... I'm not sure who my dominant female is though ..... in the group of 5 they all seem to hold their own ..... strangely I thought Rolo mightve been the problem but I think it was Smartie with Toffees white fur sticking out her mouth rolleyes

Certainly I dont think Sherbet is a problem - I put her in first (I wouldnt say she was most submissive but she's maybe most piggy friendly) and she was fine.... the rest are related though and although I also think Ebony was fine (mother pig but used to live with a group of other pigs) I think since the 'babies' (now over 1 year old) had never seen any other pigs really all got a bit aggressive / possesive.....

When any of the 4 related in the group of 5 go into season its obvious they rumble up to Sherbet and not their relations....strange but true.... and I thought it might be nice for Sherbet to have unrelated friends.....

After all Toffees been through I dont think she needs added trauma. Cookie and Candy are sooooo chilled cuddly pigs they dont need it either.... and they suit her..... on hindsight I shouldve left well alone I think....

I dont think I will put Toffee at risk again .... or the others.... 2 groups is fine really....and if anything did change in the future I am sure Sherbet could join them or Ebony..... its a shame that when it all kicked off I could only grab one at a time

Lesson learned I think..... and luckily Ive got excellent wound gel at hand....

Hope you are having a great time at Suzys

Thanks for the reply

xx