It's been a very fraught couple of hours, and I would really appreciate any help, advice or insight anyone can offer.
This is super long, so thank you in advance for anyone who takes the time to read it all.
Yesterday Ruby was in season - I rarely notice when any of the girls are in season, but yesterday was one of the rare noticeable ones.
Ruby is our ASBO pig - I have always felt she doesn't really like the other pigs particularly, and she is always the one who starts any disagreements.
She doesn't like humans either, and in all honesty DD1 is the only one who can handle her without getting bitten - for DD1 she is a total angel.
She is our only pig that never snuggles up with another, and can be quite pushy and snappy at the best of times.
But yesterday was strange - she was clearly in season and she let Lucy mount her. This is the first time this has ever happened. She has tolerated it from Eddi (briefly) in the past, but never from the other girls. But then Lucy is the only other pig she seem to tolerate in general.
So fast forward to today. It all kicked off in the cage big time - mad angry noises from everyone, and manic teeth chattering and puffing up from both Eddi and Ruby.
Ruby has done this before when Oreo was introduced, but Eddi has never behaved like this.
All the girls love Eddi, and he is in no way a dominant boar (at all).
So Ruby was really being angry and strutting about and nipping at the others, but she was really pushing it with Eddi. Barging up to him and acting very aggressively, and Eddi was backing off and chattering his teeth the whole time. I let it go on for a bit, because in between Ruby would go and lie down and relax, but it was clear that Eddi was very uneasy.
After about 20 minutes Ruby backed him into a corner and he flew at her - it was a full on fight with both of them airborne and lunging wildly at each other.
I was on standby with a towel, and managed to throw it over them and break up the fight before anyone was injured.
Ruby wandered off as though nothing had happened, and I spread copious amount of their favorite hay all over the cage as a distraction. All four settled down to munch, although Eddi was still clearly unsettled and nervous.
Ruby had a quick sleep (spread out, and in the open) and then woke up and started with the angry noises again.
Eddi started with the teeth chattering.
Lucy and Oreo kept out of the way.
Ruby kept eating and making a very angry noise, and suddenly it was almost like Eddi had had enough, and he went for her. More very aggressive lunging, leaping, and towel throwing commenced.
I broke up the fight, and immediately removed Eddi from the cage, as this clearly was not a minor spat.
I put Eddi in the run, and he huddled in the corner looking very sad and scared - he never behaves like this - but as soon as I put Oreo in with him he started happily pop-corning around with her, and the two of them are now cuddled up together in the worlds smallest bed.
Ruby and Lucy seems perfectly content in the C&C, and are behaving as if nothing ever happened.
Help.
Please.
I will keep them apart tonight so they have lots of space and a chance to calm down, but I am devastated at the thought of having to split the group.
My plan is to reintroduce everyone tomorrow in a very large and neutral area, and see how it goes.
If they are ok I will put them all back in the C&C (8 x 2 with a 2 x 1 loft).
I plan to remove the really scent marked fleece, but leave the main liner so the cage still smells of everyone.
Is this a good idea?
Is there any chance it will work, or should I plan to split them into 2 groups, and have them side by side in two 2 x 4 C&C's?
So gutted, although deep down I always knew that life with Ruby would never be straight forward. She is a funny little pig and we love her dearly, but right now I am also so sad for our easy going Eddi.
Next time I am getting fish......
This is super long, so thank you in advance for anyone who takes the time to read it all.
Yesterday Ruby was in season - I rarely notice when any of the girls are in season, but yesterday was one of the rare noticeable ones.
Ruby is our ASBO pig - I have always felt she doesn't really like the other pigs particularly, and she is always the one who starts any disagreements.
She doesn't like humans either, and in all honesty DD1 is the only one who can handle her without getting bitten - for DD1 she is a total angel.
She is our only pig that never snuggles up with another, and can be quite pushy and snappy at the best of times.
But yesterday was strange - she was clearly in season and she let Lucy mount her. This is the first time this has ever happened. She has tolerated it from Eddi (briefly) in the past, but never from the other girls. But then Lucy is the only other pig she seem to tolerate in general.
So fast forward to today. It all kicked off in the cage big time - mad angry noises from everyone, and manic teeth chattering and puffing up from both Eddi and Ruby.
Ruby has done this before when Oreo was introduced, but Eddi has never behaved like this.
All the girls love Eddi, and he is in no way a dominant boar (at all).
So Ruby was really being angry and strutting about and nipping at the others, but she was really pushing it with Eddi. Barging up to him and acting very aggressively, and Eddi was backing off and chattering his teeth the whole time. I let it go on for a bit, because in between Ruby would go and lie down and relax, but it was clear that Eddi was very uneasy.
After about 20 minutes Ruby backed him into a corner and he flew at her - it was a full on fight with both of them airborne and lunging wildly at each other.
I was on standby with a towel, and managed to throw it over them and break up the fight before anyone was injured.
Ruby wandered off as though nothing had happened, and I spread copious amount of their favorite hay all over the cage as a distraction. All four settled down to munch, although Eddi was still clearly unsettled and nervous.
Ruby had a quick sleep (spread out, and in the open) and then woke up and started with the angry noises again.
Eddi started with the teeth chattering.
Lucy and Oreo kept out of the way.
Ruby kept eating and making a very angry noise, and suddenly it was almost like Eddi had had enough, and he went for her. More very aggressive lunging, leaping, and towel throwing commenced.
I broke up the fight, and immediately removed Eddi from the cage, as this clearly was not a minor spat.
I put Eddi in the run, and he huddled in the corner looking very sad and scared - he never behaves like this - but as soon as I put Oreo in with him he started happily pop-corning around with her, and the two of them are now cuddled up together in the worlds smallest bed.
Ruby and Lucy seems perfectly content in the C&C, and are behaving as if nothing ever happened.
Help.
Please.
I will keep them apart tonight so they have lots of space and a chance to calm down, but I am devastated at the thought of having to split the group.
My plan is to reintroduce everyone tomorrow in a very large and neutral area, and see how it goes.
If they are ok I will put them all back in the C&C (8 x 2 with a 2 x 1 loft).
I plan to remove the really scent marked fleece, but leave the main liner so the cage still smells of everyone.
Is this a good idea?
Is there any chance it will work, or should I plan to split them into 2 groups, and have them side by side in two 2 x 4 C&C's?
So gutted, although deep down I always knew that life with Ruby would never be straight forward. She is a funny little pig and we love her dearly, but right now I am also so sad for our easy going Eddi.
Next time I am getting fish......
s.
