Lone Missus

[hayls<3]

I've had my Muffin for 6 years. And for most of it she has been a lone pig. I call her a mini puppy cause she licks everyone and anyone and always comes to the cage edge whenever I come in the room and loves human contact. She has always been dominant and confident (often shoving your hands out of the way and approaching anything that is given to her) but abit of a jumpy pig when going to stroke or pick her up. Then Baby came.
She came a few week old and Muffin was always ok with her when they were having floor time together, when introducing into the same cage, Muffin has always been the same with Baby. When they have floor time together Baby always plays follow the leader. In the cage Baby would often stay hidden and when fresh veg came, Muffin would eat her own and then go for Baby’s. Chases happen and the squeaks tug on my heartstrings every time. If Baby accidentally knocks into Muffin, she becomes agitated will chase Baby giving her abit of a knock. Baby is defiantly the porkier pig so Muffin hasn’t been stopping her from eating. The pigs have never had a serious fight and recently Baby has been coming out of her shell a lot more, coming to the edge of the cage when I come with fresh greens and will lay spread out, where as before she would stay hidden. I have never seen them cuddle.
I have persisted hoping that they would become friends, but as much as Baby tries Muffin doesn’t bother. I’m wondering if it would be better to separate the two and adopt a pig that would suit Baby as she is very young and placing her with an adopted pig more her age would give her more confidence. I would place the two cages close together so that atleast if Muffin is a lone pig, she would still have piggy interaction but her own space.
What do you all think? xx

 

[Wiebke]

Why separate? Your two girls are perfectly well bonded and showing completely normal dominance and play behaviour. My two teenagers love to bump into other piggies when they are popcorning and my older sows will tell them off for it... Now that the youngsters are getting bigger, they also like to push the boundaries, like human children. Piggy relationships are every bit as dynamic as our human ones and they develop over time like ours. Fall outs between girls are very rare. Whether piggies cuddle up or not depends on the top sow; some piggies just aren't as demonstrative as others - do not mistake that for lack of bonding. It isn't! They are just as good, devoted friends in their very own way.

Here is more about sow behaviour: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561

 

[hayls<3]

Thanks wiebke.
Generally Baby cannot walk past or share food with Muffin without her giving Baby a good nip or chasing her into a pigloo followed by lots of squeaks. Muffin also chews Babys fur, I know that this is to show dominance but if Muffin tugs too hard, Baby will squeak but not move. Most of her time is spend hiding away and it really does tug my heartstrings to see her still being so shy and hearing the tussles and squeaks. Xx

 

[Freela]

They sound like a very normal pair to me. Not all piggies will cuddle (my original pair almost never did) but they were still a bonded pair. Knowing who is dominant and who is subordinate is a piggy must... it's what their whole social structure is founded on. It's not mean, it's the way they relate to one another. And squeals/shrieks from a subordinate pig does not mean she is being hurt- it's her showing submissiveness. I wouldn't separate them short of a fight... although she has been a solo pig, I would wonder if your older pig wouldn't be lonely now that she's had a friend for a brief time, even if they don't look close to you.

 

[hayls<3]

Thanks Freela.

My only worry is that Muffin nips Baby. Muffin is a pig who doesn't like to really be touched off guard, if she doesn't know where your hands going, get ready for a nip or a quick spin around. (Only way i can discribe her nip is not like a clamp down nip like a hamster or another pet would but like force used by her front teeth which doesn't really hurt?) So if Baby walks past or anything she will get a nip resulting in her hiding and she is a very shy pig to start with. x

 

[Wiebke]

Baby will get learn how to handle Muffin. Most of the screaming is submission, not hurt at all. Give it time for Muffin to relax and for Baby to settle in and come out of her shell. The behaviour is not out of the normal.

If necessary, make sure that you have two of everything (especially bowls)and have only hideys with two exits for the time being.

I have just had a similar situation with a new girl who'd sit and scream down the house but not budge one millimetre. After nearly two months together, they have settled down well.

 

[TAN]

My two used to behave like this - Truffs was definately top pig - after about 18 months it became 50 / 50 as Noods learnt to stand up for herself - this also happens with my trio of 2 sows and a boar (who is still a teenager at 8 months and has two "cougar" - older ladies to try and hump ) - yes the squeals and squeeks do pull at your heart strings but it is all part of the norm.