Hi sorry there's a few different questions in here, but is it ok to put them in together as the introduction bit is important.
I adopted 2 female pigs from a rescue 3 weeks ago (original owner had 2, then suddenly 24, she didn't feed them enough so they are undergrown, and I think they just lived in a big group as they said there could be inbreeding issues). They hadn't had much experience of handling, but are doing well, sitting on our laps for longer, more confident on the floor.
so:
1) They tend to 'fight' a lot, not serious, just headbutting, slight nipping like playfighting, as they will 'happy jump' away from it. No blood drawn, no-one shrieks, no actual bullying . Just like playing for dominance, and they are 8/9 months, I know it's normal, but they seem to do it a lot when we are watching them during floor time.
I was just worried they weren't getting along enough, but they groom each other, and sit in a box together, so is it ok, and they love each other really?
2) When we brought them home, the cage was set up with a water bottle for a few days, and they didn't seem to be using it, water level didn't change much (and they don't like cucumber!), so gave them a water bowl as well, and they use this often.
Not sure if they ever had a water bottle, but don't want them using a bowl permenantly, as the water gets contaminated with hay/sawdust quickly, so it's changed a few times a day (I don't mind this, but I worry that its not as hygenic as a bottle for them).
They have a water bottle next to the dish, and we keep trying it with them in the cage, holding it near them to see if they will drink, but apparently it's 'too wet'!
Any ideas how to get them more used to a bottle?
3) They don't seem to groom their bottoms properly, as they are often wet. They wash themselves thoroughly elsewhere, but its at the back, and they don't do the 'lifting back leg up to groom bottom' thing. We wipe them with tissue whenever we pick them up, but I worry about skin problems/cystitis.
They are bedded on hay on top of carefresh (in areas where they go to the toilet) on sawdust. So no area of the age is actually wet through. When they have floor time, they are good at weeing on newspaper in corners of room.
I bought some antibacterial wipes that say they are for use on pets, in a pet shop, but I don't know if they are safe, and I'd rather not use them. They are both short-haired, so no long hair that gets in the way. We will bath them, it's just that this is a daily occurrence and I don't think they'd even put up with weekly baths at the moment.
These are my second ever pair (both pairs sows), first were pet shop sisters (who we were REALLY lucky with as pet shop pigs go, didn't know then about dangers + possibility of rescuing), and we didn't have these problems with them, they did the play fighting thing a bit, but sorted out dominance quickly.
I don't know if these are related (due to situation), they were one of about 5(?) bonded pairs from same home (they only took the sows). I think one seems older, but it's hard to tell with underfeeding issues. One is ginger, rounder head, slightly longer coat. The other is mainly white, black and orange patches on her head, smaller, pointed, big legs and paws (as if she will 'grow into them').
Thanks and sorry for long post
Charlotte
I adopted 2 female pigs from a rescue 3 weeks ago (original owner had 2, then suddenly 24, she didn't feed them enough so they are undergrown, and I think they just lived in a big group as they said there could be inbreeding issues). They hadn't had much experience of handling, but are doing well, sitting on our laps for longer, more confident on the floor.
so:
1) They tend to 'fight' a lot, not serious, just headbutting, slight nipping like playfighting, as they will 'happy jump' away from it. No blood drawn, no-one shrieks, no actual bullying . Just like playing for dominance, and they are 8/9 months, I know it's normal, but they seem to do it a lot when we are watching them during floor time.
I was just worried they weren't getting along enough, but they groom each other, and sit in a box together, so is it ok, and they love each other really?
2) When we brought them home, the cage was set up with a water bottle for a few days, and they didn't seem to be using it, water level didn't change much (and they don't like cucumber!), so gave them a water bowl as well, and they use this often.
Not sure if they ever had a water bottle, but don't want them using a bowl permenantly, as the water gets contaminated with hay/sawdust quickly, so it's changed a few times a day (I don't mind this, but I worry that its not as hygenic as a bottle for them).
They have a water bottle next to the dish, and we keep trying it with them in the cage, holding it near them to see if they will drink, but apparently it's 'too wet'!
Any ideas how to get them more used to a bottle?
3) They don't seem to groom their bottoms properly, as they are often wet. They wash themselves thoroughly elsewhere, but its at the back, and they don't do the 'lifting back leg up to groom bottom' thing. We wipe them with tissue whenever we pick them up, but I worry about skin problems/cystitis.
They are bedded on hay on top of carefresh (in areas where they go to the toilet) on sawdust. So no area of the age is actually wet through. When they have floor time, they are good at weeing on newspaper in corners of room.
I bought some antibacterial wipes that say they are for use on pets, in a pet shop, but I don't know if they are safe, and I'd rather not use them. They are both short-haired, so no long hair that gets in the way. We will bath them, it's just that this is a daily occurrence and I don't think they'd even put up with weekly baths at the moment.
These are my second ever pair (both pairs sows), first were pet shop sisters (who we were REALLY lucky with as pet shop pigs go, didn't know then about dangers + possibility of rescuing), and we didn't have these problems with them, they did the play fighting thing a bit, but sorted out dominance quickly.
I don't know if these are related (due to situation), they were one of about 5(?) bonded pairs from same home (they only took the sows). I think one seems older, but it's hard to tell with underfeeding issues. One is ginger, rounder head, slightly longer coat. The other is mainly white, black and orange patches on her head, smaller, pointed, big legs and paws (as if she will 'grow into them').
Thanks and sorry for long post
Charlotte
