Not bonding

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lynn110

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Hi
Some of you may remember I lost one of my little girls. I rescued another to keep my remaining piggie company. I brought her home on 1/2 and all seemed well. I've now noticed they're no longer getting on. Liqcorice is showing signs of unhappiness and anger towards the new piggie and the new piggie is nipping Liqcorice. What do I do. I don't want to separate them.
 
have you tried a bonding bath? If they're both put in a situation where they feel they need each other it can change the way they feel.. I was lucky with my pair, they fought like CRAZY on day one, a nipped nose and fur everywhere. Day two we introduced them slowly but he was still pushing himself on her, day 3 she told him who was boss, day 4 he tried a mini uprising but failed and on that day they moved in together for good. She picked a snugloo and he had the wooden house. Corners owned. As time's gone on she has learnt to push him away from food (so we feed him selectively and reduce the amount that goes in so she doesn't over feed). She also knocks his water bowl over so he can't drink, so we top it up 3 times a day and move it somewhere better, haha. But he wont be without her and although they dont cuddle they are always talking to each other. It's certainly more work than a pair who get on fine but I wouldnt have them any other way :)

There may be a trick to it yet, if they are not outright pulling fur out. Hope you get some other good ideas on this thread!
 
Hi
Thank you. I might try the bath if I'm brave enough. Liqcorice is territorial over the food and the new piggy try's to get in first which causes upset. Licorish I've noticed is swaying her hips side to side and goes right up to her new friend and chases her around to the point she gets nipped. No fur loss seen yet and they definitely don't cuddle up. This is a real shame because I got the new piggy to keep her company as she lost her friend. They've been together a month now and were happier when I first put them together so I don't understand why it's got worse x
 
I got 2 females for my Boar Bumble - the 2 females were allready strongly bonded and will not let him snuggle up to them - the top female pig will let him hump her under slight protest as she reckons it just makes life easier - the other less dominant female will have none of it and screams at him to stay away if she thinks he is going to hump her,yet follows him around the cage like a puppy - each piggy set up tends to be different - but a bonding bath is generally a good idea -
 
Thank you both for your advice. I will attempt bonding bath later x
 
I noticed you said she's territorial over food - have you got 2 sets of everything in there? Hay racks, food bowls, water bottles, etc. This may help for a while as they will have one each and won't feel like they have to share. I did this with Noah and Elmo, they had to sets of things on separate sides of the cage but they started choosing to eat together from the same bowl after a little while, so now I'm down to one food bowl, hay bag, and bottle. They still have their separate hideys although sometimes they cuddle up together anyway.
 
That sounds like a good option although they won't have a lot of space left. I'm going to give it a try though x
 
How much space do they have exactly? Under 120cms by 60cms could be why they are finding it hard to get along as piggies need lots of space, however two of everything does take up space so deepending on your bedding it might be worth trying a different approach to food for a little bit, such as covering the floor with hay and sprinkling pellets over a largish area so neither piggy can block it off, having hideys with two exists also helps to make sure nobody gets bullied into a corner :)
 
My cage is a ferplast 120. I do have a two story hutch outside but stopped using this jan 12 as was very cold. We like them indoors too. Cinnamon (died) about 2 months ago her and Liqcorice lived very happily together. As did these the first two/three. Now Liqcorice sways her hips side to side and approaches her new friend and sort of blocks her in this is when she is nipped. I'm going out to buy two separate beds and dishes etc and going to bath. Liqcorice is also making a noise which I've now found on you tube and its apparently an anger noise. Hope I can get them to work thing out. I did adopt the new girl from a rescue centre and they were put together before I brought her home x
 
When you bath them together, its probably worth letting them dry in a neuteral area like on the hall way floor or something, so you can give the cage a good scrub with white vinegar, this should remove the scent of the piggies and start them on equal footing if they are getting along after the bath (your cage is big enough dont worry I just had to ask because pet shops often sell much smaller ones :) ) also as far as beds are concerned childrens stools make great hideys with lots of exits so piggies feel safe but cant get trapped, also tunnels are good as are good old fashioned cardboard boxed :)

Best of luck, and please let us know how you get on!
 
lynn110 said:
My cage is a ferplast 120. I do have a two story hutch outside but stopped using this jan 12 as was very cold. We like them indoors too. Cinnamon (died) about 2 months ago her and Liqcorice lived very happily together. As did these the first two/three. Now Liqcorice sways her hips side to side and approaches her new friend and sort of blocks her in this is when she is nipped. I'm going out to buy two separate beds and dishes etc and going to bath. Liqcorice is also making a noise which I've now found on you tube and its apparently an anger noise. Hope I can get them to work thing out. I did adopt the new girl from a rescue centre and they were put together before I brought her home x
Click to expand...

How big is that? The recommended size for 2 pigs is 7.5 sq ft minimum, you may find space might be the issue. If I'm thinking of the ferplast cage that you mean.
 
Ok so they've just had bonding bath. Now sitting motionless on bathroom floor. Cage changed and I've now been out and purchased double of everything. Bottles bowls hidy hole etc etc. fingers crossed all goes well xx
 
Sadly not much change as yet but they're not being physical with each other. I suppose they will just tolerate each other. Can there still be a happy ending or would it have happened by now?
 
I so want my little girls to get along and cuddle up to each other. Liqcorice goes up to her but she just nips her. I have two of everything now and yet they still push each other out of way to get to the same one. One was eating from one bowl and the other just came up and moved her on. I don't understand why they were happy and the beginning and now they're not x
 
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