What went wrong.

[sue 1974]

A few weeks ago i bonded an adult boar with boar about 6 months old. The adult boar is REALLY laid back, there were no problems fighting etc. The 6 month old was a little more nervous but certainly no aggression etc.

Anyway last weekend i rehomed them to a family with young children. The man just phoned and said he wanted to bring them back as the younger one keeps biting them and has gone to attack his 2 year old.

I don't understand this as he was fine with me! I feel terrible and feel like i am failing at the rescue!
Why would he change like this. (they are coming back tomorrow morning)

 

[mstori]

I got 2 rescue boars, age around 2 and they fell out within a week of me having them. The rescue said they didnt know why and she wanted them back to try and re-bond, but after speaking to people on here, I didnt. They are fine in themselves, and didnt attack us, just each other, and one fight was really nasty. I had to seperate them.
Sorry I cant help. If you find out why, I would love to know, cos I was left feeling as though I had done something wrong

 

[Wiebke]

Perhaps the little one was frightened or upset by something that happened in his new home? Perhaps one of the children hurt him or spooked I'm badly?

A new home can be stress factor that shouldn't be underestimated!

 

[nutmeg]

I don't imagine a piggy would 'go to attack a 2 year old' More likely the 2 year old tried to 'love' it to death and it bit him/her. Maybe more supervision was needed. Don't beat yourself up, probably just a rotten 2 year old! x

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Am guessing they're not the right home for those piggies - or maybe any piggies! Piggies rarely 'attack' as such, but only seem to bite when frightened or in pain. Saying that I do have one boar that goes for me... but I think he's a bit unusual!

Sometimes people don't realise what they're taking on and the children are scared of handling the piggies..

Sophie
x

 

[minimowers]

I would agree with all of the above. If the boy is 'biting' the 2 year old while it is being held then the 2 year old is probably squeezing it or being too rough. My four year old nephew has only just started to be allowed to hold their pigs as he is only just old enough to understand not to squeeze and which direction to stroke their hair in.

I have only ever had one piggy who would bite and I've had them all my life (30 years) so its very unusual. Dont beat yourself up over it. I'm sure the right home is out there for them - if not the one they are with now.

 

[elijahfan]

sue you have don't anything Wong, if i put my fingers through the bars baby pig will bite me (not hard its more of a nibble) but out in the run and being handled is fine, a 2 year old isnt going to to handle them properly, by the sounds of things the pigs were moved to a new home and were given enough to to adjust and the nervous one just reacted how a nervous piggy would react in a new place

 

[sue 1974]

Well after a night of feeling awful and really guilty i have them back. MY 4 year old and 9 year old have both held with no problems at all, my hubby even held him(he is petrified of pigs lol) and he was fine on him. They all think he is lovely and laid back so god knows what the people done to himmallethead:{mallethead

 

[crazycavies]

I would agree with all of the above. If the boy is 'biting' the 2 year old while it is being held then the 2 year old is probably squeezing it or being too rough. My four year old nephew has only just started to be allowed to hold their pigs as he is only just old enough to understand not to squeeze and which direction to stroke their hair in.

I have only ever had one piggy who would bite and I've had them all my life (30 years) so its very unusual. Dont beat yourself up over it. I'm sure the right home is out there for them - if not the one they are with now.

Id totally agree with the above! I have a 4.5 year old and I only *just* trust her to hold a guinea sensibly and not poke squeeze and prod it innapropriatly. theres no way a 2 year old can be trusted in this way. I expect the poor piggy has been handled roughly and was terrified (probably unintentionally by the 2 year old as dont understand these things after all they are just large babies)

ETA!
I'm so glad hes back and feeling happy and relaxed with you again Its totally not your fault! the parents should have given better supervision