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Post by faafaa on Jul 23, 2014 17:13:53 GMT
I am so frustrated, confused, and sad. It has turned out to be a terrible morning, but it has opened my eyes. I'm not sure where to begin so I hope that you can all follow me. This morning George attacked Henry. I had to drop a pigaloo on them to stop them. I haven't a clue as to what provoked him. The only time I have seen aggression between my 2 boys was when I was doing the into with Peter. I pulled them apart because I didn't know what else to do. It was clear that George was the attacker. Poor Henry just wanted to get away. This situation has made me start to think. When Peter was here Henry slowly began to pull himself away, but it didn't stop when Peter left. Henry is never out when George is out. Henry stays away from him all the time. He begs to come out of the cage. He shows no interest in George anymore at all. So much so that I had to take the loft off of the cage. Henry was up there so much that I never saw him come down for food or water. (Remember I am unemployed so I spend too much time watching the pigs.) How do I know if Henry wants to be alone? He is such a sweet, sensitive little boy. I have no idea how old Henry is. This is what I do know; I got Henry on January 28th of this year. He was only 15 ounces then. I would guess maybe he was 2 or 3 months old. So, based on that he could be 9 or 10 months old now. He weights 1 pound 15 ounces. (I don't have a gram scale I really need to get one.) I also think that this is just coincidental to Murphy the foster coming. They haven't seen one another and I wash and change when switching between my boys and Murphy. They aren't even on the same floors in the house. (I want to make sure Murphy is completely healthy before he gets near my boys.)
Please HELP!
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Post by faafaa on Jul 24, 2014 1:18:18 GMT
Or maybe George has been bullying Henry and I just haven't noticed it. Is there a chance that in a few months when George's hormones calm down they could be friends again? I took Henry to the room where I am keeping George and put him on the floor on the outside of the pen George is in. George tried, with vigour, to get Henry again! Geesh! What has happened to my sweet boy? I even went and double checked to make sure Murphy was indeed a boar, he is.
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Post by SiLamb on Jul 24, 2014 15:26:05 GMT
Oh faafaa, my heart is aching with you. My boys have had such an up and down relationship that is ever changing. One of the changes was when Harry was aggressively going after Weasley. It was difficult to watch. Weasley was behaving similarly like your Henry. What I did was separate them and periodically test the waters of putting them back together. When Harry went after Weasley, I'd remove Weasley right back out. Finally Harry calmed down and they became fast friends again. That isn't to mean that Harry sometimes guards my hand when I'm trying to give veggies out (I don't put up with that. I reach in to give Weasley his veggies.)
The advice I received from people on this forum is that boars are tricky when they are going through puberty. They may need to be separated for up to a year until their hormones calm down. I'm thankful that my boys are getting along again, but I'm also braced for a rise in the hormones.
One thing I found extremely helpful when Weasley refused to come out of his hidey because of Harry, was I would put hay and food into his hidey with him. He would be a tad lethargic, and that would always perk him up and encourage him to leave his hidey in search of more hay or food.
Have you tried to see how George and Henry behaves during floor time together? I had noticed that Weasley always did better with Harry once I gave him floor time, but I always had to be with them. I'm blessed with a three bathroom house, so I could do this...but I blocked off the bathroom that has a pedestal sink (another tunnel they love) and I let them be in there for most of the day. It allows them to have extra floor time since I don't have to be with them in the bathroom.
I understand the need to confirm the sex of Murphy. I did the same thing with Weasley.
Maybe it might turn out that George should be alone due to his bullying with Murphy and Henry becoming friends.
As I'm about to post this message, an idea just popped into my head...maybe giving the boys a bath, with soap, might help calm George down. It helps confuse their scents.
I'm pulling for you!!!
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Post by faafaa on Jul 24, 2014 16:05:41 GMT
Thanks for all your words of wisdom silamb. I'm sure this is all hormonal. I have tried neutral territory and George lunges for Henry as soon as he recognizes him! I was thinking about putting grids up in my cage so they could still see one another, but I'm not sure this is such a great idea. I'm also not lookinh to add Murphy into this crazy mix right now. I may have to wait a few weeks them try the bath. They just had one when we tried to intro Peter. I don't want to bathe them too much!
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 24, 2014 16:31:16 GMT
It probably is hormonal, especially if both boys are in puberty at the same time, but it's still an abusive relationship. I had that with Zippy and Grishy. Zip just wanted to do his piggy thing. Grishy tormented him. Grishy got terribly jealous of Zippy, and basically made everyone's life miserable. I had to separate them. They could meet at the dividing grids, so they weren't alone. Grishy hated it and carried on endlessly. Zip finally relaxed again. It was so sad watching my outgoing piggy boy become morecand more withdrawn, to see the nips on his beautiful ears. It was bullying, and it had to stop.
What I'm hearing is that George is a bully. Grishy was past puberty, and he was a bully. If anything, it's worth trying Murphy and Henry together. Definitely.
Something nay have happened to change George. You can't tell how he perceives things, so you won't have any idea what it was. It's possible he can do floor time with the other boys, but I think he needs to live on his own. Henry definitely needs to live without George.
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Post by faafaa on Jul 24, 2014 16:42:44 GMT
3piggles I appreciate your brutal honesty and you have confirmed my fears.
I think in a few weeks I will try putting Henry and Murphy together. I want to give Henry time to calm down and Murphy some more time too to make sure he is healthy.
So far Murphy seems to be a very calm laid back cuddly boy, but we will see. I refuse to put Henry in another bad situation.
As far a poor George goes I guess he will need a more permanent house. Right now he is in the piggy playpen. I want to be able to keep him close enough to Henry so he can see/hear/smell him but far enough that he can't get to Henry. Unless some objects to this???
These boys are going to keep me guessing!
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Post by SiLamb on Jul 24, 2014 16:54:51 GMT
I think that is a great idea faafaa. I heard that those piggies that are bullies should be separated, but if they are near enough to hear and smell and sometimes see each other, that this is enough to meet their need for company.
{BIG HUG}
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jul 24, 2014 17:19:03 GMT
I am sorry for the trouble you are having love and it is really frightening when piggies really decide to have a go. For such small things, they can be very fierce. I hope things will calm down a bit now hun.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by faafaa on Jul 24, 2014 17:49:48 GMT
It is definitely a little calmer here today. Henry seems VERY happy to have his own space to do as he chooses!
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 24, 2014 18:06:23 GMT
You're lucky you had a pigloo to separate them. I was hold Zippy and hub was holding Grishy when Grishy peed on hubby. Hubby stuffed Grishy at me so he could change, but that put the two boys nose to nose in my lap, with an already stressed Grishy from hubby's reaction, and my hand in the way of all those teeth. I think hubby learned a major lesson about listening to me about the pigs, as I was covered in blood. Duh! Pigs were fine, though. Could have killed him!!!! Anyway, it's just so much less stressful for pigs and people to separate them and give everyone time to calm down.
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Post by faafaa on Jul 24, 2014 18:44:28 GMT
3piggles that's terrible! I can't even imagine how much that probably hurt!
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Post by SiLamb on Jul 24, 2014 18:59:36 GMT
Oh wow 3piggles. That's terrible. Did you heal well?
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 24, 2014 20:35:29 GMT
I still have the scars, but it's probably good. Reminds hubby not to overreact. Oy, he got wet! I was actually very calm through the whole thing, but hubby felt guilt enough to totally freak out  |
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Post by SiLamb on Jul 25, 2014 15:18:08 GMT
Faafaa, how is Henry doing today?
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jul 25, 2014 16:38:06 GMT
Ouch love, I felt that too. Yes, when they decide to they can inflict a very nasty bite. I hope it is healing well.
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 25, 2014 20:19:18 GMT
It was about 5 years ago Jo, but I remember it as if it were yesterday! Thanks |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jul 26, 2014 17:11:25 GMT
I am being dopey again aren't I love? Sorry. I can well imagine you remembering it, I have been bitten occasionally and it bloody well hurts!!
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 26, 2014 18:10:02 GMT
Not dopey. I skim read when I'm in a hurry. I also get interrupted a lot when hubby is around, and go back to reading somewhere in the post. I miss things, too |
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Post by faafaa on Jul 27, 2014 20:30:25 GMT
Henry is doing well. He is enjoying the large cage and the time to himself. I bought him some little jingle balls to push around. He seems to like them. I am preparing to put him and Murphy together soon.
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Post by SiLamb on Jul 28, 2014 3:57:10 GMT
faafaa, that is great news in the midst of heartache.
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