male piggies

[terrijanson]

I know you cannot put 2 males together. Ziggy is 5 months. I just got Binky who is 4 weeks old. Is it OK to stack their cages..1 on top of the other? Will it upset them to be that close?

[Bean]

Two males can go together - introduction and bonding has to be a more thorough process to make sure they are getting along, and they will need more space than two females together or a neutered male and a female would. If they don't have enough space to be able to get away from one another and carve out a bit of territory for themselves, situations that could be avoided if they have the space to cool off can quickly escalate. But there are many happy pairs of boars living together.

Boars of the same age who ago through adolescence together seem more likely to fall out when their hormones peak, so your boys being at different stages may be in your favour.

The social life page on Cavy Spirit has loads of great information on their social needs (being around their own kind is hugely important to them), how to do introductions and how to work out if things are going well or not.

But in answer to your question, the cages being on top of one another is absolutely fine - they'll appreciate being able to hear and smell another of their kind. You could also try having the cages side by side so they can see each other - some pigs love this (and it can work for pigs who don't want to share a physical space but still enjoy a bit of companionship), others will get frustrated at not being able to play together and chew the bars incessantly to try and reach their friend!

Good luck!

[terrijanson]

Thank you do very much for your great reply! You have really helped. I just did my first bore private area cleaning last night on the older piggy. I watched a tube video.

[3piggles]

I totally agree with Bean, and would add that the boys have to want to be together, for it to work. Boars also need more space than sows, and all pigs really need as much space as possible. If you can create areas where they can get away from each other, as well as shared play areas, it helps a lot. I realize not everyone has a lot of space for cages, but floor time makes up for a lot of it, gives them a chance to work off some energy

[terrijanson]

By floor time
.do you mean like in an empty kiddie pool or something to that effect? Together supervised?

[jolovespiggies]

Good luck love, bonding vibes are on their way.

Hugs
JO xx

[Bean]

Here's a great page on floor time.

If they're little or not quite used to everything in your house, it's a good idea to have floor time in an enclosed safe area. You can make it as interesting as you like! Mine like towels draped over the sides and tunnels/ boxes best.

When they're older/ bigger and more confident, it might work well to just let them run around a hallway or room provided you have covered anything dangerous (like electrical wires) or anything you don't want chewed! That works better if they don't toilet outside the cage too, although hallways lend themselves better to some old blankets or towels being put down on the floor.

If you're not planning to introduce them, then I'd stick to separate floortime or have it in an area where you can put a secure divider so they can interact through it, but not actually reach each other.

If you're planning to introduce them, a large, neutral place with lots of stuff to do is the ideal environment. But they don't tend to take too well to repeatedly being put with another pig and then separated, so I'd only have them properly together if that's the long term plan.

Well done on your first boar cleaning - hope he wasn't too miffed. I have one boy who has never needed a thing doing, and another that's fine when he's on fleece but if he's on loose bedding, occasionally needs a quick spruce up!

[3piggles]

On the boar cleaning. I found I didn't have to do it after putting them on fleece. I surface clean the fleece daily, so there are few things to get into the anal sack. It's something to consider, if like me, the cleanings made you gag.

For a few dollars, you can buy rolls of opaque plastic that painters use to cover furniture, floors, etc. That way you can use any floor area, and make it as big as you want. I think a roll costs about $7, and is much bigger than it looks. I have also used the biggest vinyl tablecloths sold at Walmart, which I think are about 4'x8'. They are easy to wipe off with a sponge or sanitizing wipe, solid enough to go in the washer a few times, and there's no risk of piggy nails poking holes. I think those are about $15 now, though they were only about $10 when I last bought one a few years ago.

There are pet playpens available from just about every online pet store. They make great edges to the floor time area, or you can usually hook several of them together to make as big a space as you want. They can be pricey, especially if you have to buy more than one.

Grids, as used in the homemade cages, are between $19 and $25 per box, come with connectors, are very sturdy, and can be set up and taken down easily. At the same site Bean listed for the floor time information, you'll find great photos of cage designs made with these grids. We also have many photos in the Housing thread, in our Wheekerpedia section. I buy mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond, where they are only $19/box. I've bought them at Walmart and Target, but I think the Target ones have gotten expensive.

I usually drape towels or extra pieces of fleece over the sides in places, and make hide outs for them that way. I also use a lot of cardboard boxes and paper bags with extra openings cut in them, and pile a piece of fleece or a large towel in some part of the play area, so they can burrow under it and climb on it. All basically free toys they find extremely entertaining.

Good luck, and have a great time

[terrijanson]

I REALLY appreciate all of your very helpful comments and advice. You are a wonderful group. So glad to belong!

[3piggles]

No problem

[jolovespiggies]

We are a happy family love, you are welcome to our support.

Hugs
JO xx

[terrijanson]

Thank you