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Post by kad721 on Apr 15, 2015 12:25:56 GMT
Hi,
Can anyone tell me how much teeth chattering and preparing to fight behavior is "normal" for two boys who have been living together for a year. Yesterday, for no apparent reason, Reese started relentlessly trying to mount Snickers - to the point that I separated them to give Snickers a break. I had them in a small pen so that I could clean their cage and when I returned them to the clean cage, that's when the behavior started.
Question #2: Should I keep them together and let them work it out (no actual fighting occurred) or keep them apart for a bit?
Thanks for any advice that can be provided.
Kathy
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Post by Bean on Apr 15, 2015 12:42:54 GMT
You have my sympathy - I have two brothers who hit adolescence and wound each other up constantly. One, although not aggressive, was just constantly rumbly which wound the other one up - he took it as a challenge and got stressed out thinking he needed to put the other one in his place but not really wanting to. How big is their cage? Boars need more space than other pairings - if they can get away from each other when tensions are running high, that may help massively. A standard sized cage won't allow them to retreat and carve out their own little area. If space might be an issue, could you extend your current cage? Things to do is another thing that might help - stuff to chew up or jump on, whatever they like doing. Anything to keep them busy! I'd say distracting them when they're arguing is better than separation - unless they are very stressed or showing intent to injure, separation can just make things harder in the long run as when they're reunited, they tend to get more excited and it can exacerbate any tension. The list on this page is a good reference for what behaviours are normal and which ones are red flags. I don't want to make you lose hope as many boys go through this and come out the other end, but we tried all this and still found that tension levels were too high. Our boys got neutered a couple of months ago and are now living very happily with new wives! Good luck!
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 16, 2015 18:31:56 GMT
It's hard to judge behavior from a description, but based on it starting when they went back into the cleaned cage, I'd say there are some territorial issues. That usually means one pigs is becoming dominant, probably the one doing the mounting, and they need to work it out. I totally agree with Bean on the size of the cage, and the number of things for them to do. Try to eliminate any places where one can trap the other an attack, just in case. Free or very inexpensive things to help keep them busy include draping a towel or piece of fabric over the side of the cage in places, so they can pass through them as tunnels, or stop and take a nap as a hiding place. Cardboard boxes with doors cut in at least two ends, also makes a pass-through tunnel or hiding place, but it's also great to chew, and that helps keep them busy. Anything like a low stool or box that can be used to sit on or in increases the amount of usable space in the cage, but adding lofts. Anything 6 inches off the cage floor or lower doesn't need a railing to keep the pigs from falling. I also found regularly rearranging the items in the cage kept the dominant one from feeling quite as in control. Good luck
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 16, 2015 18:37:54 GMT
Sorry to hear of your trouble hun, it sounds as if Reece suddenly wants to be the boss. I hope you sort something our and peace is restored. Please keep us updated.
Hugs Jo xx
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