|
|
Post by kat0521 on Jul 21, 2005 15:15:13 GMT
Can anyone tell me what causes barbering and what I can do (if anything) to keep it from happening?
Tigger, my oldest pig, keeps getting picked on by my other 3 girls. At every opportunity, they chew on her fur-cutting it off basically. They normally barber her hind quarters, while Tigger isn't looking. I think if they went after the face Tiggs would put them in their place.
Oh and some background info:Tigger is my oldest at 5 years old, then there's 6 month old Luna, and 2 of her 4 pups (it was NOT a planned pregnancy) who are about 3 months old Ginger and Nutmeg. Tigger has always been the dominant sow, but I have a feeling the barbering has to do with Luna challenging that and wanting to have top position.
I've searched the web and all the places that I've found say that there's no known reason for barbering.
Anyone else have this problem? How did you get it to stop?
Thank you very much for your help!
~Kat~
|
|
|
|
Post by caspertheghost on Jul 21, 2005 17:17:07 GMT
Boredom is a reason for why they barber. The only thing I can think of to stop it, is by putting bitter apple on the pig's hair that is getting barbered. They HATE bitter apple. LOL. Only spray it on the spots where it is getting barbered.
|
|
|
|
Post by Josie on Jul 21, 2005 17:18:56 GMT
i would say that both boredom and stress is the cause of this.
|
|
|
|
Post by kat0521 on Jul 21, 2005 22:06:27 GMT
Thank you for the replies- I'll get to work fixing that!
|
|
|
|
Post by samnbud on Jul 21, 2005 22:51:10 GMT
Hi Kat. Theres really not much you can do for barbering.....unless it gets really bad, to the point your guinea pig stops being social and changes her eating habits. Then you would just have to cage her or the one barbering her seperately. Here is a link that might help you. guinealynx.info/hairloss.html#barberingAlso, barbering is a habit that occurs when the more dominant guinea pig(s) chew the hair of their subordinates. So yes, maybe she is being challenged. Are you giving your pigs plenty of hay? Some barbering habits are linked back to not having a hefty supply of hay. If Tigger does continue to have this happen to her, the only treatment for this is to house her separately. This does not mean that she should be kept in solitary permanently, allow her daily playtimes with the others as she will still need social interaction and guinea pig company, but will not have the opportunity to be barbered by the others! And Bitter Apple may work and then again some guinea pigs start to like it....ask my table legs how they feel LOL. |
|
|
|
Post by skipperdoo on Jul 22, 2005 2:02:54 GMT
Also. some pigs may think they have their own personal hay stack if there is a long-haired pig in the cage.  Emmy has been getting her hair trimmed by Allie and I have no clue why. Emmy even wanders around with green fur sometimes.  |
|
|
|
Post by Clover on Jul 22, 2005 10:15:35 GMT
I've read quite a lot about barbering, but never experienced it with my piggies. That link is good samnbud, here's what Peter Gurney has to say. www.oginet.com/pgurney/barbering.htm |
|
|
|
Post by samnbud on Jul 22, 2005 22:46:34 GMT
I adore Peter Gurney.....how are they doing kat?
|
|
|
|
Post by kat0521 on Jul 23, 2005 0:37:27 GMT
It's starting to lessen some...They do get 2 huge piles of mixed alfalfa and timtohy hay in the early afternoon. The barbering will go on and off depending if Tiggs is sleeping or not, and how "lucky" the other pigs are feeling. LOL Luna is the biggest offender. I think the 2 pups have picked it up from watching her, but it doesn't go on constantly. BTW, Tigger is an average abby - she's not long-haired or anything. Tiggers' eating habits are still the same-my little bottomless pit. And the other pigs are keeping the trims to her hindquarters. I haven't tried the bitter apple yet- have to find it first. I've thought about negative reinforcement on the piggies. Like distracting them by clapping my hands or making a noise when I see it happening so they'll stop the chewing. But I don't want to damage the fragile trust bond I have with the 3 youngest. It's something we're still working on. Thanks again for everyone's help. At least the "haircuts" don't look bad.  |
|
|
|
Post by Teebers on Jul 23, 2005 0:58:22 GMT
I wouldn't try yelling when you see a barberer, as you said you'd probably have no long-term effect on the barbering but succeed in scaring everyone lol.
You could try the bitter apple but really, what's wrong with a snazzy designer 'do? :~)
|
|
|
|
Post by Josie on Jul 23, 2005 12:37:30 GMT
Oh trust you Teebs!
|
|
Emmy has been getting her hair trimmed by Allie and I have no clue why. Emmy even wanders around with green fur sometimes. 
