Harassing behavior
So, I posted in the emergency forum about my Bambi being lethargic and I’m starting to realize I think it may be rooted in the behavior of her cage mate Piper. Piper isn’t aggressive but she is constantly up in Bambi’s space; if Bambi is eating Piper will come take whatever she’s eating away. Bambi never fights her for it, she’s just super passive. Last night, Bambi was eating hay and the next thing I looked and Piper is in the spot Bambi was and is now eating hay. I placed a huge pile of hay and the pellets in the bowl for Piper and then a small pile of hay outside the pigloo Bambi was in and Piper left the big pile and went to the small pile for Bambi and started eating it. I just gave them both lettuce while they were in their pigloos and Piper went to Bambi’s and stole her lettuce. I guess I’ve never paid that close of attention because they seem to always get along. I’m wondering if Bambi is having nutritional issues because she’s not getting what she needs because Piper is stealing from her.
I’m not sure what to do now. I’m not sure if that is at least part of the problem with her illness. But it is at least a problem when trying to deal with Bambi being lethargic and not wanting to eat. Here she was chowing down on lettuce and it was taken from her.
Suggestions? I’ve never had a pig as passive as Bambi, she was a perfect fit for my previous pigs that all had health issues but with a young healthy pig like Piper she seems to get run over. They’ve been together for 3 years in November.
I’m not sure what to do now. I’m not sure if that is at least part of the problem with her illness. But it is at least a problem when trying to deal with Bambi being lethargic and not wanting to eat. Here she was chowing down on lettuce and it was taken from her.
Suggestions? I’ve never had a pig as passive as Bambi, she was a perfect fit for my previous pigs that all had health issues but with a young healthy pig like Piper she seems to get run over. They’ve been together for 3 years in November.
Yesterday I kept pulling her out and feeding her but it was causing stress. She was eating hay, but I’ve noticed today she is willing to eat when she’s in her pigloo and left alone way better then when I tried to feed her out of the cage yesterday.
I saw her drinking water and Piper came running over and chased her off. I now know why she eats and drinks in the middle of the night, Piper isn’t really all that active at night.
Carefully watching them today just reinforced that I think Piper is part of the problem.
I saw her drinking water and Piper came running over and chased her off. I now know why she eats and drinks in the middle of the night, Piper isn’t really all that active at night.
Carefully watching them today just reinforced that I think Piper is part of the problem.
My two paired boars used to do the same thing. Even though Dean is the dominant pig, Sammy always seemed to steal lettuce, hay and whatever else there was to eat from Dean. Dean just let him get away with it for a bit, but he eventually started scolding Sammy for that and it stopped. They both get equal shares of everything now. I think Dean's own hunger finally drove him to defend his food.
The paired girls race for food too, but they also wind up with pretty equal shares. Ginger eats so fast that MaryAnn doesn't have much of a chance to steal her veggies. As far as the hay goes, I keep enough of it available so there's always plenty for both.
The paired girls race for food too, but they also wind up with pretty equal shares. Ginger eats so fast that MaryAnn doesn't have much of a chance to steal her veggies. As far as the hay goes, I keep enough of it available so there's always plenty for both.