MY BOARDERS : Piggy vs Bunny

[Deleted User]

I have an unusual question to post here, but thought this would be a first!

I have offered to look after my friend’s bunny and piggie whilst she and her family are on holidays for 12 days.  I have looked after her pets before for 2 months over the Christmas school holidays.  I had them inside and likewise with now.

Her pets live outside in a hutch together and have done so for 2 years I think.

I did notice this the last time they stayed with me, but thought well its not my problem but it is a concern to me.  The piggie (Shakespeare) rules the roost and is definitely the boss.  He will feed till he is almost popping (gutzy thing he is!) and will not let bunny (May-ranie) eat any of the greens.  She will stand aside whilst he is munching away (eats like he has not been fed for a week!).  Last night he ate the complete plate of food and bunny got nothing!  Mmmmm then he begs for more … What the  *@#$..   I thought!  She even grooms his head.

I am contemplating putting them in separate areas during feed time … but however I am unsure this is fair as they have been together for a few years now and it might cause depression or anxiety in either animal.

Piggy also pulls out her fur and she has bald patches … is this a male piggy being domineering!

[x liddo bunny x]

that is not a good sign…. my bunnie emo used to nip my mochi pulling out her fur and both will later end up fighting but what it looks like is that the bunnie is either too scared or doesnt wanna fight but piggie is being agressive. are both fixed? both can be come agressive to others of different species and hurt each other. personally i think that they should be separated but i am not that knowledgeable about these things. however the rule of thumb is that if pets are fighting, they should be separated and only allowed to play together under supervision.

[Deleted User]

Both animals have not been spayed/neutured. I have not noticed them fighting, but they sleep together in the cardboard box I gave them. They have been together for this amount of time and I don’t think any harm will come to each animal… they are with me for another 10 days.

I do feel shame for the rabbit though .. she is a cute lil thing … likes her head being petted and is very calm. She is easy to handle and can be picked up without a fuss. I noticed her nails are terribly long so I will trim them before I hand her back to my friend.

[Gravehearted]

rabbits and piggies can be friends – but should not be living together since piggie poop is toxic to rabbits. but since they’re likely so bonded, it might do more damage than good for her to house them apart.

I’m no piggie expert, but know that rabbits are supposed to eat a much larger amount of veggies than piggies. When I watch my friends piggies – the two piggies share about 1/2 cup of small torn greens. i think separating them during feeding time sounds like a wise idea.

i would really encourage your friend to get the bunny spayed. remind her that the uterine cancer rate is 85% in unspayed females.

[MooBunnay]

Could you maybe elevate the greens so that the bunny could reach them but the piggie could not? For example put them on top of a box or something that the rabbit could hop on but the piggie couldn’t get on top of? For the longest time when reading this post I thought you were talking about a pig…..made much more sense when I thought GUINEA pig! hahaa

[Deleted User]

Well he might as well be an oink oink pig as he eats so much! LOL.

I will place bunny’s greens on top of the box. Knowing piggie he will climb up on her back to get them.

Just thinking what you wrote Graveheart about the amount of food your friend feeds her 2 piggies … gosh mine get a smorgasboard. They know which side their bread is buttered on.

[Author]

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