[Gpdd] MISC: Cage mate?

[butzm at ece.osu.edu]

Melissa and Lemi,

When I got my first pig, I only got one as well.  I was finishing college
and had 2 roommates so Sam got lots of attention and was typically only
alone during his beauty sleep.  Once I move, got married, and got a job
where I work 9 hours a day (then my husband did too), I decided that Sam
was being left alone WAY too much.  I got to the point where I would hold
him all morning when I was getting ready for work (this was during the
wait time for a girl piggie from the rescue).  Can you imagine how hard it
was to brush my hair and teeth?  I felt so sorry for him.  Right before we
got his wife, he was not eating or drinking much.  That didn't last too
long, thank goodness.  He is SOOO much happier now.  He popcorns a lot
more and just loves Rosie.

The rescue I went to has piggy mixers every month.  That's when you bring
current pigs and let them pick there own friends.  I had no idea who we
would get until sam pointed her out and told me she was the ONE for him. 
So as far as intros go you should have your current pig decided whom to
bring home.

I have my 2 in a 2x3 C & C cage.  However, they are usually on the floor
whenever I'm home, so they do get plenty of room for exercise.  Just
remember that the smaller your cage is the more important floor time is. 
My pigs love floor time, especially rosie.  She runs and runs, then sam
gets in her way and rumblestruts so she runs into him head on!  So they
have floor time for about 5 hours a day at most.  There are seldom days
where they don't get floor time at all, but that's only when company's
coming.

Hope that helps.

Sam, Rosie, and head slave Maren