Two Pigs

Question
I have two pigs, and they are ganging up on me.  They are much happier in each others' company than to have me around.  I only took in the second pig because I had the facilities to accommodate him, and if I did not take him, he was going to be put down.  The second pig had a heart condition, from being so small, and had to have a lot of vet visits.  That was very traumatic for him.
Now they are best friends and do everything together.  When I come out to feed them, they won't come near me.  Sometimes they even hide from me, to play a joke on me.  They are protective of each other.  If I go to pet one, the other one is right there charging at me.  Is there anything I can do, or should I just leave them alone?  They have everything they need, and are very happy together.  I am afraid though that if one pig needs to go to the vet, I will not be able to take him.  There is a lot of mistrust going around, and yet I have done nothing to them besides taking the little one to the vet.  How can I regain their trust, or should I just let them be?  Thank you!

Answer
Pigs are herd animals. When young piglets are left alone, they will naturally gravitate to and bond with each other. They will bond with their primary caregiver. But unless they are socialized, spending time each day with people doing training or just playing, they may become a little standoffish.

Pigs sometimes seem to have a sense of humor, but they're also very food oriented. It's extremely unusual for pigs to hide at feeding time. I am wondering if something unpleasant happened to them that you are unaware of.

To socialize them, start by spending time in their pen during their natural sleepy times, usually early evening after dinner or late afternoon. Start by just sitting near them & talking. You can read a book or magazine outloud, so they get used to the sound of your voice.

The next step is to put the book down, talk to them in a soft voice, and try touching them. Tell them you're going to touch them before you do it.

Also, try talking and touching to them as they eat. If this is when the other pig is charging you, the problem may not be you but the food dish. Put out three food dishes to reduce food related squabbles.

I highly recommend the book Pot-Bellied Pig Behavior and Training by Priscilla Valentine. Pris really understands how pigs think, and why they do the things they do. She goes into basic socialization in much more detail than I can here. Her book is available on Amazon.com