Bonding Two Sow Pairs

dannif_piggies

dannif_piggies

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Hey everyone, so in the early new year, I am hoping to attempt the bonding of my two sow pairs, Honey and Willow joining with Lois and Laine. I have one successful previous experience, bonding baby Willow (then 13 weeks) with 6 year old Honey. Apart from this I have no other experience about group dynamic etc.

I know the fundamental rulings of, introducing in a neutral space, have only open-ended hides, and I know the accepted dominance behaviours.

However I would like some further advice about how to go about bonding two individual pairs. I've read that age can play a large part in success, is this right?
The pigs ages are:
Honey: 6
Willow: 8 months
Lois & Laine: rescued so not entirely sure, but expected about 1 year old

Does this sound like a group that could work?

When I do come to introducing the pairs, who do I put in the pen first? I know usually it's the "new pig" but in this case, I guess there's not an idividual new pig. This may sound stupid but I want to do all my research before I attempt it.

Thank you in advance guys :)
 
you seem to know a lot! i am no expert whatsoever, but i reccomend putting the youngest into the pen first, give him a minute to explore, then just keep going down the age line. the only reason i think it will work, is because if yu put the baby piggie in when the other older piggies are in first, they may get a bit overwhelmed and hide instead of playing/interacting with the other pigs. The older pigs, I'm assuming, have more experience with other pigs and will know how to respond and won't be as frantic as the young ones. as long as you know basic animal psychology, i think you will be fine :clap::clap::clap:

good luck!
 
I think (could be wrong though!) That the boss pig meets the new pig first. But if the are bonded as pairs that might be difficult to judge...
 
It usually comes down to whether the two top sows can agree on which of them comes top and where they rank on the hierarchy.
After I don't know how many bondings, all I can say is that you can never predict the result since it depends so much on the interplay of the personalities and the resulting dynamics. It is always worth a try, but don't be heart-broken if doesn't come off.
 
Thank you all for your responses and suggestions.

@Wiebke after I try with the two dominant sows, do I place the remaining two in the pen both at the same time?
 
dannif_piggies said:
Thank you all for your responses and suggestions.

@Wiebke after I try with the two dominant sows, do I place the remaining two in the pen both at the same time?
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Start with them all in the bonding pen in order to enable acceptance. the undersows will then keep out of the way while the hierarchy is being established (or not) from the top down until it is their turn. Interfere as little as possible, apart from adding more hay if necessary. Unlike you, the piggies come with the instinctive bonding manual.
 
Wiebke said:
Start with them all in the bonding pen in order to enable acceptance. the undersows will then keep out of the way while the hierarchy is being established (or not) from the top down until it is their turn. Interfere as little as possible, apart from adding more hay if necessary. Unlike you, the piggies come with the instinctive bonding manual.
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Ah I see, sorry I was tired (was a long day yesterday) and read your last post as placing the top two pigs in first, but I see what you actually meant now 🤣

With Honey and Willow I waited around 2 hours, and as there was almost no dominance behaviour at all and they were cuddling pretty quickly i felt this two hours was long enough, would it be the same with the group? Just wait until I think everything is calmed down? Or would you recommend a minimum amount of time before even considering putting them in the same living environment?
 
I bonded 2 pairs of sows a few months ago and with all the help and guidance from the forum thread and members it went well.
My thread may still be there somewhere if it would help you - I will try to find it so you you know what to look for. It's the saga of bonding day.
It took about 2 weeks for them all to settle, especially the 2 middle sows who are now the best of friends.

Hope your bonding goes well too.
 
dannif_piggies said:
Ah I see, sorry I was tired (was a long day yesterday) and read your last post as placing the top two pigs in first, but I see what you actually meant now 🤣

With Honey and Willow I waited around 2 hours, and as there was almost no dominance behaviour at all and they were cuddling pretty quickly i felt this two hours was long enough, would it be the same with the group? Just wait until I think everything is calmed down? Or would you recommend a minimum amount of time before even considering putting them in the same living environment?
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Every bonding is different. I would certainly not expect as mild a one as your bonding between Honey and Willow. Give it several hours or separate promptly if tensions are getting very high and stay there. when you read the bonding guide you should be able to realise whether the top spot has been sorted or not. Only transfer the piggies into their new home after the new hierarchy has been roughly sorted.
Make sure that there are no hideys until things have really calmed down within the first 2 days or at the most only hideys with two exits until the dominance is truly over, which takes on average around 2 weeks.
 
Wiebke said:
Every bonding is different. I would certainly not expect as mild a one as your bonding between Honey and Willow. Give it several hours or separate promptly if tensions are getting very high and stay there. when you read the bonding guide you should be able to realise whether the top spot has been sorted or not. Only transfer the piggies into their new home after the new hierarchy has been roughly sorted.
Make sure that there are no hideys until things have really calmed down within the first 2 days or at the most only hideys with two exits until the dominance is truly over, which takes on average around 2 weeks.
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Yeah, I was even surprised with how well their bond went! And okay I guess it's just see what happens then, but lovely, thank you for the advice once again 😊
 
All the best! I am going to do my own group bonding as soon as I am recovered from my norovirus and have a working washing machine again.
 
Wiebke said:
All the best! I am going to do my own group bonding as soon as I am recovered from my norovirus and have a working washing machine again.
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Aw good luck! Do let me know how it goes! And yeah mine definitely won't be happening until the new year! Hope you feel better soon
 
Wiebke said:
All the best! I am going to do my own group bonding as soon as I am recovered from my norovirus and have a working washing machine again.
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I feel sorry for you, i had that norovirus a few years back! Its the worst.

Good luck with the bonding dannif 👍 you can always look at my bonding thread if that helps, but might not because i bonded a sow and a boar and i pretty much winged it in the end with lack of time 😞
 
Skypipdot said:
I feel sorry for you, i had that norovirus a few years back! Its the worst.

Good luck with the bonding dannif 👍 you can always look at my bonding thread if that helps, but might not because i bonded a sow and a boar and i pretty much winged it in the end with lack of time 😞
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Thank you! I guess I can only give it a go and be on hand with a towel to break up any potential fights 😬 It would be a amazing if it does work out but never mind if it doesn't. And i was following it, how are they both getting on? Still all okay?
 
dannif_piggies said:
Thank you! I guess I can only give it a go and be on hand with a towel to break up any potential fights 😬 It would be a amazing if it does work out but never mind if it doesn't. And i was following it, how are they both getting on? Still all okay?
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Yea pretty good, they are not really a brilliant bond but i can see they are happier. They tolerate eachother without fighting or even nipping. They may need a cage upgrade soon. I'm keeping an eye on it. Thanks for asking 👍

Give yours a go it might be a really good move to make. I look forward to seeing what happens
 
Skypipdot said:
Yea pretty good, they are not really a brilliant bond but i can see they are happier. They tolerate eachother without fighting or even nipping. They may need a cage upgrade soon. I'm keeping an eye on it. Thanks for asking 👍

Give yours a go it might be a really good move to make. I look forward to seeing what happens
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At least they both have a friend now, who knows they might grow fonder over time? And is a c&c an option for you? Tend to be so much cheaper and so easy to adapt. Best thing I done was change to c&c 😍

But yeah I'll give it a go, won't be until at least the new year though
 
dannif_piggies said:
At least they both have a friend now, who knows they might grow fonder over time? And is a c&c an option for you? Tend to be so much cheaper and so easy to adapt. Best thing I done was change to c&c 😍

But yeah I'll give it a go, won't be until at least the new year though
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Burnie isnt adult yet so they might grow closer. Dot wants to but burnie not so much lol. When are you attempting your bond?
 
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