Bonding!

[TJB_00]

Hey all! I’m looking for bonding advice.

I had two pairs of sows. They shared a two story house - one floor each (it was blocked off so they couldn’t see each other.)
I’ve spent the whole day bonding. There was some chasing, nipping and a lot of terrified shrieks!
I have one really dominant female (Luna).. all day she’s terrorised my very timid submissive piggy’s (Bellatrix and Minerva). It got to a point where this afternoon, they were all eating together, even snuggling up for a while with no worrying behaviour. I then disinfected all the hutch, put the ramp in and did the bedding. Put them all in there and every since they’ve been in the hutch together they’re terrorising each other again! I did a job good to disinfected and remove previous scent.
They love to hide so I have put all the hideaways inside, they are only one entrance and this is where my issues lie. They tend to fight each other for that one space and block each other in, but I haven’t got any open ended houses for them to have instead.
I’m slightly concerned as they live in my heated out building instead - I’m super worried something will happen overnight and I won’t be there to stop it but I can’t sit out here forever.

They seem to settle down and then they start chasing, nipping, wheeking all over again. Haven’t noticed too much teeth chattering but a little

2/4 of these sows are very loud, scream in submission and defence if any other piggy touches them. I’m finding it hard to listen to as it makes me just want to drop it all and put them back in their pairs. They all seem quite stressed atm with little rumbles coming from them all but I’m not sure to call it quits yet or it stick out? I’ve read not to separate unless blood is drawn and it hasn’t been. They haven’t drawn any blood since being together today at 12pm. It’s been over six hours. I’m just looking for what to do next, do I leave them settle for the night or do I get involved. They have a huge space and are all currently fighting for the same hideaway house even though there is three others lol. Please advise.

 

[Nassala]

Every time you move them to a new area they will do the dominance dance again. Things are likely to settle down. In the meantime, remove the hideys. This will reduce the chance of a piggie getting cornered and lashing out. They will be loud, but it's probably good that your submissive pigs are being so obviously submissive, less chance of a power tussle.
Have you got any cardboard boxes you can cut two sides out of, or a small fleece you can put over the top of part of the cage to provide cover but also easy access/exits?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Please take the time to carefully read the two guides below, which will help you understand better where your sows are at or whether the bonding is turning sour. Please be aware that that unless there is a marked difference in age with one pair ideally sub-adult and not able to challenge for leadership, many sow pair merges fail because the top sow that is losing out is not willing to give up their claim.
Sows generally do not bite unless they feel threatened but that doesn't mean that a bonding cannot fail.

The guides will allow you to judge whether it is better to split overnight and give it a try again tomorrow. If things are noticeably relaxed, then the bonding is going well. If not, I would personally abort as the underlying issues (unresolved dominance) will have a nasty habit of resurfacing again and again; usually at the least convenient of times.

Our bonding guide takes you step-by-step through all the stages of the much more complex bonding process than most people are aware of with the attendant dynamics and behaviours: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Here is our sow guide with dominance behaviours that you see typically in sows: Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

All the best!