Bullying in bonding?

[Eleanor Rose]

Hello I’ve been attempting to bond two sows, one 11 months old and the other 6 months. Followed all the instructions but the older one has just kept the younger hostage for 3 hours. She wouldn’t let her move, chew or go to the toilet without giving her a little nip. Is this normal and should I keep trying? Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Hello I’ve been attempting to bond two sows, one 11 months old and the other 6 months. Followed all the instructions but the older one has just kept the younger hostage for 3 hours. She wouldn’t let her move, chew or go to the toilet without giving her a little nip. Is this normal and should I keep trying? Thank you

Hi and welcome!
This is normal dominance behaviour. Nipping is on the mild side; it is a very carefully judged gesture of power that lets the underpiggy just feel the teeth without breaking the skin. You have to sit it out; it will settle down over the coming days.
If you have already separated, please put them together again tomorrow on neutral ground and give them time to work through the worst of it. Insecure piggies tend to overreact and timid underpiggies tend to freeze up; they will settle down together nevertheless and will likely become good friends once the group establishment phase is over (it takes on average about 2 weeks).

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (includes chapters on sow bonding specifics and the post intro dominance phase)
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts) (includes a chapter on tpyical sow dominance behaviours)

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Thank you for your reply. I did separate them and put them back in their cages (they have been living next to each other for a week) as there didn’t seem to be any sign that the younger pig was going to be allowed to move and she had started trembling. I will try again tomorrow.

 

[Wiebke]

If stress levels are immediately sky high when they meet again, I would personally not pursue the bonding any further.
All piggy bonds rely on character compatibility and mutual liking but in single piggies, especially sows, fear-aggression can also play a major role - and that is very slow process to work past in my own experience; it can take a few months.
(There is a chapter on fear-aggression (dominance overreaction from a position of fear/insecurity) in the bonding guide)

But here is also more information on it: Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour