Concerned for one of my pigs

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Pig007

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Long story short - had two sisters, one bought pregnant, she had two girls.

The babies are now about 14 weeks old - yet one looks far more mature than the other. The fur is still soft/baby like and she's smaller than her sister. She looks healthy, and is very active. However, I think she is last in the pecking order when it comes to food, and sometimes squeals if she finds herself in a position where other pigs are fighting for food. She also sometimes squeals if other pigs come near her. I am keeping an eye on her and am going to check she is putting on weight.

Her sister does bully her slightly, chases her quite a bit and often will chase her away when she tries to eat. But they aren't fighting, but it seems to be making the smaller pig very nervous.

Is it normal for a pig in a group to behave like this? Anyone have any advise?
 
Firstly I would start weighing her, there is a pecking order but she should still be thriving, scatter the food around so she always has access this may help.
 
The only advise i have is always weight weekly. Weighing weekly would be able to tell you if she wasnt gaining weight, or was even loosing it.
 
All that sounds fairly normal, girls do squeal a lot when they are the bottom of the pecking order, it signals submission. This link to sow behaviour may help with understanding the girls, usually it settles down with just the occasional flare up when one or more come into season.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561

As already advised, spread the food around so she can have her fill, a few bowls in differing parts of the cage will help.

HTH

Suzy x
 
Have to agree with flinstones - I have a herd of six girls and another trio and they do try and boss the smaller piggies around. I make sure there are two/three bowls of everything placed around the pens so they can all have easy access to food. An extra water bottle is always good to have as well :))
I used to observe them from a distance to see if there was any bullying and Lily, the smallest of the herd, always seemed to be the last to get to anything which worried me - the extra dishes really do help and she has become cheeky now by sitting quietly until the others are tucking in then dives in and has food from each dish so gets her share and more rolleyes
 
Thanks - it's good to hear it's normal behaviour. I have tried several methods to ensure she gets food - for some reason though her sister will purposely just chase her away when she tries to eat. When I give them the veg I make sure she's gets her share. She has a habbit of coming begging for food whenever anyone enters the room and it's very hard not to give in and feed her by hand. But I am trying to avoid it as I want her to try and mix with the others when it comes to food time.
 
Also worth checking the small one can see and hear normally and it's teeth are ok. This could be why it's not gaining weight the same.

Definately weigh her regularly. It's the best way to tell how they are thriving. My boys are coming on 6 months and I still have to weight Hamish weekly.

What breed of pigs are they? Any pictures?:))
 
I know how you feel

My female, gave birth to 3 piggles. The 2 boys are BIG and VERY fat.The other is a female, very small and was often shoved out the way as the others fought to the food bowl. If you are planning to keep her, maybe put her in a separate cage with just one other female so there isn't such a squabble at dinner time.As she gets bigger and gets more confident maybe put her back in with the others. I hope this was helpful. :):)rolleyesrolleyes
 
Little update - have resisted the urge to feed her when she comes begging which has encouraged her to fight more for a food. I also re-arranged their hay loft and so far it seems to be working.:)
 
the youngest of my group is bottom of the pecking order and is squealing when the others come closer than she is happy with but she isnt a shrinking violet either as I discovered recently after feeling sorry for her being picked on all the time (again as you, nothing nasty just bullying) I found that she can hold her own quite well and is quite the little moo. She was a single baby and I have her mum but neither seek each other out so she is just another member of the gang really (and a right porker too)
 
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