Dominance Behaviour Question

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Nicole97

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So I have two sows and they've been together in the same cage for over a year. They're quite friendly with each other; the only issues they've ever had is that one doesn't like being touched much by the other. They've never had a fight before.

Today, I noticed that the eldest (older by a year and 4 months) keeps walking slowly towards the younger, while purring (which I know as a positive sound, not negative), shaking her bottom from left to right slowly, and head nodding the other. Here's the extremely odd part: after doing this for a while, she starts popcorning! The younger just runs away and the older either follows her or else stops. They didn't fight, but she's doing it quite often. What could the problem be? Isn't this a fight behaviour? Why is she also purring and popcorning?
 
I've had them for over a year and taken them to the vet. I'm sure
 
She's rumblestrutting. Sows do it as well as boars, and it is a fairly minor dominance behaviour. Those of us who keep boars see this on a many times a day basis.
 
Haha that sounds like my Cissy! She's the boss pig. It sounds like she's having a rumblestrut to show off and be a bit dominant, then is getting all excited about it and having a popcorn :))

My Cissy does this all the time, I just can't take her seriously :D. Don't worry though it's very normal and natural for them to have a little rumblestrut. If she's overly dominant and it seems like a strong season you can always pop to the vets to check for ovarian cysts but I think she's probably a bit young for that? :)
 
She's about 2.5 years old. Her behaviour with me is just as cuddly and happy as normal, and although she does these behaviours she's never actually fought with the other one. Do you still think it could be a cyst?
 
Nicole97 said:
She's about 2.5 years old. Her behaviour with me is just as cuddly and happy as normal, and although she does these behaviours she's never actually fought with the other one. Do you still think it could be a cyst?
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It's unlikely at her age but I can't say for sure. Is this behaviour new or does it happen fairly frequently? It could just be that she's having a strong season :)

Do you weigh them weekly? :)
 
I only noticed it yesterday. I'll keep a closer eye on them. No but I'll start...would she gain weight with it? I'm pretty sure she hasn't gained weight
 
Nicole97 said:
I only noticed it yesterday. I'll keep a closer eye on them. No but I'll start...would she gain weight with it? I'm pretty sure she hasn't gained weight
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Generally if a piggy is poorly they'll eat less and lose weight, that's normally the first indication of illness so it's always best to weigh them regularly to catch any potential illness quickly :)

I'm no vet but I'd say if she's popcorning after then she's pretty pleased with herself! My Cissy does the same thing yours does and she's a very healthy 2 year old girl who's weight is constant every week :)
 
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