So after loosing Bumble his remaining wifepig has been depressed - she has lost Bumble and her sister within the space of about 10 weeks and is now on her own.She has always been the under sow - she is housed next to my original sow Truffles who is over 6 1/2 and was top pig over her sister Noodles and then wifepig to reg who died 6 weeks ago - they have always interacted well through the bars (for the last 4 years) and since Bumble died Honey hasn't moved far from where Truffles tends to stay in her house - Honey is eating well and her weight is the same - so I thought that with Honey being the underpig all would go well - so I set up the bonding pen but as soon as they had eaten all the veg Honey started to bite Truffles on the rump - no butt sniffing no squealing from either, so Truffles just turned around squared up to her and both had raised hackles - were teeth chattering and just flew for each other - it was a tee towel job - no damage done as I was ready - but sadly in my case it seems you can't teach an old sow new tricks - so they will have to live side by side - I don't even know if I should take up the offer of two baby sows from Rachel my vet as I was thinking of making a group - because in all likelihood the two old ladies I have now won't be around for much longer - or should I get the two baby sows (if her piggy has two) and then look for a neutered Abyssinian boar for the babies - but what if that doesn't work - arrghhh!
I am sorry - old sows can be a right pain. I have a collection of pretty unbondable oldies here!
if you have got the space, you could consider getting the babies to see whether they will bond with one of your older girls and then find them a husboar in the longer term? Sows are often less bothered by piggies that cannot challenge their leadership in any way.
Yes - I have the space - and would love an Abyssinian boar (Bumble was an Abyssinian ) - I really miss the rumbling I would hear throughout the evening when I was watching telly - and he was always chatting away to himself - the sows are so quiet - I am worried about being able to afford them financially though - the two older ladies are insured (Truffs insurance is fully paid up for the year and Honey I pay by installments ) - babies shouldn't really have anything major as most issues tend to come along when they get older and I would be financially ok in 2 years time when son back from uni and living at home - but I now have so little to manage on as I am basically a single person trying to run a 3 bedroom house on a shop workers salary, and I am terrified I will end up with huge vet bills after Bumble busting through the £2000 exotic direct limit by £1000 this year and I can't afford to insure any more at this precise time.- but I do have the space and could afford to feed everybody. - what to do - what to do!
I recently took in a spayed sow for Fred and initially it didn't go well. She was quite the fiesty madam. I did however give them a buddy bath and she stopped flying at Fred it maybe worth a go. They've been living together fine since.
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