How do I know all is ok - newly bonded group of sows.

[Claire K]

Hi, I have recently decided to put my 3 pairs of girls (4 months, 3 months ans 5 weeks) together as i feel they will have more security/fun in a group rather than in 3 pairs. To prepare for this i made a huge c&c cage and put grid dividers inside it to make 3 pens so that all 3 sets of piggies could see/smell each other for a period of time before placing them all together.

Last night, I finished the new c&c cage that they would all be going into so this morning went out and brought new toys, huts, tunnels etc for them all so that everything was new to all of them.

They got put into their new home together with a huge plate of veg about 2 hours ago, there has been odd nip towards a couple of the others from the 2 older ones but apart from that, all is quiet! They have finished their veg and have toddled off to the huts and are all 6 are asleep ! Some have paired up and some have stayed on their own!

How do i know that all is going to be ok? How long does it take for them to establish that they are all going to get along? I'm very surprised that everything has gone so smoothly and am wondering if this is the calm before the storm or if the fact that they are already seen/smelt each other before, has helped them already start to bond?

Many Thanks
Claire x

 

[Gems]

Hi Claire,

From what you have posted it seems as though they've gone in quite nicely. When I initially tried to introduce a paired boar and sow to my existing trio of sows as soon as they were put together they fought ( fur flying and all sorts! ) so generally if they're going to fight they'll do it on their first meeting. I have read of cases where after a period of time bonded sows can fall out for no apparent reason. All you can do is keep an eye on things and only seperate them if they draw blood. They may fight a bit to ascertain which is the dominant pig, but as I said unless blood is drawn your best leaving them to it so they can sort it amongst themselves.

But your doing everything right so far and hopefully you've got a happy trio of piggies now

 

[Claire K]

Thanks Gems. All 6 of them seem to be getting on fine - have just put a huge pile of hay into the middle of the c&c cage and they are all underneath it eating happily bless them.

The 2 eldest have the odd nip at the others when they get too close of try and pinch veg from their mouths but nothing that they dont do to each other once in a while!

There are 6 huts in the run and each time i look at them, they have swapped and are laying next to someone else - quite funny to watch them run from one hut to another.

Hope fully they will all be fine together - thats my brave bit over and done with now, wont add anymore to their little gang in case i upset them all !