Introducing Baby Sow To Adult Sows

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Esstina2

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i have 2 sows 6 years old, one is quite poorly with a large tumour on her leg. she is still eating well, though losing weight, is happy and still wants her cuddles so we are just giving her lots of love and keeping a close eye on her. I also have a baby piggy girl and my aim is to introduce the three of them so that in time when louby dies, stumpy will have a companion. up to now they have only been all together on neutral ground. there is a lot of bum sniffing going on and jerky behavior, the little one continually popcorns around the elder ones but I am unsure if they are actually bonding as I would like. any advise please as eventually I want to house them all together. many thanks
 
esstina said:
i have 2 sows 6 years old, one is quite poorly with a large tumour on her leg. she is still eating well, though losing weight, is happy and still wants her cuddles so we are just giving her lots of love and keeping a close eye on her. I also have a baby piggy girl and my aim is to introduce the three of them so that in time when louby dies, stumpy will have a companion. up to now they have only been all together on neutral ground. there is a lot of bum sniffing going on and jerky behavior, the little one continually popcorns around the elder ones but I am unsure if they are actually bonding as I would like. any advise please as eventually I want to house them all together. many thanks
Click to expand...

It sounds like it couldn't go better as far as I can see.

Please take the time to read this detailed illustrated guide here, so you can understand better what is going on and make correct judgements. The guide covers the whole period from pre-bonding until the end of the dominance phase about two weeks in.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
 
Wiebke said:
It sounds like it couldn't go better as far as I can see.

Please take the time to read this detailed illustrated guide here, so you can understand better what is going on and make correct judgements. The guide covers the whole period from pre-bonding until the end of the dominance phase about two weeks in.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Click to expand...
the little one seems to be bonding with one of the older girls but not the other,could she be feeling threatened by the new arrival? lots of teeth chattering, it got quite tense. do I persevere, its only been twice so far they all been together.maybe need
Wiebke said:
It sounds like it couldn't go better as far as I can see.

Please take the time to read this detailed illustrated guide here, so you can understand better what is going on and make correct judgements. The guide covers the whole period from pre-bonding until the end of the dominance phase about two weeks in.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Click to expand...
 
the little one seems to be getting along with one adult but not the other. a lot of teeth chattering going on. it got quite tense. I may expect too much too soon, do I persevere . they have only interacted 3 times together so its early days. I cant help thinking stumpy feels threatened by the new arrival !
 
esstina said:
the little one seems to be bonding with one of the older girls but not the other,could she be feeling threatened by the new arrival? lots of teeth chattering, it got quite tense. do I persevere, its only been twice so far they all been together.maybe need
Click to expand...

Which of the older sows doesn't like her, the top sow or the older undersow? Dominance travels down the ladder from the top to the bottom. You usually see the worst from the sow just above in the rankings to make sure that she keeps her position.
 
Wiebke said:
Which of the older sows doesn't like her, the top sow or the older undersow? Dominance travels down the ladder from the top to the bottom. You usually see the worst from the sow just above in the rankings to make sure that she keeps her position.
Click to expand...
Wiebke said:
Which of the older sows doesn't like her, the top sow or the older undersow? Dominance travels down the ladder from the top to the bottom. You usually see the worst from the sow just above in the rankings to make sure that she keeps her position.
Click to expand...
Wiebke said:
Which of the older sows doesn't like her, the top sow or the older undersow? Dominance travels down the ladder from the top to the bottom. You usually see the worst from the sow just above in the rankings to make sure that she keeps her position.
Click to expand...
Wiebke said:
Which of the older sows doesn't like her, the top sow or the older undersow? Dominance travels down the ladder from the top to the bottom. You usually see the worst from the sow just above in the rankings to make sure that she keeps her position.
Click to expand...
the top sow is louby who is the poorly one, she just wants to chill out now and doesn't seem perturbed too much about the new arrival. stumpy on the other hand seems to lose patience when the baby is sniffing and pop corning around, doing a fair bit of head butting and teeth chattering tonight and then the baby started doing it too. stumpy even climbed into her hidey snug just to get away. it really seems she is somewhat jealous. stumpy and louby are almost 6 years old and its always only been the two of them together, they are sisters and have always been inseperable.i just want them to all get along as louby wont be with us much longer and then stumpy will be lonely if she doesn't accept the new one.i would be grateful for any tips in addition to what iv already read from you. many thanks
 
esstina said:
the top sow is louby who is the poorly one, she just wants to chill out now and doesn't seem perturbed too much about the new arrival. stumpy on the other hand seems to lose patience when the baby is sniffing and pop corning around, doing a fair bit of head butting and teeth chattering tonight and then the baby started doing it too. stumpy even climbed into her hidey snug just to get away. it really seems she is somewhat jealous. stumpy and louby are almost 6 years old and its always only been the two of them together, they are sisters and have always been inseperable.i just want them to all get along as louby wont be with us much longer and then stumpy will be lonely if she doesn't accept the new one.i would be grateful for any tips in addition to what iv already read from you. many thanks
Click to expand...

Would you consider getting another youngster as companion for the little girl? Older sows can be tricky as they like their rest and their routine. The dominance behaviour is not way out of league. Head butting is par for the course and teeth chattering is a sign of being fed up with any shenanigans and telling the little one to behave!
 
iv thoroughly cleaned the big cage and everything in it and put the little one in with the older two.the poorly one louby shows no signs of distress at the new addition and just chills out but stumpy is still agitated. no teeth chattering anymore but a bit of grumbling going on. the little one is very noisy and vocal, shes a lively one, and seems to be causing as much mischief as she can and stumpy I think is putting her in her place. are there any noises I should be aware of which would indicate potential problems? thank you
 
esstina said:
iv thoroughly cleaned the big cage and everything in it and put the little one in with the older two.the poorly one louby shows no signs of distress at the new addition and just chills out but stumpy is still agitated. no teeth chattering anymore but a bit of grumbling going on. the little one is very noisy and vocal, shes a lively one, and seems to be causing as much mischief as she can and stumpy I think is putting her in her place. are there any noises I should be aware of which would indicate potential problems? thank you
Click to expand...

Look our for strong teeth chattering and submission squeaking, but also at the body language as to how reaxed/tense it is. The dominance phase lasts on average two weeks; it can be shorter with youngsters and long with insecure leaders. As long as the dominance is within the acceptable band there is no need to worry. I would recommend to not use any hideys with just one exit during this time because chucking an underpiggy out of a prime spot is par for the course.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Sow Behaviour
 
i have only tunnels in the cage now and 3 bowls so the little one is sure to eat. today has been very noisy with rumbling and squeaks however at present time they are eating together from same bowl and have touched noses a few times with no aggression shown. this friendly stage doesn't last long before they start squabbling and chasing each other again, but I feel its progress . many thanks
 
esstina said:
i have only tunnels in the cage now and 3 bowls so the little one is sure to eat. today has been very noisy with rumbling and squeaks however at present time they are eating together from same bowl and have touched noses a few times with no aggression shown. this friendly stage doesn't last long before they start squabbling and chasing each other again, but I feel its progress . many thanks
Click to expand...

Dominance goes in rounds with rests in between - if the interludes are positive, then you know that they hav actually bonded and have proceeded to working out the small print of their future relationship. Youngsters are always extra vocal and expressive, so bondings are usually much more dramatic.

if I were you, I'd stop worrying and just let them get on with rebuilding their new group identity.
 
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