Is 3 a crowd?

[Poppy'sMum]

I have 3 little pigs; well one is not so little, Mummy Chubster pig, her baby Princess Daisy & oddbod Ziggy both of which are around 6 months old, Ziggy is probably a month older than Daisy.

When they all got together last September they were fine until after a week when Ziggy challenged Chubster for top sow & was put firmly in her place by good natured Chubster pig. Ziggy then started on Daisy for a while, & there were hisses & teeth bared at each other for a few days then they seemed to call a truce.

Well hormones are kicking in; Chubster was chasing Ziggy around for about 3 days solid; Ziggy pees in her face (hence Chubster ended up with a snuffly nose we think!) but since that all calmed down Ziggy seems to really dislike poor Daisy No blood has been drawn, Daisy just scarpers as soon as Ziggy goes near her. Ziggy will sneak around stalking Daisy, run up & nip her & chase her out of her hidey place or away from the hay etc.

I am starting to feel a bit sorry for Daisy. She sleeps alone, whereas the other two get on well, Ziggy respects Chubster & often tries to lie close to her at night, therefore keeping Daisy further away. I do know that unless blood is drawn that this may be the way it is for them, but how long should I leave it to go on?

I do think Ziggy has also been in season this past week, & am hoping it's just the tail end of this making her grouchy towards her. Daisy eats well, sleeps on her pillow & is the most friendliest piggy we have had at this age. She loves chin rubs, hardly ever runs away from us, was the first to eat from our hand etc. Has so much human contact alienated her from them a bit?

Should I bath the youngsters together, would that help?

Any advice welcome.

 

[Pepperdog]

I dont think it is, I did introduce flash into the group as I had room and thought my lot were doing the same but it turns out that I was wrong, but he has added to the group anyway.

Crystal is 2 weeks younger than minty, minty had a baby just before I brought them home, I kept the baby as she was the only one and female. From day one crystal and minty have got on very well, crystal is the boss and minty is just so laid back it doesnt bother her when crystal gets into a mood. But fudge got a rough time from crystal - again no blood spilled or serious issue but it was noticable that she wasnt in their "gang". Then flash came along and I thought that at least fudge had someone else to cuddle up to, actually flash doesnt have a favorite and seeks company from any one of them, or likes some time away from the girls on his own.

What I have noticed over the months is fudge is a very independant piggie and is often happy to be on her own, she seems to live in a world of her own and is happy in it. Fudge isnt happy with human contact and is that independant she would rather just eat and play on her own she is a funny little pig

 

[Claire W]

I'm not sure what to say really but I think sometimes a pig can be left out of a trio. Here's my story. I adopted Eleanor as a companion for Eliza when her cagemate sadly died. Eleanor and Eliza became close and lived happily together for a year. When Eliza was two and Eleanor one and a half, I decided to adopt a new piggy so six week old Erin came along. Although Ellie and Eliza welcomed Erin, I noticed that she often got left out. Ellie and Eliza would sleep together and Erin would sleep alone. I wouldn't say it was much of a problem but I began to feel a bit sorry for Erin as she was trying.to fit in. When Erin was four months old, I decided my piggy family wasn't complete so I adopted four week old Ena. That was back in 2010 and my piggy family is complete. The girls get on well as two two somes and a four some. They all live happily together apart from the usually Tiffs. I feel Erin is much happier now xx

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I'm not sure what to say really but I think sometimes a pig can be left out of a trio. Here's my story. I adopted Eleanor as a companion for Eliza when her cagemate sadly died. Eleanor and Eliza became close and lived happily together for a year. When Eliza was two and Eleanor one and a half, I decided to adopt a new piggy so six week old Erin came along. Although Ellie and Eliza welcomed Erin, I noticed that she often got left out. Ellie and Eliza would sleep together and Erin would sleep alone. I wouldn't say it was much of a problem but I began to feel a bit sorry for Erin as she was trying.to fit in. When Erin was four months old, I decided my piggy family wasn't complete so I adopted four week old Ena. That was back in 2010 and my piggy family is complete. The girls get on well as two two somes and a four some. They all live happily together apart from the usually Tiffs. I feel Erin is much happier now xx

That's interesting. I am not sure how a fourth piggy would get along with them all though. I wouldn't want to separate Daisy from her Mum, that would seem a bit mean If I did add a fourth then there is no guarantee that piggy would be accepted by any of the three I have & I would assume a baby would be the best one to add? I have never come across a rescue willing to rehome a single sow though; they seem to be bonded in pairs before they leave the rescue.

 

[Little Piggles]

Just to add my experiences...

I was warned that three could be a crowd, but I don't really think it was true in our case. We had Pippa and Willow for about 10 months before adding baby Pixel. Pippa (as dominant girl) took to her straight away and Willow pretty much ignored her. As they got bigger it became clear that Pixel was happy being down at the bottom of the pecking order and never challenged the two big girls. They rarely slept together and I was a little worried that Pixel was being left out, but she was happy, ate really well and they didn't bicker.

Fast forward another year or so and we add baby Marmite into the group too (neutered Boris has already been introduced for about 6 months at this point too) and she gets a similar reaction to your girls. Pippa - who's still in charge, would give her no peace for the first few days, like Ziggy and Daisy and she only had to come near for Marmite to scream and Pippa would chase her even more. Marmite now stands up for herself when she has to and Pixel is still down the bottom. Adding Marmite,( so going up from four to five) was the most difficult as she I think she was the most confident with everyone else. As she'd been on her own for a couple of months, I think she was keen for piggy company too (which Pippa didn't appriciate!)

So, after all that waffle I guess I'm saying it's very similar to how my group acted together too. They still very rarely snuggle up together but are alot calmer together now they're a little older and are not very happy about being split up.

A bath could be worth a shot as it could calm them down for a few days and give Ziggy's season a chance to pass

Good luck x

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Just to add my experiences...

I was warned that three could be a crowd, but I don't really think it was true in our case. We had Pippa and Willow for about 10 months before adding baby Pixel. Pippa (as dominant girl) took to her straight away and Willow pretty much ignored her. As they got bigger it became clear that Pixel was happy being down at the bottom of the pecking order and never challenged the two big girls. They rarely slept together and I was a little worried that Pixel was being left out, but she was happy, ate really well and they didn't bicker.

Fast forward another year or so and we add baby Marmite into the group too (neutered Boris has already been introduced for about 6 months at this point too) and she gets a similar reaction to your girls. Pippa - who's still in charge, would give her no peace for the first few days, like Ziggy and Daisy and she only had to come near for Marmite to scream and Pippa would chase her even more. Marmite now stands up for herself when she has to and Pixel is still down the bottom. Adding Marmite,( so going up from four to five) was the most difficult as she I think she was the most confident with everyone else. As she'd been on her own for a couple of months, I think she was keen for piggy company too (which Pippa didn't appriciate!)

So, after all that waffle I guess I'm saying it's very similar to how my group acted together too. They still very rarely snuggle up together but are alot calmer together now they're a little older and are not very happy about being split up.

A bath could be worth a shot as it could calm them down for a few days and give Ziggy's season a chance to pass

Good luck x

Thank you, even just now there was a little squeak as she got shoved out I do wonder if Daisy is a little bit of a drama queen, she sometimes even squeaks when I go to pick her up, a really distressed sound, but the minute she has a cuddle she purrs & nestles down for strokes. I think she really seems nervous around the other two. However earlier she was scoffing hay alongside the other two, & I have separate food bowls for their pellets which she was eating with them. Maybe I will bath them both together this weekend & hopefully they will bond with the sheer fright of the experience! rolleyes

 

[Claire W]

Some rescues will re home single pigs if they are going to be bonded with another lone pig or a group. My three rescue girls were all singles apart from Ena who was still with her mum and sister when I adopted her.

Anyway, as the above post shows, three being a crowd isn't always the case a bath together may well help bond your three girls and Daisy may well be a drama queen

 

[hazeyg]

I certainly hope not, a very reputable rescue just rehomed two little girls to my neutred boy Harry. There still working out there rankings as the Laila is really shy and or should I say was she now runs around rumble strutting and humping Harry. Is this normal? I hope it mean three isnt a crowd.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I certainly hope not, a very reputable rescue just rehomed two little girls to my neutred boy Harry. There still working out there rankings as the Laila is really shy and or should I say was she now runs around rumble strutting and humping Harry. Is this normal? I hope it mean three isnt a crowd.

Do you mean she's humping your boar? Omg lol

 

[hazeyg]

Yes the tiny little shy girl has taken it upon herself to hump Harry and regularly at that, she rumble struts and then mounts and humps his side/head. He just tries to get away, I fear hes going to be bottom of the trio in the heirachy.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Yes the tiny little shy girl has taken it upon herself to hump Harry and regularly at that, she rumble struts and then mounts and humps his side/head. He just tries to get away, I fear hes going to be bottom of the trio in the heirachy.

Oh dear, the hen-pecked husband! Lol! rolleyes