Need Help With Introduction: Two Sows Fighting

[magpiepiggy]

Hi there - I'm a first time poster, thanks in advance for the help!

I had a pair of female pigs that I adopted from a shelter last year (2 of a large set that came in from a hoarding case). Both girls got along very well, but unfortunately one of them recently passed away (she was quite elderly).

My remaining pig (2 years old) seemed quite distressed without a buddy, so I adopted another sow this weekend (1 year old). I read up on how to do the introductions and gave them a nice big neutral space with a pile of hay. The one mistake I made was having a hidey nearby. All went well for the first 5 minutes or so - some chirping noises but mostly ignoring each other and eating. Then, my pig started rumblestrutting and backed the new piggy into the hidey then all of a sudden it escalated to teeth chattering from both of them (I immediately removed the hidey). I had read that I should let them work it out, so I didn't remove them but it finally escalated into a physical fight so I threw a towel on them and separated them (no blood or injuries). I let them cool off overnight and tried again in a new neutral space today but they started chattering immediately and escalated into another fight within a minute (again no blood) so I separated again.

I now have them in separate cages next to each other in the hopes they can get used to each other while separated and then I thought I'd try again, perhaps with the bath technique others have noted.

Should I wait and give them a few days to cool off and hang out next to each other, or try again right away? Should I not have separated them when they started fighting?

Any other ideas? I'm worried that they have now permanently ticked each other off and it is hopeless!

Thank you!

 

[Keiko The Pig]

I would wait and let your new pig adjust to her surroundings. Perhaps when she is more comfortable in her new home she will be more willing to be friendly. It is however possible that you simply have two dominant sows who will not submit to the other :/ if one of your sows is in season perhaps wait till the worst of it has passed, as bonding during seasons can bring about some escalated behaviour due to hormones. Do only give them tunnels or other hideys with two entrances on the neutral ground. Also a plate of veg can do wonders on any piggies mood! Perhaps try to spoil your pigs next time with a nice veggie salad! Maybe they will be too busy eating and enjoying themselves to get as feisty. Your current pig, the one who's friend passed away, did she get to see the body? Is she aware that her friend has died? It may be possible she doesn't understand what happened and is being that aggressive towards the new comer because she wants her friend back. Before giving a bath perhaps read the threads about bum baths, these usually refer to boars but females have the scent gland too and it may be less stressful to just clean their glands gently or to rub each with a small towel that smells of the other.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there - I'm a first time poster, thanks in advance for the help!

I had a pair of female pigs that I adopted from a shelter last year (2 of a large set that came in from a hoarding case). Both girls got along very well, but unfortunately one of them recently passed away (she was quite elderly).

My remaining pig (2 years old) seemed quite distressed without a buddy, so I adopted another sow this weekend (1 year old). I read up on how to do the introductions and gave them a nice big neutral space with a pile of hay. The one mistake I made was having a hidey nearby. All went well for the first 5 minutes or so - some chirping noises but mostly ignoring each other and eating. Then, my pig started rumblestrutting and backed the new piggy into the hidey then all of a sudden it escalated to teeth chattering from both of them (I immediately removed the hidey). I had read that I should let them work it out, so I didn't remove them but it finally escalated into a physical fight so I threw a towel on them and separated them (no blood or injuries). I let them cool off overnight and tried again in a new neutral space today but they started chattering immediately and escalated into another fight within a minute (again no blood) so I separated again.

I now have them in separate cages next to each other in the hopes they can get used to each other while separated and then I thought I'd try again, perhaps with the bath technique others have noted.

Should I wait and give them a few days to cool off and hang out next to each other, or try again right away? Should I not have separated them when they started fighting?

Any other ideas? I'm worried that they have now permanently ticked each other off and it is hopeless!

Thank you!

You did the right thing to separate when they started fighting. You can leave them next to each other and try again in a few days.

The bathing won't do anything in your case. It has its place in washing the testosterone stink out of hormonal near-fallen out boars to prevent them from getting riled up again straight away when meeting again, but otherwise it is just an added stress factor to the bonding, as it doesn't do one blessed thing towards sorting the dominance or make them magically like each other!
I know that bething is currently being touted around as the non-plus-ultra trick for a successful bonding, but sadly, it is yet another myth. You are not going to become instant best friends with the classroom bully just because somebody has the bright idea to stick you together in a swimming pool and expects you to sort out your problems while you are shivering and wet, are you?

Please be aware that once piggies have decided that they don't like each other, they will rarely change their mind. As yours have got into a major dominance tussle straight away, it is rather likely that they will not click, no matter what you try. I have got plenty of those t-shirts myself!

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can help you more efficiently in working out a solution, especially if the bonding doesn't work? We have got members from all over the world and your options depend very much on where you are. Click on your username on the top bar then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[magpiepiggy]

Thanks for the advice. I let the girls cool off for a few days and tried again today in a larger neutral area where they could safely stay for an extended time (bathroom). They've been in there about 4 hours now - my original sow seems to have established herself as dominant and there are no more full on fights. But, things haven't quite reached an equilibrium yet - the more timid (new) sow is being kept on one side of the room by the dominant girl and still occasionally chased/harassed a bit (submissive sow shrieks but isn't getting injured) and the dominant sow isn't letting her eat. Should I let them stay in the neutral area for a while (overnight? seems like they are not going to hurt each other) and see if things settle out? How do I tell if it's just not going to work out? I haven't wanted to put them into a cage yet since that's a smaller space.
Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the advice. I let the girls cool off for a few days and tried again today in a larger neutral area where they could safely stay for an extended time (bathroom). They've been in there about 4 hours now - my original sow seems to have established herself as dominant and there are no more full on fights. But, things haven't quite reached an equilibrium yet - the more timid (new) sow is being kept on one side of the room by the dominant girl and still occasionally chased/harassed a bit (submissive sow shrieks but isn't getting injured) and the dominant sow isn't letting her eat. Should I let them stay in the neutral area for a while (overnight? seems like they are not going to hurt each other) and see if things settle out? How do I tell if it's just not going to work out? I haven't wanted to put them into a cage yet since that's a smaller space.
Thanks!

You can transfer them to a cleaned/neutralised and rearranged cage that contains only hideys with two exits. You have to be aware that dominance behaviour is going to last for a while yet although it should get weaker as time goes on. It sounds like your girls have come to an agreement.