Normal Or Not?

[lwb84]

Hi,

I've collected my new piggies today (a pair of girls from RSPCA approx 6-12 months old) and I'm wondering if they're happy. They are very timid, which is totally understandable, but they have been chattering their teeth at each other and it looked as though they had a scrap and one chased the other round. Is this normal with an already bonded pair? Do they scrap for dominance in a new cage?

I know it will take a while before they feel 'at home' but I don't want fighting, neither do I want to do anything wrong by the piggies.

Thank you
Lisa.

 

[Wiebke]

I assume you have boars? A new cage means new territory, so especially boars need to re-establish their hierarchy.

Please remove any hideys with just one exit until they have settled in well; that is one area that can spark scraps. Things will hopefully settles down again more soon.

 

[lwb84]

Hi, no, they are sows. Fingers crossed they settle soon like you say as I hate the thought of them being unhappy :-(

 

[scpiggy]

Sows also scrap for dominance when in a new cage so it sounds normal to me. They should settle down soon enough once they've established who's in charge.

 

[lwb84]

Thank you :-)

 

[Wiebke]

Sows do it, too. It is just usually more noticeable and dramatic with boars, as they can fall out permanently in a situation like this, whereas sows only very, very rarely do.