Possible dominance challenge?

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PottyForPiggies

PottyForPiggies

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I'm wondering if anyone can offer me some advice on an unfortunate situation I'm in. We brought my piggies inside, in their current outdoor hutches about 10 days ago. Treacle, who had been ill, was reintroduced 3 days previously after being under observation for her illness. Treacle has always been the dominant pig and took a short while to settle back into her role. This wasn't helped by Bernadette being in season when they were moved inside.
Now, a couple of times a day for the past 3 days, we hear a scuffle from the bedding area, followed by some very loud squeaks which definitely sound like a scared reaction, and we dash to check on them. Treacle is normally sat at the top of the ramp, making these same loud scared squeaks. She doesn't run when I pick her up (she's now sat on my knee, not making much of a reaction), which she normally does. There's no bite or scratch marks on either pig, no missing fur. I've tried to watch them but I can't do so well, as it always happens when the bedding area is closed. Then, when Treacle goes back home after comforting cuddles, it's all fine for another day. But it is almost certain to happen again tomorrow.

Could this be a dominance challenge from Bernadette? I hope I don't have to seperate my girls! I just don't know what to do.
 
This has just happened again, less than an hour after the last one. Please, someone help me. Treacle is getting very scared, and I just don't know what is happening in that bedding area to make her so afraid.
 
I'm sure Wiebke can help you on this. I know very little about sows and their heirarchy/domincance behaviour.

I would imagine though, if they're anything like boars, that being separated temporarily now means that the position of top-pig is up for grabs again and must be sorted out by the two girls - I could be wrong but that's my guess. If it were two boys, I would say to keep an eye on them and let them sort it out for themselves up to the point that blood is drawn (at which point I'd separate).

As I say though, my sow knowledge is limited.
 
It seems like a dominance battle. Bernadette definitely seems like she wants to be top pig but I wish I knew more about ladypig behaviour. No other struggles tonight thankfully.
 
Re-introducing a piggy after an illness can be difficult; it most certainly triggers dominance. Bernadette is probably not minded to give up her rank again and that causes clashes.

Have you got the possiblity to keep them next to each other for a while and only let them meet on neutral ground? Eventually, they have to either sort it out between them or you will have to split them up and find a new friend for Treacle in the long term.
 
If my girls go into the same bed area together they often squeal at each other. I assume it's just to say "This is my spot! Get outta here!" lol. Seeing as you've just re-introduced your girl it may be a bit more sinister so try what Wiebke has suggested.
 
They seem to be doing OK. I think they are just getting up in each others' space. I've been trying not to intervene so that they can sort it out between themselves. It has calmed down a little but Bernadette is still pushing Treacle's buttons a bit.

Also, what made me think is that the girls were back together for over a week with no difficulty before the challenging started, so I don't know how to respond to it
 
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We've now got a better insight into what is going on - the girls are now in their 120 indoor hutch. What we've noticed is that Bernadette seems to get quite grumpy when Treacle is somewhere she wants to be. They'll both stand still (Treacle more from fear I think), and then Bernadette will charge at her a little bit. Treacle runs away before anything happens (still no physical damage) but she is petrified for a minute or so.
It's a much more open plan hutch so they can get around each other, but it's over who gets what hidey hole :(
 
SapphireDreams said:
We've now got a better insight into what is going on - the girls are now in their 120 indoor hutch. What we've noticed is that Bernadette seems to get quite grumpy when Treacle is somewhere she wants to be. They'll both stand still (Treacle more from fear I think), and then Bernadette will charge at her a little bit. Treacle runs away before anything happens (still no physical damage) but she is petrified for a minute or so.
It's a much more open plan hutch so they can get around each other, but it's over who gets what hidey hole :(
Click to expand...

I think then maybe you should get another hidey hole. If it were boars, that would be my guess, to give them one each. Maybe that's worth a try.
 
Typical dominance behaviour; it can also blow up if a girl comes into season. Bernadette should eventually stop throwing her weight around and go back to normal behaviour. She is just not yet feeling totally secure in her new#2 slot.
 
It definitely sounds that way, although it breaks my heart every single time I hear Treacle cry like that :( She just goes and hides in a corner, and Bernadette has been getting a bit more aggressive with her - actually lunging towards her head.

Bernadette accepted within an hour of meeting Treacle that Treacle was in charge, and we've never seen anything like this between the two girls. They have been the best of friends ever since we adopted her. There's also no chance that Bernadette is in season at the moment either :(

How long timewise before it's no longer trying to be dominant, and is in fact just aggression?
 
Good news, I might be premature with this but everything seems to have calmed down in lady-piggietown. A couple of scared wheeks from when I think Bernadette got a bit too close, but they are doing much better. :)
 
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