Sudden Barbering!

[Lauren138]

My two sows have been together about two years, Petal was a baby and Puff was about 2 and a half and they have lived happily until now. The last few months Petal has been challenging for dominance on a daily basis before this it was probably once a month or so. And now in the last week has started barbering Puff who is long haired. I imagine this is an extra dominance behaviour building on the last few months. And maybe it is since she became a full adult herself (18 months plus) But I'm worried as it's not stopping and I can see where she is chewing Puffs beautiful long hair which is getting shorter in places! And leaving wet patches where she is chewing.

I'm worried for the outcome, do those with experience think they will no longer be a happy pairing? Puff does snap back at her and really go back at her sometimes. But sometimes she leaves it a little while so Petal does get time to really chew and pull the hair. Does anyone have any advice or have been through this?

Thanks,
Lauren

 

[Seven7]

My Finn has long hair and I see Bear sometimes trying to barber Finn. Finn doesn't like anyone touching him, so he will warn Bear. If Finn didn't give warning signs to Bear, I can see this happening to them too.

Finn would move his mouth forcefully towards Bear, or anyone coming closer to him and tap them with his teeth. His teeth are Finn's strength so he uses them to protect himself.
Once I was administering eye gel, terramycin eye ointment I got from his doctor, Finn bit me and I had bloody finger. I suppose boys are a bit different.

 

[Piggies&buns]

My two sows have been together about two years, Petal was a baby and Puff was about 2 and a half and they have lived happily until now. The last few months Petal has been challenging for dominance on a daily basis before this it was probably once a month or so. And now in the last week has started barbering Puff who is long haired. I imagine this is an extra dominance behaviour building on the last few months. And maybe it is since she became a full adult herself (18 months plus) But I'm worried as it's not stopping and I can see where she is chewing Puffs beautiful long hair which is getting shorter in places! And leaving wet patches where she is chewing.

I'm worried for the outcome, do those with experience think they will no longer be a happy pairing? Puff does snap back at her and really go back at her sometimes. But sometimes she leaves it a little while so Petal does get time to really chew and pull the hair. Does anyone have any advice or have been through this?

Thanks,
Lauren

There are a few things behind barbering.

This guide will explain things more fully

Barbering ( Eating Hair)

 

[Lauren138]

Thank you. I was hoping for some advice on what the future might hold for them as a pair, I think its pretty safe to say it's linked to increasing dominance behaviour. It's just what I do now I don't want to sit and watch it get worse. Thanks x

 

[Wiebke]

My two sows have been together about two years, Petal was a baby and Puff was about 2 and a half and they have lived happily until now. The last few months Petal has been challenging for dominance on a daily basis before this it was probably once a month or so. And now in the last week has started barbering Puff who is long haired. I imagine this is an extra dominance behaviour building on the last few months. And maybe it is since she became a full adult herself (18 months plus) But I'm worried as it's not stopping and I can see where she is chewing Puffs beautiful long hair which is getting shorter in places! And leaving wet patches where she is chewing.

I'm worried for the outcome, do those with experience think they will no longer be a happy pairing? Puff does snap back at her and really go back at her sometimes. But sometimes she leaves it a little while so Petal does get time to really chew and pull the hair. Does anyone have any advice or have been through this?

Thanks,
Lauren

Hi

Long-haired piggies can be a temptation. I have had several husboars that never had long hair again during their (happy) marriage.

Barbering in bits is generally social barbering and nothing to worry about; it will either stop when your girl has had a full haircut or the hair will be kept short.
Dominance barbering that dips into bullying is hair bitten right down to the skin.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

If anything, the barbering could be triggered by the very first stirring of a hormonal ovarian cyst but since we cannot as the piggies why they are barbering this is no more than a very wild guess and you may need to wait for more concrete symptoms since the cyst will be still very, very small and may not yet be able to be picked up by a vet. 18 months is about the earliest age when they can start up more commonly. It can however be just coincidence.

 

[Lauren138]

Hi

Long-haired piggies can be a temptation. I have had several husboars that never had long hair again during their (happy) marriage.

Barbering in bits is generally social barbering and nothing to worry about; it will either stop when your girl has had a full haircut or the hair will be kept short.
Dominance barbering that dips into bullying is hair bitten right down to the skin.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

If anything, the barbering could be triggered by the very first stirring of a hormonal ovarian cyst but since we cannot as the piggies why they are barbering this is no more than a very wild guess and you may need to wait for more concrete symptoms since the cyst will be still very, very small and may not yet be able to be picked up by a vet. 18 months is about the earliest age when they can start up more commonly. It can however be just coincidence.

Thanks so much for your input. The pig doing the barbering had two ovarian cysts last year, both started with noticeable weight loss and at the moment she's nice a plump but perhaps I should get her checked. Both got rid of with injections

At the moment its not down to the skin but that could also be because puff has a tonne of thick hair and its only recently started! But it's getting shorter. But it's coming with rumbles etc so it does seems more on the dominance bullying perhaps

Did you keep yours long term with this going on? x

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks so much for your input. The pig doing the barbering had two ovarian cysts last year, both started with noticeable weight loss and at the moment she's nice a plump but perhaps I should get her checked. Both got rid of with injections

At the moment its not down to the skin but that could also be because puff has a tonne of thick hair and its only recently started! But it's getting shorter. But it's coming with rumbles etc so it does seems more on the dominance bullying perhaps

Did you keep yours long term with this going on? x

It sounds like you might be dealing with another cyst. I don't think it bullying since the instants I have witnessed have involved a change of leadership (with the old leader barbered) or a failed leadership bit but the rumbling means that it is rather dominance-based.

 

[Lauren138]

It sounds like you might be dealing with another cyst. I don't think it bullying since the instants I have witnessed have involved a change of leadership (with the old leader barbered) or a failed leadership bit but the rumbling means that it is rather dominance-based.

I was wondering if it could be a change of leadership in the making... thanks I will get her checked for cysts anyway x