Typical behaviour for the "new pig in the group?"

[susie_q]

I recently made the mistake of visiting Helen.rolleyes

I came home with a lovely peruvian sow called Ruby. She's about two years old and I decided to try intergrating her with my other Perus - Humbug, Emily and Allsorts.

Today was the big event! I gave Ruby a bath this morning and popped her on the floor with lots of veg with everyone else. Lots rumbling and chasing from Humbug, and some chasing from Emily. Eventually humbug stopped chasing Ruby but Emily would still take sudden chase at her in a "Hey! Thats mine, get away!" move.

I cleaned out the hutch, sprayed disinfectant, new blankets. Several of everything. Herded everyone in. More chasing of Ruby. Throughout the afternoon everyone settled down for naps, periodically having a snack although I did notice Emily chasing Ruby away from the "favourite food bowl" every so often. There would be lots of squealing from Ruby! Ruby didn't really eat much.

Dinner time - lots of veggies, and to my relief Ruby even tucked in. Emily didn't chase her away or anything...

However, i did notice, that everytime one of the other perus went near Ruby, she'll squeal and run away. It was then that I clocked I never really *saw* Emily actively just lunging at Ruby, more like I saw Ruby running away from Emily. She doesn't appear to be actively bullying because she is letting her eat. Ruby also seems to be relucant to go into the "sleeping" area of the hutch - the side of the hutch without the mesh just solid door. There are no pigloos for anyone to fight over.

So I'm worried that Ruby isn't going to settle - am I just being too paranoid and over protective? (It's only been a day, after all) Sorry for the long post!

 

[Wiebke]

Give Ruby time, and if you can, space. And give her her own bowl, if necessary. Keep an eye out for signs of aggression.

My Dizzy is similar with the new girls - no aggression from them, but Dizzy is unfortunately frightened after she was attacked in a previous (failed) attempt. Mostly, she comes up and eats with the others, but if she doesn't, she gets her grass apart.

Just as I'm writing this, she is starting to come up to the others and has stopped to run away - she's down to walking away now...

Perhaps Ruby has been badly bullied in her previous life?

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

It can take a few days for newbies to settle in. Give them a lot more time to get to know each other. It sounds as though you are keeping a careful eye on them though, which is very good as you'll see any real problems as soon as they occur.

If Ruby is being overcautious then she may be simply unsure of herself. It might actually take longer than a couple of days for her to become 'bold' as it were.

 

[susie_q]

Just a wee quick update - I took Ruby away from the rest of the perus, partly because I've been so busy this week I didn't feel I'd be able to keep the eye I would want to on her, and because Emily was bullying her to a degree I wasn't comfy with. (I'm over protective and Ruby is probably going to be my 'precious' girl!)

I'm going to go for the "easy" solution and find a wee friend for Ruby herself I think. Oh the hardship!

But I am bumping this thread for a similar issue - two pigs I recently rehomed, Rosie and Poppy, (5months and 9 weeks respectively) are not successfully living together at present. Rosie is bullying the baby (chasing away from food, houses, etc) and the new owner is, understandly, worried. But she is now very attached to both girls so I'm popping around tomorrow night to have a look and see if we can get them living harmoniously.

I was wondering, how long should you leave bullying to "settle down" a few days? Less? More?

And also any tips for the bonding? So far baths and lots of time in neutral territory, multiples of everything has all been tried - I'm taking a cage that can be seperated down the middle so they'll live properly side by side for a while.