When Is It Time To Increase Herd Size?

[Parnassus]

I haven't been able to find any literature online about this topic, so here goes --

We have two bonded sows, who get along fine, and are spoiled by us humans to death.

I have been wondering how we decide if they need or should enjoy having a third member join their herd?

How does someone decide that it's time, if ever? Going from 2 to 3 sows?

Any information about this would be fantastic! I don't like changing our pigs' lifestyles without good reason to do so.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Hiya! I believe that 3 being an odd number can potentially end up wth one being bullied? I'm not 100% sure as I went from 2 to 4 rather unexpectedly!

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

As your sows have each other and get along fine they do not need an other to join them, which isn't to say you shouldn't get an other if that is what you want to do but i would suggest reading the bonding and behavior sticky threads on the forum first so you know what to expect. Bonding new piggies can sometimes go as smoothly as clockwork and sometimes end in disaster with everyone falling out and risk of injury.

If you want a third piggy I would suggest getting a neutered boar to live with your ladies, this combination usually works very well. Rescues usually have single boars looking for luv and should be able to help you find the right match for your girls.

 

[Flutterby]

I just add whenever I see one in rescue that I can't resist there has never been a good or bad time, as long as the bonding is done properly

 

[flowerfairy]

I recently fell in love with a lovely couple of sows and would have bonded them to my current two but they were reserved before I could get them!

So ... Follow your heart but dont lose your head.

 

[Parnassus]

This is all great advice, thank you!

Fun fact: I used the bonding resources on this site to match up our current pair of sows, and they're inseparable! Even when we had them separated by bars for one to recover from surgery, they would touch noses through the bars, sleep next to each other, and the non-surgery one was so stressed they were apart I was worried she was going to make herself sick before I could remove the bars between them safely!

Whenever I take one out of the cage (to put them back in their cage after floor time for example), the other one will run up to where her girlfriend was when I picked her up, then whip around and stare at me like, "Hey! Giver her back!"

 

[TheLottiediarys]

This is all great advice, thank you!

Fun fact: I used the bonding resources on this site to match up our current pair of sows, and they're inseparable! Even when we had them separated by bars for one to recover from surgery, they would touch noses through the bars, sleep next to each other, and the non-surgery one was so stressed they were apart I was worried she was going to make herself sick before I could remove the bars between them safely!

Whenever I take one out of the cage (to put them back in their cage after floor time for example), the other one will run up to where her girlfriend was when I picked her up, then whip around and stare at me like, "Hey! Giver her back!"

Thats so cute! They sound like they really love each other!