A sign of friendship?

[squeaksandcarrots]

My two sows, Penny and Cocoa, have a divider in their cage because they didn't get along when they tried to bond. However, the past couple days I noticed that they've been sleeping next to each other by the divider.

Does this mean they're starting to get along? I'm considering bonding them again, just a little nervous it'll end badly like the last time. Advice?

 

[Pig_Wig]

if it was me I would introduce them gradually.

 

[Swissgreys]

How long since you last attempted to bond them?
And how old are they?

Of course this might be a good sign - over time feelings can mellow and pigs mature, but I have also found that being freindly through the divider does not always mean they will get along if the divider is removed.

If it has been a while since the last failed bonding you could always try again in a large neutral area and see what happens.

 

[squeaksandcarrots]

How long since you last attempted to bond them?
And how old are they?

Of course this might be a good sign - over time feelings can mellow and pigs mature, but I have also found that being freindly through the divider does not always mean they will get along if the divider is removed.

If it has been a while since the last failed bonding you could always try again in a large neutral area and see what happens.

The last time I bonded them was in August. Penny is around 2 years old and Cocoa is a little over a year. I suppose it's not a bad idea to consider bonding again.

 

[Wiebke]

My two sows, Penny and Cocoa, have a divider in their cage because they didn't get along when they tried to bond. However, the past couple days I noticed that they've been sleeping next to each other by the divider.
View attachment 112602
Does this mean they're starting to get along? I'm considering bonding them again, just a little nervous it'll end badly like the last time. Advice?

How long since their last introduction?

There is a dominance behaviour, which I call a 'power lie-in' at the edge of the terrority to mark it. This is relatively unknown because it is usually misinterpreted as a sign of friendship.

I am agreeing with @Swissgreys that meeting face to face is a completely different kettle of fish to being polite through the bars (I had just one of those this afternoon trying to find a new partner for a problem piggy).

It has generally taken me months of quick tries on neutral ground to test the water with my tricky sow neighbours; breaking the meetings off as soon as they started heading in the wrong direction. Some have never come off, others have eventually softened.

 

[squeaksandcarrots]

How long since their last introduction?

There is a dominance behaviour, which I call a 'power lie-in' at the edge of the terrority to mark it. This is relatively unknown because it is usually misinterpreted as a sign of friendship.

I am agreeing with @Swissgreys that meeting face to face is a completely different kettle of fish to being polite through the bars (I had just one of those this afternoon trying to find a new partner for a problem piggy).

It has generally taken me months of quick tries on neutral ground to test the water with my tricky sow neighbours; breaking the meetings off as soon as they started heading in the wrong direction. Some have never come off, others have eventually softened.

Their last introduction was in August. Thanks for explaining the "power lie-in", maybe that's what they are doing.

 

[Swissgreys]

Their last introduction was in August. Thanks for explaining the "power lie-in", maybe that's what they are doing.

Ruby is my 'power lie in pro' , and on 2 occasions I took this as a sign that she had mellowed (no) and was ready to try and bond with another pig (absolutely not).
On the plus side when i did try a quick introduction on neutral ground without a divider it became clear very quickly that it wasn't going to work.

 

[Wiebke]

Ruby is my 'power lie in pro' , and on 2 occasions I took this as a sign that she had mellowed (no) and was ready to try and bond with another pig (absolutely not).
On the plus side when i did try a quick introduction on neutral ground without a divider it became clear very quickly that it wasn't going to work.

Same experience here. You can always do a tester meeting; it usually becomes clear rather quickly whether there is mutual liking or not.

 

[squeaksandcarrots]

Thank you for the advice! I think I'll let them be. I don't like the thought of another introduction ending up like the last one