Baby sows - advice

[larnanoomia]

Hi
I have had to separate 2 boars in the past. Both neutered & now living with sows. I feel like i can recognise their behaviours now and what they mean, I'm used to the male/female dynamic & sounds they make.

I also have two sows. One is 10 weeks and one 14 weeks *new pairing - they dont live in a group* there is only about 90g in weight between them. This is my first ever sow couple and I'm not quite sure how to read them. They've been together two weeks. I have 2 of everything in a 4x2 c&c cage and no one exit hideys etc all the usual stuff and I scatter feed them. I dont think they've quite found out who's the boss due to them being so small, they have plenty of popcorns together and sometimes I hear one doing a submissive squeak. Other times though they can both whine at eachother. I'm not sure how else to explain it, they are both making the noise to eachother but it's abit whiney, its not squeaks, wheeks or rumbles. No teeth chattering also. They do it when neither of them will back down. They havent lunged at eachother, no nipping at eachother but today when they had a period of whining at eachother they both put their chins up and it de escalated. Is this normal with babies? Or even sows? Its behavior I havent seen in my male/female pairings. They each let eachother eat. There is no signs of bullyiny that i can see. Is this something to be concerned over? Thank you.

 

[larnanoomia]

Daisy and rosalina

 

[Roselina]

Ah they are lovely

I don’t have any experience of baby sows but I’m sure someone who has will be along to offer help and advice

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
I have had to separate 2 boars in the past. Both neutered & now living with sows. I feel like i can recognise their behaviours now and what they mean, I'm used to the male/female dynamic & sounds they make.

I also have two sows. One is 10 weeks and one 14 weeks *new pairing - they dont live in a group* there is only about 90g in weight between them. This is my first ever sow couple and I'm not quite sure how to read them. They've been together two weeks. I have 2 of everything in a 4x2 c&c cage and no one exit hideys etc all the usual stuff and I scatter feed them. I dont think they've quite found out who's the boss due to them being so small, they have plenty of popcorns together and sometimes I hear one doing a submissive squeak. Other times though they can both whine at eachother. I'm not sure how else to explain it, they are both making the noise to eachother but it's abit whiney, its not squeaks, wheeks or rumbles. No teeth chattering also. They do it when neither of them will back down. They havent lunged at eachother, no nipping at eachother but today when they had a period of whining at eachother they both put their chins up and it de escalated. Is this normal with babies? Or even sows? Its behavior I havent seen in my male/female pairings. They each let eachother eat. There is no signs of bullyiny that i can see. Is this something to be concerned over? Thank you.

Hi

It usually takes about two weeks to establish a group in its territory; the length depends on how confident or insecure the new leader is (at this age they would still be very much depend on learning from older sows) and whether the leading spot is contested or not.
With sows, it is additionally complicated when they come into season about every two weeks where any underlying/unresolved issues or some insecurity can make a short appearance again.

What you are reporting are all normal minor dominance behaviours and nothing to worry about as things are no escalating. Just see it as two youngsters setting up house and trying to work things out. They are still at the age where they are at their most vocal, too.

 

[larnanoomia]

Hi

It usually takes about two weeks to establish a group in its territory; the length depends on how confident or insecure the new leader is (at this age they would still be very much depend on learning from older sows) and whether the leading spot is contested or not.
With sows, it is additionally complicated when they come into season about every two weeks where any underlying/unresolved issues or some insecurity can make a short appearance again.

What you are reporting are all normal minor dominance behaviours and nothing to worry about as things are no escalating. Just see it as two youngsters setting up house and trying to work things out. They are still at the age where they are at their most vocal, too.

Thank you, they do eat together and occasionally sleep with eachother but they do have multiples of everything! I just want this pairing to succeed as if it doesnt ill have to move my desk out of this room for another enclosure

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, they do eat together and occasionally sleep with eachother but they do have multiples of everything! I just want this pairing to succeed as if it doesnt ill have to move my desk out of this room for another enclosure

Piggies have evolved denning in their own nicely insulated little tunnels close to each other in thick undergrowth (they don't burrow). They do not nest together and even very closely bonded piggies with an emotional or physical dependency will not sleep together all the time. That is a human misconception born out of our craving for 'cuteness'.

Please take a deep breath. Your girls are firmly and well bonded but like most youngsters they have their vocal discussions about their friendship and stuff. What they are currently working on is the small print of the bonding process - like who can hog the bathroom for how long and whose turn it is to wash up. There is no risk of a falling out whatsoever.

Please take a deep calming breath or two and try to enjoy discovering new facets and different dynamics in a sows only pair. They are going to calm down only too soon once they hit the age where they could already be mothers themselves and are considered old enough to take on responsibilities.

 

[Merab]

Soooooo cute