Hi all
I have five wonderful fuzzbeans in my life. A neutered boar about 2-3yrs old, Ralis; two older girls about 1yr and 6 months, Zelda and Midna (the two in my profile picture); and two younger girls about 6-7 months old, Medli and Ilia.
A little while after getting Medli and Ilia I noticed it didn't seem that Ilia was integrating with the herd as well as Medli was. The introductions all went really smoothly and so I wasn't worried about anything as I've never had aggression in my piggies but I was still worried that Ilia seemed to be some kind of outcast. My boyfriend said I was just being an over-protective Mama and so I chalked it down to Ilia being naturally shy while Medli is naturally bold. I've watched them all like a hawk and saw no real signs to suggest otherwise! I've done a lot of reading and research as I feared maybe she was being bullied but her weight is steadily increasing just like her sister's, she had no signs at all of any injuries, she popcorns about floor time, and I often see her eating with the herd. She is definitely the lowest piggy in the hierarchy, but then again someone has to be, and I chalked the higher-pitched squeals to her just confirming that she isn't a threat to anyone's position (like you described in the Sow Behaviour thread). To top it off, she and Ralis seem quite fond of each other and I have seen them grooming each other more than once.
Her main problem is Midna. Midna has always been the troublemaker and grumpy grouch but has also always been 100% bluster and no substance who loves being with her herd. We've always had a share of bickering between them all, over the best sleeping spots and the best hay-eating spots, but nothing more than little non-serious fur nips and rumblestruts that quickly settle down. However tonight, when Midna went to tell Ilia off for trying to steal her treat, she has actually bitten the corner of Ilia's nose. It wasn't bleeding as such but there was blood similar to a graze on human skin. A small cut just across the narrow side of her nostril. I'm panicking and really worried for her and the stability of my herd.
Do you think this was an accident and Midna just got a bit enthusiastic and caught her in a sensitive place when she only meant to give a fur-nip? Or do you think Midna aimed to do this on purpose?
Sorry for the long post! Any advice would be great! Thank you!
I have five wonderful fuzzbeans in my life. A neutered boar about 2-3yrs old, Ralis; two older girls about 1yr and 6 months, Zelda and Midna (the two in my profile picture); and two younger girls about 6-7 months old, Medli and Ilia.
A little while after getting Medli and Ilia I noticed it didn't seem that Ilia was integrating with the herd as well as Medli was. The introductions all went really smoothly and so I wasn't worried about anything as I've never had aggression in my piggies but I was still worried that Ilia seemed to be some kind of outcast. My boyfriend said I was just being an over-protective Mama and so I chalked it down to Ilia being naturally shy while Medli is naturally bold. I've watched them all like a hawk and saw no real signs to suggest otherwise! I've done a lot of reading and research as I feared maybe she was being bullied but her weight is steadily increasing just like her sister's, she had no signs at all of any injuries, she popcorns about floor time, and I often see her eating with the herd. She is definitely the lowest piggy in the hierarchy, but then again someone has to be, and I chalked the higher-pitched squeals to her just confirming that she isn't a threat to anyone's position (like you described in the Sow Behaviour thread). To top it off, she and Ralis seem quite fond of each other and I have seen them grooming each other more than once.
Her main problem is Midna. Midna has always been the troublemaker and grumpy grouch but has also always been 100% bluster and no substance who loves being with her herd. We've always had a share of bickering between them all, over the best sleeping spots and the best hay-eating spots, but nothing more than little non-serious fur nips and rumblestruts that quickly settle down. However tonight, when Midna went to tell Ilia off for trying to steal her treat, she has actually bitten the corner of Ilia's nose. It wasn't bleeding as such but there was blood similar to a graze on human skin. A small cut just across the narrow side of her nostril. I'm panicking and really worried for her and the stability of my herd.
Do you think this was an accident and Midna just got a bit enthusiastic and caught her in a sensitive place when she only meant to give a fur-nip? Or do you think Midna aimed to do this on purpose?
Sorry for the long post! Any advice would be great! Thank you!
