Constant Rumblestrutting!

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CobwebandPigpig

Hello there! I'm so glad there's a place like this where I can get some feedback and advice. Anyway - I recently introduced young boar Pigpig to my lonely older 'teen' boar Cobweb. There was lot of bum sniffing and chasing and attempted mounting, but that part seems to have settled down a bit. The only thing is Cobweb's constant rumbling! Is this normal? They've only been together a short time and there's been no real aggression, and Pigpig doesn't even seem to be too bothered about the rumbling. There are two of everything, a brand new huge indoor cage, and Cobweb is allowing Pigpig to use the water bottle and food bowls. They are even snoozing close together. It's just the noise! Is Cobweb just constantly asserting his boss status or is he trying to start a fight? Maybe the signs of friendship are good and I'm just fretting? Thanks for reading!
 
Thats exactly what old Scruffy and baby George are doing.I introduced them a few days ago and like you there has been no nastiness and they"re eating together but Scruffy is constantly rumbling at him.I"m hoping someone in the know will give us some advice
 
mum - thanks for your reply, it's nice to know I'm not alone! I don't know what to make of it - on one hand, I'm pretty sure that this is just what pigs do and everything will settle down eventually. But it's different when they're YOUR beloved piggies! :smitten:

Cobweb's rumblestrutting hasn't stopped, but he's also popcorning and there are lots of friendly interactions along with the occasional chasing and attempted mounting. In fact, when my husband took Pigpig out for a cuddle, Cobweb got up on his hind legs with his nose in the air, and starting wheeking like mad. Pigpig started wheeking back - it was so sweet!

Actually, the chasing thing is quite funny at the moment - Cobweb is a big fat white Abyssinian and Pigpig is a sleek little Dutch, and speedy Pigpig is making Cobweb work hard!
 
It is partly sexual and partly dominence.As long as they are not fighting and the less dominant pig is eating o.k.,do not worry too much.When I have had this problem and it has got really bad, i.e., the dominant pig constantly pestering,I have bathed both of them in GG lavender shampoo and this has often calmed them down.Worth a try anyway.
 
Thank you, it's good to have reassurance from an experienced pig owner. I'm trying not to worry or fuss over them unduly. Cobweb is actually being pretty good despite the constant rumbling, he didn't mind when the cheeky baby pinched some hay straight out of his mouth! I'm hoping Cobweb has pretty much established himself as top pig as the baby has stopped trying to mount him. Thanks again!
 
Mary, would the bathing technique help with out of cotrol female hormones too? Rocky's not mine ;D ;D ;D
 
Hi,
I've had the same problem with my new Guineas, both boys, about 14 weeks old now from the same litter. One of them is constantly rumbling too, I have seen no real aggression, some sniffing but no mounting, this has been going on for 3 weeks now.
 
Hi Lucinda,
Afraid it does not work very well with sows,all though I have found that my randy sow does calm down for a while after a bath.GGs lavender shampoo seems to have the most calming affect.

When Cindy starts constantly pestering her mates,I take her out of the pen and let her run free range when possible,or,weather permitting,let her have a run in the garden in the largest garden pen.This sometimes works,but occasionaly as soon as she is back with the others ,she starts jumping on them again.I have 6 sows so fortunately she is not constantly pestering just one friend.
 
Rocket has been very nice and friendly with the others for two days. Well done Rocky :smitten:
 
mum and guineafriend,
How are your pigs getting on? I've had to seperate my pigs :(
I've put a barrier in the centre of their cage so they can still talk to each other, but earlier there was a bit of teeth chattering, and I think the baby is getting sick of being rumbled at by Cobweb. They're not happy about the barrier being there, so I'm thinking this little 'time out' might settle things. Pigpig's quite a fiesty little baby though, I'm wondering if there will be a change of top pig status later on?

Does anyone have any other advice? Out of interest, has anyone else had a change of top pig with no long term problems?

Thanks! O0

Oh, and well done to Rocky!
 
I get a change of top pig status from time to time in my sow pen,.Once they have sorted themselves out there is no problem.
 
Sorry about your guineas Cobweb, perhaps you are right and a time out might just calm things down, however I have been told that with other animals (cats, dogs etc) if you try to intervene in the natural behaviour then the animals will just get annoyed and won't be able to sort things out between themselves.

Mine are still fiesty, I think things are calming down a little bit, I've had no mounting or teeth cattering still but the one still likes to rumble at the other a lot, it seems however that the second one may be submitting to it, he is not being kept away from the food or water and is without any physical signs of fighting so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

their new trick though is to climb ontop of their wooden house, I have taken to covering it in hay, they love it!
 
Thank you, Maryh, that's reassuring to know - seems sows aren't so different from boars after all!

Guineafriend, I did worry whether they were more annoyed about the barrier being there or the fact they couldn't 'get' at each other anymore, but I've taken it away now and things are quieter, despite the continuous rumbling. I could just tell by their little faces that they wanted it removed. Your advice is good, I think short time outs are the answer when things look a bit hairy (or toothy)!

Thanks! :)
 
Later on, they started teeth chattering at each other again. I let them get on with it but I've had to seperate them as they started fighting proper. Luckily I was watching them like a hawk so neither pig got hurt. I think they'll have to live 'side by side' with a caged barrier between them so they can still chat, see and smell each other. Luckily I have quite a large cage and can do this.

Oh dear, I'm a wee bit disappointed - I really wanted them to get on. :(
 
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