Has the top pig status changed?

[EJMA82]

I’ve not come across this before and I'm sure that everything that’s happened lately is causing me to overthink.Old cantankerous lady Fudge bereaved following the loss of Floss 11th October . Rescue Ruby (age unknown) joined us a couple of weeks ago and seemed really timid and was vocally telling Fudge she was no threat to her. Mild teeth chattering from both parties initially with Fudge standing her ground as it were. Last couple of days, Ruby seems to be challenging the pecking order, lots of nose offs and humping of Fudge which she is accepting. Now it seems she can’t bear to be apart from Ruby and lays down at the side of her or crams herself into the small corner tray with her? Fudge has always been top pig in the 4.5 years I’ve had her, Is it normal for this to drastically change so quickly? Fudge now makes the same noise ‘I’m not a threat to you’ that ruby made when she joined us.

 

[dhill_cb7]

My boys had this exact thing happen when I first rescued them. Pecking order changed a week or so after I brought them home which I read can occur when you change up their living arrangements. Mocha was dominant and then Cappuccino challenged him. Now cappy is dominant and mokey squeaks “I’m not a threat!”

 

[Swissgreys]

It does sound like there has been a shift in the dynamic.
The good news is that it sounds like Fudge has accepted this quite willingly.

In my limited personal experience some piggies do not actually want to be the boss, and this can change as they get older.
So although they may fall into the role as the obvious choice, once this is challenged they are actually quite happy to back down and hand over leadership.

 

[EJMA82]

It does sound like there has been a shift in the dynamic.
The good news is that it sounds like Fudge has accepted this quite willingly.

In my limited personal experience some piggies do not actually want to be the boss, and this can change as they get older.
So although they may fall into the role as the obvious choice, once this is challenged they are actually quite happy to back down and hand over leadership.

Thank you! It makes more sense now