Help with my sows’ behaviour and dominance

Vic85

Vic85

New Born Pup
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Hi all,

I’ve had my two sows, Doris and Matilda for over three weeks now and they seem to get along really well. But this last week I’ve started to worry about them.

At first I thought Matilda was the boss, then I changed my mind to Doris. Now I’m wondering if they are still figuring out dominance? Doris often chases Matilda out of hideys and sometimes away from a food bowl - this is less common though.

I’ve seen Matilda raise her head higher twice in a row but Doris finished by raising hers higher as if to have the final say. Matilda has been rumble strutting this past week to which Doris responds by smelling her bum and chasing her. So not sure if this is more to do with being in season? As I thought rumble strutting and chasing would be done by the same piggie to show dominance?

Mostly they zoom together and popcorn together. But this past week I’ve heard a lot of rumbling going on. They’re favourite place is a pink igloo and they spend most of the day in there side by side. However on an evening when they’re lively it feels like the igloo is more of a battleground. Anyway my question is - do I swap the igloo for an igloo with a second door. Or buy a second igloo? Obv I don’t want to take up Too much floor space in their 4x2 enclosure.

Any advice on what’s going on here and how I can help them would be brilliant. I’ve attached a pic of their cage set up. I usually have the igloo in a corner out of the way but wanted to change things up.

Thanks
 

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You will see an increase in dominance when they are in season.
Ensure you have two of every item - two hay trays/piles, two food bowls (or dont use bowls at all and instead scatter feed veg and their one tablespoon of pellets so that they have to forage for them (its enrichment) and so there isnt any bowls for one piggy to be chased away from) and two water bottles, two hides

Please do ensure all hides have two exits - enclosed pigloos like the pink one can cause a problem.
 
Last edited:
Your cage looks great and is a good size.
But as suggested I would remove the pink igloo and replace it with 2 cardboard boxes with 2 exit holes in each.
Having one 'proper' enclosed house and 2 pigs could be causing issues.
 
Swissgreys said:
Your cage looks great and is a good size.
But as suggested I would remove the pink igloo and replace it with 2 cardboard boxes with 2 exit holes in each.
Having one 'proper' enclosed house and 2 pigs could be causing issues.
Click to expand...
Piggies&buns said:
You will see an increase in dominance when they are in season.
Ensure you have two of every item - two hay trays/piles, two food bowls (or dont use bowls at all and instead scatter feed veg and their one tablespoon of pellets so that they have to forage for them (its enrichment) and so there isnt any bowls for one piggy to be chased away from) and two water bottles.

Please do ensure all hides have two exits - enclosed pigloos like the pink one can cause a problem.
Click to expand...

Thanks all for your responses. I shall get rid of the igloo today and replace with something more suitable. Thanks
 
:agr: With the other posts.

If there is disagreement over a house then it’s best to remove it and replace it with 2 others with 2 entrances/exits. I’ve done away with plastic igloos as they have almost always been a cause of discontent in my piggy groups with one piggy or other becoming territorial over them.

Cardboard boxes with 2 doors cut in work well as a solution to piggy politics.
 
There likely in heat it shouldn’t be to much to worry about unless it turns into real fighting
 
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