Hi Everyone Need Help Bonding 2 Female Pairs.

[Mezzle2121]

Hi everyone, I am going to be trying to introduce 2 pairs of sows in a few days and I'm wondering if you have any advice for me?

I have introduced single sows before but never already bonded groups.

There is approx 5 months age wise between the 2 pairs. 1 pair of girls are 1 year old and the other pair they are 7 months old.

Their cages are going side by side today so they can smell and see each other then after a couple of days I will get them out for floor time in a neutral place.

Is there any difference between bonding single pigs and merging pairs that are already bonded

Thanks in Advance

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone, I am going to be trying to introduce 2 pairs of sows in a few days and I'm wondering if you have any advice for me?

I have introduced single sows before but never already bonded groups.

There is approx 5 months age wise between the 2 pairs. 1 pair of girls are 1 year old and the other pair they are 7 months old.

Their cages are going side by side today so they can smell and see each other then after a couple of days I will get them out for floor time in a neutral place.

Is there any difference between bonding single pigs and merging pairs that are already bonded

Thanks in Advance

Hi! When trying to merge pairs, the outcome generally depends on the two top sows coming to an agreement over which of them is the new leader and whether the losing sow accepts that. There is nothing you can do if it doesn't work out between them. The success is much higher if you try to introduce a baby or sub-adult pair to an adult pair of sows as the youngsters cannot upset the existing hierarchy.
Please note that you will also see the strongest dominance behaviour from the sow just ranked above as the hierarchy sort-out travels down the ladder. When I you bond in a pair that cannot challenge the top lady, she will stay aloof after initial acceptance and you'll see her sidekick do all the dominance work in order to retain her position.

Please take the time to carefull read our very detailed bonding guide. it features both a group bonding as well as the dynamics when two sows of similar standing are working out the dominance issue. the guide also covers the whole bonding period in detail, starting from the run-up to the end of the dominance phase about 2 weeks after the bonding with all the typical behaviours for each phase.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics