I really need some HELP!

[Polypea]

Hi

You may remember my thread the other day about quarantine as I would be getting a young sow to live with my trio, 1 boy and 2 older girls.

Well, I've had my new girlie, Betty, for a couple of days now living in a house next door to my 3 in order for them all to get acquainted. I decided to introduce them today, on neutral ground with a big plate of food and everything went really well.
I left them getting to know each other for about an hour and a half maybe a bit longer whilst I cleaned out the house and rearranged everything to make it all seem 'new'.

I think I must have been witnessing a honeymoon period because once I put all 4 into their house the problems started.
Nugget my boar did as I expected which was to follow her around and attempt to mount her, but he soon calmed down.
But my 2 older girls seem to have a problem with her now, especially Speedy.
I just don't know if the behaviour I'm witnessing is normal! :{

Whats happening is Speedy is really chasing her around, she doesn't seem to be nipping her and there has been no blood drawn but Betty really squeaks as if something terrible is happening.
Speedy is also following Betty into a snuggle sac and I can hear little noises coming from in there and then suddenly Betty comes darting out squeaking with Speedy hot on her trail.
I have seen Scruffy my other sow do this once to Betty but Scruffy is much more laid back and I think Speedy must be the dominant sow.

Whats worrying me too is if Betty is being bullied and I'm not sure how I would know this. She is eating with them but on the fringes so to speak not directly next to them and sometimes if Speedy moves Betty darts off, just incase!

They have all been together now for about 4 hours.

What shall I do? I have never introduced sows before and I really don't know if this is all normal or not, please help! :{

 

[nutmeg]

Heck give me boys anytime. No blood so far, so thats good. Could you have some open ended houses in there, rather than snuggly sacks that, once in she is trapped, so to speak. Sounds like you have done everything right so far though. Maybe try more food distractions, and pile in the hay to keep them occupied, whilst they are getting used to the newness of the situation. Good luck. xx

 

[nutmeg]

Heck give me boys anytime. No blood so far, so thats good. Could you have some open ended houses in there, rather than snuggly sacks that, once in she is trapped, so to speak. Sounds like you have done everything right so far though. Maybe try more food distractions, and pile in the hay to keep them occupied, whilst they are getting used to the newness of the situation. Good luck. xx

 

[Niki]

It's perfectly normal for the dominant sow to put a newbie in her place regardless of wether she is a threat or not. Betty has to know Speedy is boss which is why she will follow her & oust her from anywhere she (Speedy) chooses to be at any given time. Once Speedy is satisified Betty knows she will settle.

The time to worry is if Betty isn't allowed to eat/drink or actually be on the floor (as i have had with one sow) or if she has physical wounds inflicted on her. Chasing, mounting & nipping are all perfectly normal

 

[Polypea]

Thanks Nutmeg & Niki

So glad it sounds normal I was getting myself into a real panic and worrying about poor little Betty mallethead

I am in the process of getting them some different hides with more than one exit, I hadn't really had to think about it until now as my trio don't 'bother' each other anymore, but poor little Betty needs to be able to get away and out of the way!

I have just been spying on them and I witnessed something odd.
Speedy had chased Betty to one end of their house and I was expecting them to have the normal disagreement then I realised that Speedy was actually grooming Betty, she was gently licking her around her ear and the side of her face, Betty just sat there, it looked like she was enjoying the fuss, then for whatever reason Betty got fed up and darted off!

I'm now wondering if Speedy is actually trying to mother Betty and maybe Betty is the one who is getting fed up with the attention and thats what all the hullabaloo is about! :{
Is that a possible scenario or am I just being a silly softie? ")

 

[Wiebke]

No, it is bonding behaviour and is a good sign. Grooming means that she has been accepted as a member of the group by Speedy.

More often than not, young sows are firmly put into their place at the bottom of the group, with a LOT of squeaking from the underpig. Little nips are also quite common. Introductions can look a lot rougher to the innocent bystander than they are to the piggies who understand the rules of engagement.

Like Niki and nutmeg have said, unless a piggy is "looked" into a corner/hide and not let out or not allowed to eat or drink, you should not interfere and let the piggies sort themselves out according to their own rule book. For introductions, I always use things that have preferably two exits - even a carboard box with two holes will do until things have settled!

I have written a short sticky thread about sow behaviour at the top of this section; that might help you to look understand a bit better what is par for the course and what not. You can also read the boar thread, as most REALLY aggressive behaviour is the same.

Best of luck - I think that things are going in the right direction.