in groups do pigs have favourites?

[Pepperdog]

I know all 4 of my lot get on with each other, they have a pecking order which was quickly established and apart from the odd squabble, they are happy with each others company - although none will share a bed.

Earlier today I saw in the upstairs part crystal and flash lying up there together - no cozies up there just vet bed as I dont want to encourage them to sleep in an eating area. They were deffinately happy together and I often see the two of them lying next to each other, crystal is boss pig and flash is the only man so I wondered if this was a normal thing for the male to attach himself to the dominant female or if they just really like each other.

Minty did go shooting up the ramp and disturbed the pair of them, I do often see minty with flash but she likes to be left alone like her daughter (although fudge is much more a loner and really content on having her own space), but equally minty and crystal have a strong bond and will be found together, minty will back crystal up and is second in charge.

I love the way they have different relationships, just wondered if anyone else has found this with theirs.

 

[Wiebke]

I have lots of different relationships in my Tribe; they form a very intricate and interconnected web. Usually, I find that mums and daughters or sisters will always keep their bond. Sows tend to hang out together roughly according to where they are in the hierarchy.

But there are also some personal friendships. Nerys and Hafina were best snoozing friends, Ceri used to snuggle up at night with my old lady Fflur during the short time Fflur was with us two years ago. Cariad and Caron often hang out together. Tesni seems to have a real liking for Hywel, my patriarch. Sometimes, you can really feel the gap when a piggy dies, and nopig can fill it. My two youngsters have become friends, as I had hoped they would.

 

[Pepperdog]

see this kind of intricate social groupings and behaviors is why I love my pigs and want more. I watch them and often think, how can people find them boring, there is so much more to piggie life than we can ever know and I love to watch and learn more about them just by being with them - even sitting deadly quiet to see what they get up to when I am not around (and not asking for more veggies )

 

[Wiebke]

Same here - by the way, relationships evolve and piggies can shift alliances, same as humans.

 

[Claire W]

I have a group of four although Eleanor and Eliza were together for a year before I added to the group. I added Erin first and although she was excepted, I noticed that she was often left out of whatever ellie and Eliza were doing. Erin couldn't break their bond. I introduced Ena two months later and Erin's relationship took off with Ena straight away which was good as Erin is a pigs pig and prefers piggy company. The four now get on great as a foursome and two pairs and nobody is left out

 

[Pepperdog]

I wondered if adding flash into the trio of girls would make a pair of pairs, but they all have allegiances with each other, each relationship is very different but very special and in that way I see that they as a group are comrades if not always best buddies

 

[Little Piggles]

I love their relationships and how they interact Like yours my pigs rarely cuddle up and share beds but they seem happy in their little group.

I have five girls and a neutered boar and the strongest pairing seems is my original and eldest pair of Pippa, who is also dominant, and Willow who is second in command. It's quite rare you'll find one on a different level to another. Of all of my pigs they are the two who are most likely to share a hideout happily.

Pixel (my third girl, but lowest ranking) seems to buddy up with anyone and very is happy as long as she's not on her own. She'll happily share a bed or food with anyone

Boris (added fourth) seems to quite like hanging out with Hettie who is the youngest but shares his affection quite evenly between his girls. He knows that Pippa is in charge, but is quite good at stepping in if they ever do bicker. He seemed quite protective over Hettie when she was first introduced and managed to put himself between her and the other girls when they were pushing her too much.

Marmite (number 5) is a bit of a loner compared to my others and will happily stay on her own. She likes her own space, especially if it's high up and will often sit ontop of boxes rather than inside them. Seems to be closely matched with Hettie in the hierarchy and they have occasional fallouts over the best place to snooze but nothing more than a little teeth chattering and dramatic squeaking!

Hettie (number 6, the youngest) seems to like spending time with Willow and Boris. She hates to be alone, but isn't as close to the Marmite as she is with the others.


I have been terrified every time a new pig has been added into my gang, but I should know by now to just trust my pigs as they all just work it out!

 

[Wiiiiieek!]

My pigs definitely do have hierarchies...

In the biggest cage, Coconut is the boss, followed by Cinnamon, then her daughters and Brandy-Snap is at the bottom (which is why I hand feed her extra veggies while the others are all scoffing! xx>>>)

In the second cage, Caramel is definitely the boss! Rasher kind of gives her a rolleyes look when she's tetchy with him and their daughter Jellybean, while still quite headstrong is at the bottom.

In the third cage, miss bully-pig 2012 AKA Mocha is the alpha, and although I'm sure Wiiiiieek would like to think it's him - we all see who gets shoved out of the way when there's greens up for the taking, and who gets kicked out of the house so she can get in and hide when it's bath-time!

And, in the fourth cage, I would say it's quite equal but Pancake is a little more dominant than Baby or Phantom (in that order). He rules with a gently piggy-paw though x>>

Usually, if I want to take a peak at some piggy teeth and hand feed them all, all that goes right out of the window and they all climb and clamber all over each other to get at the leaves and bits of veg I have drool and of course, there's the tug o' war when two or more pigs get hold of the same piece of food! {:| Doesn't matter what ranking they have in the group, they reeeeeeeeeeally don't wanna let go x)