Is This Normal Sow Behaviour?

[Luna-Trixie]

Hey all,

My piggies are still going through their dominance phase, they are sisters so I think they are quite evenly matched, I don't think they do each other any physical harm but they do a lot of squabbling and posturing, how can you tell if they will ever get along? I've added some pics! They act like this and then get on and then revert back

 

[Wiebke]

This behaviour is called "chinning off" and it is in the milder range of dominance behaviours when the dominance is closely matched.
You may find this guide here helpful: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[Luna-Trixie]

This behaviour is called "chinning off" and it is in the milder range of dominance behaviours when the dominance is closely matched.
You may find this guide here helpful: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Thank you for your reply they are currently cuddling up in the same hidey so that can't dislike each other too badly, it's just so scary when they fight I hope they sort it out with each other soon x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your reply they are currently cuddling up in the same hidey so that can't dislike each other too badly, it's just so scary when they fight I hope they sort it out with each other soon x

Unlike boars, sows rarely fight. Chinning up is a way of figuring out which of the two is coming on top. Dominance has a way of cropping up again whenever a sow is coming into season, especially if she is not quite happy with how things stand and the hierarchy has not long been established.
Here is another guide, which you may find helpful. The previous link has got an illustration on how sows decide dominance by chinning up over several rounds whereas boars establish dominance with rumblestrutting displays and mounting. The guide will help you to better understand what is going on.
Sow Behaviour This guide here explains general sow behaviour.

 

[VickiA]

Thanks for those photos. They are an excellent example, as Wiebke has said, of chinning off (or what my boys used to call a "nose off"). Perfectly normal as they sort out the dominance, and even at times when the hierarchy is changed - new cage/run or one in season etc.