Lots Of Squawking And Squeaking During Bonding

[WhinnyPig]

Bonding my two older ladies today! Wiley is 5.5 and Winona is 4. Winona has been humping but Wiley has gotten more pushy as far as not letting her or pushing her off. She has shown her teeth a couple time. I put them in the cage after awhile of mostly following each other and bum sniffing. also both cleaned their faces a few times so i thought it seemed to be going well. I took the one-opening hidies out and put in a hay filled tunnel and a hay hut with 2 openings in the cage instead. Winona has taken over the hut and Wiley is laying under the water bottle (Winona drinks from a dish so she will still have access to water with Wiley there). I was worried about the hay hut thinking since it had been in with Whinny and Wiley it would smell of them and Winona would have issues with it but she has already spent more time in there than i ever saw Whinny or Wiley! They have just been so loud I can't tell if they are talking to each other or upset!

From the sounds of it does it seem to be going ok? I'm trying to not interfere with their bonding!

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Yep it sounds like your are doing great! If you are worried I would remove the hidey but as it's got two entrances I don't think a piggy could get stuck in it. I just bonded two boars (currently still got some mounting going on) and I made the mistake of separating them because of the squeaking. However luckily for me they went back together later as if they hadn't been separated and now I've got them in another room so I cannot intervene. Only intervene and separate your piggies if there is blood or you feel one is going to be harmed - though I know it's difficult to hear all the squeaking etc.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

The loud squealing is submissive screams, they're a pretty good sign although brutal to watch during bonding.

Gotta get used to the sound though, right now I'm listening to one of my girls screaming bloody murder while I'm enjoying my morning coffee

 

[Wiebke]

Bonding my two older ladies today! Wiley is 5.5 and Winona is 4. Winona has been humping but Wiley has gotten more pushy as far as not letting her or pushing her off. She has shown her teeth a couple time. I put them in the cage after awhile of mostly following each other and bum sniffing. also both cleaned their faces a few times so i thought it seemed to be going well. I took the one-opening hidies out and put in a hay filled tunnel and a hay hut with 2 openings in the cage instead. Winona has taken over the hut and Wiley is laying under the water bottle (Winona drinks from a dish so she will still have access to water with Wiley there). I was worried about the hay hut thinking since it had been in with Whinny and Wiley it would smell of them and Winona would have issues with it but she has already spent more time in there than i ever saw Whinny or Wiley! They have just been so loud I can't tell if they are talking to each other or upset!

From the sounds of it does it seem to be going ok? I'm trying to not interfere with their bonding!

Just try to sit it out. Make sure that each sow has their own hidey, water and food bowl. You are always well into the dominance sort-out. It all depends on whether Wiley is ultimately accepting Winona's dominance or not. The sort-out happens in rounds with a rest in between. A vocal bonding is not bad, as they are at least talking to each other about their feelings. Be aware that the dominance phase lasts several days and that they may agree to disagree at any point if they cannot come ot an amiable understanding.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[WhinnyPig]

Thanks there was loud squeaks and chasing all night

 

[WhinnyPig]

Now I'm just worried about leaving them while at work although we are home often enough that they won't have to go more than a few hours without monitoring....

 

[Wiebke]

Now I'm just worried about leaving them while at work although we are home often enough that they won't have to go more than a few hours without monitoring....

Keep a check on them and make sure that the undersow is not getting too stressed; the loud squealing is submission (as you can read in the link I have given you). It may not work out in the longer term even if they do not fight outright.

Bonding older sows is often very tricky. I have several that are happier to have their own patch, even though they enjoy the stimulation from neighbours.

 

[WhinnyPig]

Yeah that's what I'm worried about! That Wiley won't actually want a new sister. I was worried about her being stressed but she ate straight away this morning. There is still the loud squeaking at times but also times they're eating quietly. Thanks for all your help!