Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Thank you so muchLovely, wishing you success and a happy bonding
Noises and weight loss
- Thread starter Rivervixen
- Start date
Lorcan
Forum Buddy
If it makes you feel any better, I was the same the first couple of nights after the Quartet's bonding because of Mourne, for the same reasons as you're worried about Bruno. The first night is always the worst.
Bruno knows what's expected of him, though, even if he tries to convince you otherwise. I don't think you've got much to worry about there
Bruno knows what's expected of him, though, even if he tries to convince you otherwise. I don't think you've got much to worry about there
AidaB
Forum Donator 2025/26
What an adventure, I hope you all had a good night.
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Good morning, its mostly calm but I'm seeing on the piggie cam that Raven sometimes does like a big jump at Bruno, nothing has come of it but it is quite scary to watch
Don’t forget it can take a couple of weeks to settle down. Sounds like she’s just reminding Bruno that she’s the top pig in this grouping. I know it’s nerve wracking but chat will work it out.
Congratulations on your new herd.
Congratulations on your new herd.
Looks like Raven is telling Bruno emphatically to stay out of her personal sphere to which she as the new leader is entitled; it is going to gradually shrink as she is getting more secure and confident with being the one in control. Sometimes with a very insecure leader this can take a few weeks.
The first day is roughest but it should hopefully settle down gradually over the coming two weeks, interspersed by a strong season with quite a lot of vocalisations and drama as the shared excess of pheromones and emotions helps to cement the bond.
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
We've just had it here Raven launched herself and Bruno launched himself back, then chattering ensued. It had calmed down so I'd left but my partner saw it. They're working it out for sure, but my partner says it looked worse than it is. Otherwise we are doing much better, very happy piggies all around
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Thank you so much, they will work it out
as a first time bond it has been very wracking indeed
If Raven has taken against Bruno and this behaviour is getting worse over the coming days, then the bonding has unfortunately failed.
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
We will continue to monitor them. It is happening less frequently, and they have been laying and eating together. Fingers crossed for the next few daysIf Raven has taken against Bruno and this behaviour is getting worse over the coming days, then the bonding has unfortunately failed.
Thank you for the additional information; if Raven is tolerating Bruno lying close by, then acceptance has happened and this is just dominance insistence on respecting her personal sphere - especially if it is decreasing.
The problem with bondings is that you cannot just pick one behaviour, you need be able to put it into context.
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Sorry for the confusion, I think I'm just very taken by jumping pigs, never had it before and it was a shock. Bruno is still trying to be in charge, he goes to her lifting his head up but then usually gets told off and runs away with his happy squeals. Will attach a few picturesThank you for the additional information; if Raven is tolerating Bruno lying close by, then acceptance has happened and this is just dominance insistence on respecting her personal sphere - especially if it is decreasing.
The problem with bondings is that you cannot just pick one behaviour, you need be able to put it into context.
Attachments
He's just a happy silly boy... doing silly boy stuff but he is not seriously challenging her; even if she may get fed up with him.
I always find it hilarious when newly bonded neutered boys go and have a popcorning session after being told off by the ladies; just because their wildest dream has come true.
But then, in the wild, being accepted by sows as their husboar can quite literally make the difference between life and death. Bachelors are much more at risk of predation.
@Lorcan currently has another one of them.
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
He really is happy with himself every timeHe's just a happy silly boy... doing silly boy stuff but he is not seriously challenging her; even if she may get fed up with him.
I always find it hilarious when newly bonded neutered boys go and have a popcorning session after being told off by the ladies; just because their wildest dream has come true.
But then, in the wild, being accepted by sows as their husboar can quite literally make the difference between life and death. Bachelors are much more at risk of predation.
@Lorcan currently has another one of them.
he woke me up this morning I thought something had happened, just bruno squealing in happiness, he wasnt even near either ladies. I have left them to it, I have the piggie cam app on my phone, currently setting it up on the computer. Going to have their camera up until they've worked it out. He's really taken to Wren as well, he humps her once then runs off squealing in happiness 
He's just as happy a kid in a candy shop as a boar can be... Enjoy. Boars are just so funny and vocal when they cannot contain their happiness. You don't get that with sows.He really is happy with himself every time
Sounds like Bruno is punching between Raven and Wren hierarchy-wise.
Lorcan
Forum Buddy
It took Mourne several months to realise he's not in charge and that he has to wait for everypig else to get fed first. And that they will run him off if they see the need. At first Shannon spent 90% of her time lunging at him when he set a paw out of place, but Shannon's also his favourite so I wasn't too worried. Turns out the sows are really good judges of distance and speed when it comes to telling the boars off!
Next up, it's getting him to stop humping the wrong end of the body. Ah, boars. He loves it though. Getting yelled at, getting told off, getting shoved out of the way, he doesn't care. He's got girls.
Next up, it's getting him to stop humping the wrong end of the body. Ah, boars. He loves it though. Getting yelled at, getting told off, getting shoved out of the way, he doesn't care. He's got girls.
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
The last bit made me chuckle
bruno also just humps whichever end is available, which he also gets a telling off for. It is nerve wracking to see it all for the first time, I think also having girls for the first time
The last bit made me chuckle
Bruno is still suffering from his gonads having temporarily shut down his brain. Other boars hump nonstop for a day or two whichever gender, whichever way and whichever body part is available during this stage. He is at the milder end of a testosterone overload, to be honest. It is going to settle down, most likely by tomorrow.
Mixed gender groups is a whole new world with very different dynamics. Just take a seat on the rollercoaster, enjoy and scream away... You have your daily soap free of charge for sure!
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Yes they are spring greens. I haven’t been able to get from Tesco in absolutely ages - couldn’t even get it in summer!
It’s Milder than cabbage and a good source of magnesium, but a once a week food
piggieminder
Forum Buddy
I got some spring greens in Aldi last week for the first time since this time last year!
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Thank you
expanding our veggie horizons! Never seen them in tesco either, but as I work there I forgot I can just check products on my work app. As its a once a week food I'll start looking for recipes for us to make with them too, you get so much in a bag for just 80p, not half bad
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Lovely, I'll keep aldi in mind
they never had a bad selection when I've previously looked
Yes, they are what we call in the UK spring greens and in the USA and Australia collard greens.
I feed them about every 5-7 days in a 1 inch slice.
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
Will try to feed them these individually, Bruno and Ozzy used to have their own separate piles, tried that with the girls and they were stealing
its very cute
Will try to feed them these individually, Bruno and Ozzy used to have their own separate piles, tried that with the girls and they were stealing
Sprinkle feed around the cage but I have my piggies come up to me twice a day for their slince of pepper in the mornings and their treat veg that I change around regularly in the evenings. This also helps me to get an idea who is well and that they all get a fair share of what they need. the rest they can squabble about...
Sprinkle feeding encourages natural foraging behaviours and counts as enrichment, so that is an added bonus when they have to search around the cage.
Lorcan
Forum Buddy
I buy sliced spring greens from Tesco regularly can't get the bags like you've got though, not for months.
I scatter and sprinkle feed too. The girls have worked out that if one pig is standing still that means they have food, and if they have food, then it's not fair and they should steal it. They're all thieves in this house!
can't get the bags like you've got though, not for months. I scatter and sprinkle feed too. The girls have worked out that if one pig is standing still that means they have food, and if they have food, then it's not fair and they should steal it. They're all thieves in this house!
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2025/26
This is a lovely idea, will start to do that. With Bruno and Ozzy they'd always be waiting for veggies time, but they both got to the point of where they would want to come out for it. Will monitor them when I start that, Bruno is the world's fastest hoover, hes like if a roomba and a Henry hoover had a child