Ophelia

KHBz said:
Sorry - didn’t mean to post this twice! I can’t delete the second.
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Second post deleted for you.

When Jemimah and Priscilla were bonding there were nips as well as fur pulling.
They were sorting out their place in the herd. Merab was top and baby Phoebe was bottom - they were the the middle 2.

It took a couple of weeks before they decided to be friends.

It’s a tough call to know at what point you stop with Ophelia and Betsie.
You clearly want the best for both of them but sows can be difficult if they decide they don’t want to get on.

Hugs 🤗
 
Merab said:
Second post deleted for you.

When Jemimah and Priscilla were bonding there were nips as well as fur pulling.
They were sorting out their place in the herd. Merab was top and baby Phoebe was bottom - they were the the middle 2.

It took a couple of weeks before they decided to be friends.

It’s a tough call to know at what point you stop with Ophelia and Betsie.
You clearly want the best for both of them but sows can be difficult if they decide they don’t want to get on.

Hugs 🤗
Click to expand...
Thank you, Merab, that is really helpful to know.

Everyone’s input is so, so invaluable but how I wish someone experienced could see first-hand and tell us! @Piggies&buns has told us (thank you), and that’s my impulse for Ophelia’s sake, but then there are hopeful ‘but..’ moments and I think I may have over-stated the case against Betsie. Because it all looked good yesterday afternoon and earlier, we thought that it is maybe Betsie needing time to settle down. @PiggyintheMiddle and I keep being ready to throw in the towel. They have been together 11 days. I go around in circles, tugged back into indecision by my younger daughter’s hope and empathy for Betsie.
 
If I didn’t live so far away I’d offer to come and observe with you.

In the end you make the decision that you, as a family, feel is the right one.
Is your daughter old enough to be included in a conversation?
You could make a decision then live with it for a day or 2 and see if it feels comfortable.
If it does it’s probably the right decision.
 
Merab said:
If I didn’t live so far away I’d offer to come and observe with you.

In the end you make the decision that you, as a family, feel is the right one.
Is your daughter old enough to be included in a conversation?
You could make a decision then live with it for a day or 2 and see if it feels comfortable.
If it does it’s probably the right decision.
Click to expand...
You are lovely! Thank you for entertaining the notion if you were nearer!

Yes, my younger has equal input. She is sixteen, about to start sixth-form, and, if anything, plays the largest part in caring for them as the daily clean-out is really her responsibility. They moved permanently into her bedroom with Bianca's illness so that she could observe her closely. My daughter is staying in her room with them during the day (and night!) so as to continue to monitor the dynamics.

If we do put the grid down now, to see if Ophelia is happier and puts on weight, have we permanently broken the bond? That would solve it for me. Ophelia could have her old hutch back. These past weeks, since Bianca's death, must have been stressful for her.
 
I have never had sows so can't advise, just offering support. I do think if you trialled separation by putting in a grid and Ophelia was obviously happier and eating, that would mean they will be happier apart from each other. They might just not get along. I appreciate it is very difficult for you and your family though

I agree with @Merab about living with a decision for a while to see if it feels right. It's a hard situation to be in
 
What a great video. Really good point about the dominant behaviour as opposed to full on fights. Sounds like a change of layout has helped a lot with making them both feel secure and not too crowded.
 
Shimmer and Saffron came from a home where they lived together but had a good few rumbles and chases for the first few weeks that I had them. They still do rumble at each other and generally chose separate areas of the cage to lie in.
I really really hope that they sort out their hierarchy and that Ophelia puts on weight again.
 
It’s like watching a film - tense, then entertaining, then tense again and more entertaining.

We just watched Betsie attempt to get through the smallest entry to a tunnel, tugging and pulling at the fabric until she eventually had to give up. Ophelia slips in and out easily. There is quite a size difference! No, Betsie, we aren’t laughing at you.
 
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