Snorting sows – how long to keep going, or split back into two groups?

[Tewdric]

I collected two young girls from the Blue Cross in Burford last weekend. They are supposed to by a year and a half old – however they’re tiny (800g) – so I’m wondering about their actual ages. They’re pretty flighty and they haven’t been handled much.

They had a few days to settle in, introductions to my gang of three (one neutered boar, two sows who will be 3 in July) through a partition seemed positive, so I went ahead and did full introductions out in our large garden run.

Lots of chasing from Brunel our boar, but with plenty of grazing from everybody and things seemed to be ok as the day progressed.

I put them back into what is in essence a 6ft by 5ft pen in the shed with plenty of double exited boxes and tunnels etc. All have access to plenty of hay, multiple water bottles and I’ve been scatter feeding grass, veggies and a few pellets. No teeth chattering, lots of burbling, a bit of chasing, but plenty of eating.

Plenty of interaction from Brunel the neutered boar. Less interaction between all the girls.

Now the more concerning bit:–

Three times yesterday I noticed Wenlock (the now dominant sow from my original group) and Agatha (the dominant girl from the new pair) head to head. Both had their heads up, both ‘snorted/huffed’ at each other – then Agatha backed down and went on her way. They didn’t have their teeth bared/mouths open and there was no lunging at each other.

I haven’t found any injuries in the group, and they’ve been together for four days now. The most timid new girl is keeping very much to herself, but I have seen her cuddled up with Brunel the boar. I know everyone is eating. There still isn't a huge amount of interaction between all the sows.

Do I let them continue to sort things out, or is it getting to the stage where I should split them back into their original groups?

Having the double deck 6ft by 2ft hutch and two large garden runs + their summer aviary I had the contingency accommodation all ready when I adopted the two newbies. I don’t mind which way it works out as long as I have contended monsters!

 

[Wiebke]

I collected two young girls from the Blue Cross in Burford last weekend. They are supposed to by a year and a half old – however they’re tiny (800g) – so I’m wondering about their actual ages. They’re pretty flighty and they haven’t been handled much.

They had a few days to settle in, introductions to my gang of three (one neutered boar, two sows who will be 3 in July) through a partition seemed positive, so I went ahead and did full introductions out in our large garden run.

Lots of chasing from Brunel our boar, but with plenty of grazing from everybody and things seemed to be ok as the day progressed.

I put them back into what is in essence a 6ft by 5ft pen in the shed with plenty of double exited boxes and tunnels etc. All have access to plenty of hay, multiple water bottles and I’ve been scatter feeding grass, veggies and a few pellets. No teeth chattering, lots of burbling, a bit of chasing, but plenty of eating.

Plenty of interaction from Brunel the neutered boar. Less interaction between all the girls.

Now the more concerning bit:–

Three times yesterday I noticed Wenlock (the now dominant sow from my original group) and Agatha (the dominant girl from the new pair) head to head. Both had their heads up, both ‘snorted/huffed’ at each other – then Agatha backed down and went on her way. They didn’t have their teeth bared/mouths open and there was no lunging at each other.

I haven’t found any injuries in the group, and they’ve been together for four days now. The most timid new girl is keeping very much to herself, but I have seen her cuddled up with Brunel the boar. I know everyone is eating. There still isn't a huge amount of interaction between all the sows.

Do I let them continue to sort things out, or is it getting to the stage where I should split them back into their original groups?

Having the double deck 6ft by 2ft hutch and two large garden runs + their summer aviary I had the contingency accommodation all ready when I adopted the two newbies. I don’t mind which way it works out as long as I have contended monsters!

Hi and welcome

The post-bonding dominance phase in which the group settles together and establishes the hierarchy takes around 2 weeks more or less. This a gradual process that works its way down the ladder as it is settled rung for rung. The worst dominance behaviour is always between two adjoining ranks, usually coming from the sow just ranked above. Any new arrivals in a group are handed down the ladder until the find their rung where they have the kudos to settle.

You will have to see whether your two sows will work out which of them comes top. If two piggies cannot come to an agreement in the long term then the problem can resurface time and time again whenever there is a crisis or ovarian cysts cause hormonal/aggressive behaviour in my own experience with groups.

The size is at the bottom end of the normal weight range. I have several piggies that are as small or even smaller due to their background. Thankfully, it doesn't necessarily impact on their longevity. Just keep them on a good normal diet. If they have deficits to make up, they are going to be able to in growth and not just in weight gain until they are about 2 years old. But there is nothing to worry. Like humans, some piggies are just on the small side. Important for longevity is health, not size!

You may find these guides here helpful in understanding what is going on and in judging where your girls are standing.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

All the best!

 

[Tewdric]

The size is at the bottom end of the normal weight range. I have several piggies that are as small or even smaller due to their background. Thankfully, it doesn't necessarily impact on their longevity. Just keep them on a good normal diet. If they have deficits to make up, they are going to be able to in growth and not just in weight gain until they are about 2 years old. But there is nothing to worry. Like humans, some piggies are just on the small side. Important for longevity is health, not size!

You may find these guides here helpful in understanding what is going on and in judging where your girls are standing.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

All the best!

Thanks for reply, I'll sit it out and see what happens over the next week or so.

The bonding guides have been great over the last few days - I just hadn't read/seen anything about sows snorting at each other, it usually seems to refer to boars.

Size wise the two newbies (Agatha and Christie for now) just seem soooo dainty compared to the others. I've had what I considered to be a smallish pig before, but even she weighed in at 950g for most of her life.

L to R :-Brunel, Christie and Agatha enjoying one of the grass piles last night.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for reply, I'll sit it out and see what happens over the next week or so.

The bonding guides have been great over the last few days - I just hadn't read/seen anything about sows snorting at each other, it usually seems to refer to boars.

Size wise the two newbies (Agatha and Christie for now) just seem soooo dainty compared to the others. I've had what I considered to be a smallish pig before, but even she weighed in at 950g for most of her life.

L to R :-Brunel, Christie and Agatha enjoying one of the grass piles last night.

View attachment 110490

Sows can snort too, but it is comparatively rare; I have never witnessed it in mine or in my neutered boars.
At the moment, there is no reason to interfere; you just need to keep an eye on proceedings and will hopefully learn a lot about complex group dynamics by observation, the way I have learned what I know.

PS: These are 4 years old 700g Helygen and her big (and not at all overweight) 5 year old husboar Pioden, who is 1400g. It is somewhat amusing that my currently smallest and largest piggy have ended up as pair, but they get on well! Helygen is still trying to rule the roost, by the way! Some small piggies have a much larger personality. Pioden in turn is a total wuss...

 

[Tewdric]

Thank you.

I'm looking forward to getting to know them as they relax into their new home.