Sow lunging during bonding

[GeorgiaHarris]

I am currently bonding my 2 6 month old sows to my new 7 week old skinny pig. My one girl Ruby (grey Peruvian) seems to be getting on fine with her but my other girl Meg (texel) keeps lunging, chasing and nipping at her. They’ve been together for about an hour now and she’s still doing it. I only have experience bonding boys so I’m not sure if this is normal for sows. How long should I leave it as I’m worried my baby skinny may get hurt.

 

[Wiebke]

I am currently bonding my 2 6 month old sows to my new 7 week old skinny pig. My one girl Ruby (grey Peruvian) seems to be getting on fine with her but my other girl Meg (texel) keeps lunging, chasing and nipping at her. They’ve been together for about an hour now and she’s still doing it. I only have experience bonding boys so I’m not sure if this is normal for sows. How long should I leave it as I’m worried my baby skinny may get hurt. View attachment 121487

I would call off the bonding for today if tensions are not settling down. It sounds like a strong fear-aggressive reaction. Lunging is a very strongly worded 'stay our of my space'; it is generally defensive. Sows generally do not hurt others. Their equivalent of a bite is pulling a mouthful of hair without breaking the skin. it is likely that your undersow is feeling threatened in her position by the new arrival.

Please take the time to read our step-by-step bonding guide, which also has a chapter on fear-aggression: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[GeorgiaHarris]

I would call off the bonding for today if tensions are not settling down. It sounds like a strong fear-aggressive reaction. Lunging is a very strongly worded 'stay our of my space'; it is generally defensive. Sows generally do not hurt others. Their equivalent of a bite is pulling a mouthful of hair without breaking the skin. it is likely that your undersow is feeling threatened in her position by the new arrival.

Please take the time to read our step-by-step bonding guide, which also has a chapter on fear-aggression: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Thankyou, will read through it now. How many times do you think I should try bonding them and how often?

 

[PigglePuggle]

Please be extra vigilant when bonding a skinny pig, with no protective fur a warning nip can do a fair bit of damage! Our skinny girl got quite badly hurt in a failed bonding, there were some deep bite wounds...

 

[Wiebke]

Thankyou, will read through it now. How many times do you think I should try bonding them and how often?

You can try again tomorrow and see whether things are more relaxed. If tensions are high again within minutes, then the bonding has failed and you will need to find another solution for your skinny baby.

Unfortunately many people think that all piggies will get on and that it is just a matter of correct bonding or persisting long enough. It doesn't work like that! Piggies are every bit as complex as humans when it comes to likes/dislikes and social insecurities. Once sows have made up their mind that they do not want another piggy in their group, then you have had it.

Persisting in the face of high tensions means that the underlying grudges will always be there and ready to blow up again over the following years; usually at the most inconvenient of times. There is nothing like a piggy for holding a particular grudge!
It is in the long term much better to look for a companion where mutual liking and character compatibility (the two keys to any successfuly piggy bond) are present than putting your personal human desires before your piggies' happiness.