The easiest pairings/bullying - any thoughts?

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Beaney

Sorry if this ends up being a bit long.....

I have 3 sows. Tia and Tilly are peruvian sisters who I have had since they were babies and are now 6 months old and then I have Trixie who is my rescue - exact age unknown. Trixie was bullied previously by her cage mates so was separated at the rescue. When I adopted her the plan was that she would go in with my 2 girls. Despite a very encouraging start, after a week I noticed that Tia and Tilly (who are usually as soppy as anything!) were bullying her so I seperated the shed using grids so they are in a side by side set up. They all seem happy with this and Trixie is going from strength to strength in terms of her confidence. They all have plenty of space and interact through the grids all the time - there is no agression. For the summer I also have runs that can go side by side so they will never be far apart.

But, I would really like Trixie to have a friend if possible. So I am thinking (only thinking at the moment) I could:
- See about rescuing another sow for Trixie - maybe a baby to solve any dominance issues or a placid sow which will let Trixie 'be boss'
- See about rescuing a neutered boar
- wait a few months and try Trixie with Tia and Tilly again hoping that after months of living side by side they will now be OK
- do nothing, leave them as they are as all seem happy enough

I would appreciate any thoughts my options and on the easiest pairings - especially from people who may have experience of bullying. As Trixie has had problems being bullied is she always going to be on the defensive and therefore will always be the under pig?

The space that Trixie has at the moment would easily allow for another pig. At the moment I am only thinking - just want to fully way up all my options!
 
:) The BEST pairings in my opinion, are the ones that the guineas choose themselves. I don't take age, gender or breed into consideration, just the pigs and their characters. The pigs get to pick their own friends and always make a better job of it than the Humans it seems :) Take the pigs you want to live together to a rescue and let them all choose. No good taking just one, the dynamics of the group change drastically usually when more pigs are added/taken away. Sows can sometimes attack neutered boars, its noit a foregone conclusion, same goes for boars taking a dislike to certain sows- unusual but very possible :)

I spent 2 hours on Saturday helping someone pair up a new sow to go with her established pair- the outcome was well worth the wait and all 3 pigs are happy with the set up.

Hope this helps, just what I have found :)

Edit: Just because a pig is bullied in one group it doesn't mean they will be bullied again. It may mean that you have to try more pigs to find the right one but the right one is out there waiting for her. I have seen shy, bullied pigs flourish when put with different pigs. Its as simple as you make it- the guineas have to live with each other so I let them choose and often have matchmaking going on here ;D Sorry, I'm starting to waffle now ::)
 
If you have a sow that you don't want bullied a neutered male is a very good option as he will be inclined to be her adoring admirer rather than bully her. She can grump away at him all she wants and he will still love her :)
 
I've got no experience in this Sabrina, but I'd be inclined to go for a neutered male as there are so many in rescue anyway so you'd be doing a good thing and it does seem to be a good way for them to live. Other than that a baby sow might work.
 
Me thinks I will be on the look out for a new rescue piggy in the new year..... Thanks for the comments everyone.

I have to be honest, I quite fancy the idea of a neutered boar because I have never had a boar before - I have only ever had sows.

I think I will approach a rescue in the new year and see what can be done. Maybe Trixie can try some piggy speed dating? Whilst they do seem happy in a side by side set up, I really would love Trixie to have a proper friend if she can but I need to be confident that there is no bullying....

Karen - do you ever re-home outside of your area?
 
:) I rarely rehome out of area Beaney but you have been homechecked by someone who has the same thoughts as me on keeping guineas :) Thor has been castrated now by the way- as have Mars and Zeus. Trixie is welcome to come and speed date but I won't let them go without trying first- I have seen a few boars attacked by sows :o

It was purely dislike as these sows settled with other boars. I've only seen one boar turn on a sow and that never did work out ::)

Will contact you when Thor and the boys are ready ;)
 
Fantastic! I did read on your site that you didn't like to home out of the area but I visited a rescue fairly local to me once and did not get a 'good vibe' about it so am reluctant to try there.... so thank you very much, I look forward to hearing from you.

Fingers crossed then Trixie can speed date her way to a boyfriend in the new year (if she manages it she has done better than me :D ;D)
 
Will reserve the 3 boys for Trixie to have her pick :) If you're lucky she'll like all 3 and you can choose ;)
 
Hi Karen, what's the best way to introduce a boar to a sow? I have a boar I'm thinking of neutering to go with a sow.
 
This is just the way I do it, and is the best for me :)

I invite the sow to the rescue and put up a neutral run. The sow goes in first (no hidey holes yet) to settle down and make herself beautiful for her date. Put the boar in the run too whilst holding a towel (just in case) to throw over any attackers. I've never needed to use one yet though :) If all goes well add a house for them and see how it goes. All goes well, add some hay for munching.

I wouldn't even try to match up a boar and sow that didn't get on first time, again- but then I don't believe in forcing the issue.

Try a few boars and you'll probably see different reactions (not always, but usually). They all usually go together but doing it this way you can let her make the decision. Or in some cases let him make the decision.

Other people introduce them on their laps first, some place them nose to tail (in turn) so they can smell each other first.

Have you already got a pair in mind?
 
karenrgpr said:
This is just the way I do it, and is the best for me :)

I invite the sow to the rescue and put up a neutral run. The sow goes in first (no hidey holes yet) to settle down and make herself beautiful for her date. Put the boar in the run too whilst holding a towel (just in case) to throw over any attackers. I've never needed to use one yet though :) If all goes well add a house for them and see how it goes. All goes well, add some hay for munching.

I wouldn't even try to match up a boar and sow that didn't get on first time, again- but then I don't believe in forcing the issue.

Try a few boars and you'll probably see different reactions (not always, but usually). They all usually go together but doing it this way you can let her make the decision. Or in some cases let him make the decision.

Other people introduce them on their laps first, some place them nose to tail (in turn) so they can smell each other first.

Have you already got a pair in mind?
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've got an unneutered boar who's about 8 months old now and on his own. He seems quite happy and lives above my two girls but I think it might be nice to neuter him and get him a girlfriend, but am not sure about the neutering as I say he's happy. It just doesn't seem right to make him live his life alone though.
 
karenrgpr said:
Will reserve the 3 boys for Trixie to have her pick :) If you're lucky she'll like all 3 and you can choose ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you!

I know who I would choose ;)
 
karenrgpr said:
:) I know who you'd choose but its not your choice!
Click to expand...

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I will let Trixie decide her own friend and who ever it is will be fine by me. I'll be so pleased just to see her settled with someone. Not that I won't be routing for her to choose a certain piggy ;D ;D ;D
 
I'm sure Trixie will take beautifully to a husband!

She always liked running with Wilson my neutered boar - she used to wash his ears much to the disgust of his wife Whinnie!

Do let me know how she gets on with her 'speed date' - fingers crossed she chooses 'the' piggie!
 
starshine said:
I'm sure Trixie will take beautifully to a husband!

She always liked running with Wilson my neutered boar - she used to wash his ears much to the disgust of his wife Whinnie!

Do let me know how she gets on with her 'speed date' - fingers crossed she chooses 'the' piggie!
Click to expand...

;D ;D ;D

I'll let you know how it all works out. As much as I do have a bit of a soft spot for one particular guy, I just have everything crossed that she finds someone who she is happy to settle with. She loves interacting with Tia and Tilly through the grids and seems happy but I would like to give her one more chance to have an actual cage mate.

Besides - it is a good reason for me to adopt another rescue piggy ;D
 
:) She can always go for a girl if the boys don't work out, but I'm sure one of them will :)
 
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