Thinking of adopting another pig.....

[Princess_Harriet]

Hi,
I've been thinking of adopting another pig perhaps in the next few months. One reason I'm doing this is because my youngest and smallest pig Charlotte is frequently bullied. She was introduced completely wrong and is nipped and chased. Though there hasn't been any blood there has been loads of very loud teeth chattering and squealing. I read that it's best to have an even number of pigs so none of them are left out. I have enough to cover all the vet cost and other necessities that come with adopting another pig. My questions are:
1) Would I have to expand the cage? I currently have three sows in two joined midwest cages.
2) Would this make things better for Charlotte and would it help if they bonded? I know that when three boars fight adding a fourth will make it worse. Is it the same for sows?
Thanks!

 

[Piggies&buns]

While having even numbers of piggies can be better (an outsider situation can occur if you have odd numbers in sow herds - although there are many members who have very happy sow trios!), if there is a problem in the bond between your three sows, adding a fourth will not fix any issues they already have with Charlotte, it could in fact make things worse.
(for clarity of information, only two boars can be kept together successfully, but sows can be kept in herds of any number provided they have character compatibility and enough space)

How they were introduced, while it does need to be done properly, is not the cause of nipping and chasing.
How long have they been together?
What are their ages?

Bullying is a sustained behaviour which causes the bullied piggy to become withdrawn, perhaps lose weight through not being allowed to eat enough, never be allowed to rest and is always and consistently chased out of hides. Its not the same as normal dominance - the dominance the dominant piggy would show towards the piggy at the bottom of the hierarchy. The squealing you report is more likely submission squealing which is totally normal. Bullying in sows can be harder to spot as they can be more underhand about it.

If a bullying situation really is occurring and Charlotte is unhappy, then removing Charlotte from the group altogether, getting her her own character compatible friend and having them live in a separate cage as a separate pair (never having contact with the other two sows) would be best.

If what you are seeing between your three is normal dominance and they are in fact all happy together, and you do decide to get a fourth piggy, the it would be best to do so via dating at a rescue centre to ensure there is compatibility and that a newcomer is accepted. The guide below explains what does and doesnt work when adding new piggies. Although as they are all individuals, what looks like it might work may not in real life!

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

Four piggies needs a cage of 210x60cm and two midwest cages together would make 240x60cm so the cage size is ok for four.

I've added some guides in below so you can determine whether what you are seeing is simply a normal relationship, or whether there is something more serious going on.

Bonds In Trouble
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[Princess_Harriet]

While having even numbers of piggies can be better (an outsider situation can occur if you have odd numbers in sow herds - although there are many members who have very happy sow trios!), if there is a problem in the bond between your three sows, adding a fourth will not fix any issues they already have with Charlotte, it could in fact make things worse.
(for clarity of information, only two boars can be kept together successfully, but sows can be kept in herds of any number provided they have character compatibility and enough space)

How they were introduced, while it does need to be done properly, is not the cause of nipping and chasing.
How long have they been together?
What are their ages?

Bullying is a sustained behaviour which causes the bullied piggy to become withdrawn, perhaps lose weight through not being allowed to eat enough, never be allowed to rest and is always and consistently chased out of hides. Its not the same as normal dominance - the dominance the dominant piggy would show towards the piggy at the bottom of the hierarchy. The squealing you report is more likely submission squealing which is totally normal. Bullying in sows can be harder to spot as they can be more underhand about it.

If a bullying situation really is occurring and Charlotte is unhappy, then removing Charlotte from the group altogether, getting her her own character compatible friend and having them live in a separate cage as a separate pair (never having contact with the other two sows) would be best.

If what you are seeing between your three is normal dominance and they are in fact all happy together, and you do decide to get a fourth piggy, the it would be best to do so via dating at a rescue centre to ensure there is compatibility and that a newcomer is accepted. The guide below explains what does and doesnt work when adding new piggies. Although as they are all individuals, what looks like it might work may not in real life!

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

Four piggies needs a cage of 210x60cm and two midwest cages together would make 240x60cm so the cage size is ok for four.

I've added some guides in below so you can determine whether what you are seeing is simply a normal relationship, or whether there is something more serious going on.

Bonds In Trouble
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

They've been together for about a year now and are all a little over a year in age. I think the best thing to do would be to do the rescue dating. Thanks!

 

[fournakedpigs]

Hi,
I've been thinking of adopting another pig perhaps in the next few months. One reason I'm doing this is because my youngest and smallest pig Charlotte is frequently bullied. She was introduced completely wrong and is nipped and chased. Though there hasn't been any blood there has been loads of very loud teeth chattering and squealing. I read that it's best to have an even number of pigs so none of them are left out. I have enough to cover all the vet cost and other necessities that come with adopting another pig. My questions are:
1) Would I have to expand the cage? I currently have three sows in two joined midwest cages.
2) Would this make things better for Charlotte and would it help if they bonded? I know that when three boars fight adding a fourth will make it worse. Is it the same for sows?
Thanks!

If you are able to handle a fourth pig, I would definitely suggest simply getting Charlotte her own friend and having two sets of bonded sows. You also wouldn’t need any additional space (although extra space is always nice) because one Midwest is the minimum space requirement for two sows.

 

[Piggies&buns]

How long has the behaviour been going on?
After a year together, any chasing and nipping is nothing to do with their introduction. Chasing and nipping is in itself is an entirely normal dominance behaviour and not a problem. Nipping is a gesture of power and does not break the skin.
If it has tipped over into bullying then that is a different matter. Charlotte will possibly be losing weight through not being allowed to eat, not being able to rest, become withdrawn and generally unhappy through living in a tense situation. If this is the case, then do not add a fourth piggy to the herd, but instead separate Charlotte out and get her own new friend.

 

[Princess_Harriet]

It's been going on since I introduced them. She's definitely not losing weight. I'm assuming it's just normal dominance now so if I decide to get another I'll have them all living together. Thank you for the help.