Trouble accepting new additions

[jopop]

So this week I took my two girls to a rescue centre to try to find some sows they’d bond with and we could bring home to form a little herd. Lucy is the most dominant of my two so it came as no surprise that she brought up a couple of problems (Fudge accepts everyone it seems) We tried 2 adult girls initially … Lucy seemed fine but girl 1 didn’t seem happy at all so she was taken out. Girl 2 seemed fine. Then girl 3 was put in, Lucy seemed ok with her but then went for girl 2! We then tried one more…. She didn’t like her either! We left it there as Lucy was fed up of all the changes by this point.
I can’t say I am surprised as I know she is a madam - always snuggles nicely with Fudge at home but Fudge knows her place and Lucy likes that fact.
The rescue place said 2 options – go back in a few weeks and try with a youngster (she is too young to try with right now) OR try a neutered boar.

Is there any benefit in trying them in seperate enclosures side by side for a while.... or is that no more likely to result in acceptance.

Maybe we just accept that we will only have these two piggies...? The only other option would be to split the shed in two and have Lucy and Fudge one side and an established mini herd the other on a permanent basis. (Its 33 sq ft in total). It just seems a shame not to rescue more when we have the space to do so.

Has anybody had experience of these kind of girls? Maybe she is never going to accept anyone … if that is how it has to be then fair enough. It’d be a shame but I’d accept that.
Any thoughts?

 

[Wiebke]

So this week I took my two girls to a rescue centre to try to find some sows they’d bond with and we could bring home to form a little herd. Lucy is the most dominant of my two so it came as no surprise that she brought up a couple of problems (Fudge accepts everyone it seems) We tried 2 adult girls initially … Lucy seemed fine but girl 1 didn’t seem happy at all so she was taken out. Girl 2 seemed fine. Then girl 3 was put in, Lucy seemed ok with her but then went for girl 2! We then tried one more…. She didn’t like her either! We left it there as Lucy was fed up of all the changes by this point.
I can’t say I am surprised as I know she is a madam - always snuggles nicely with Fudge at home but Fudge knows her place and Lucy likes that fact.
The rescue place said 2 options – go back in a few weeks and try with a youngster (she is too young to try with right now) OR try a neutered boar.

Is there any benefit in trying them in seperate enclosures side by side for a while.... or is that no more likely to result in acceptance.

Maybe we just accept that we will only have these two piggies...? The only other option would be to split the shed in two and have Lucy and Fudge one side and an established mini herd the other on a permanent basis. (Its 33 sq ft in total). It just seems a shame not to rescue more when we have the space to do so.

Has anybody had experience of these kind of girls? Maybe she is never going to accept anyone … if that is how it has to be then fair enough. It’d be a shame but I’d accept that.
Any thoughts?

Hi!

Contrary to what most people seem to think, sows are actually the much more difficult to bond. I have a number of pairs that won't accept any other piggies (whether that is a neutered boar or other sows) - and definitely not for lack of trying!
my experiences are echoed by other forum members and by dating rescues.

You could try them with a couple of sub-teenage baby girls when the rescue has some as they cannot threaten the established hierarchy and Fudge's position would never be in question. otherwise, consider building up a separate herd around one dominant piggy, whether that is a neutered boar or a dominant sow.

Fear-aggression and fear of losing status is very common in sows who are wired to live in strictly hierarchical groups.

- Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
(Has chapter on sow bonding, group bondings and fear-aggression)
- Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[Swissgreys]

I also have an 'opinionated' sow and over the years I have had more luck with neutered boars than otehr sows, but they all have their own opinions (for example she really never accepted the addition of a baby to the group several years ago despite everyone telling me that in most cases a baby wouldn't cause an issue).
These days we have learnt to accept that Ruby just doesn't like other guinea pigs on a full time basis, and as long as she is happy then that's ok with us.

 

[jopop]

If you were in my postion would you TRY a baby sow or a neutered boar... or just forget the idea altogether?

 

[Wiebke]

If you were in my postion would you TRY a baby sow or a neutered boar... or just forget the idea altogether?

It is worth trying a pair of baby sows or a neutered boar via rescue dating before you give up on the idea, especially with your under-sow accepting of other piggies and not another fear-aggression hang-ups headache.

Two baby sows turn the pair into a mini-group with different dynamics so even the under-sow wins massively in status and the top sow won't be challenged. With a neutered boar again it depends totally on acceptance. A submissive boy that cannot challenge your top sow would be your best bet .

All you can do is try - I have/have had a number of sow pairs where one of these methods has worked beautifully and some where so far nothing has worked at all. You never know in advance; that is why rescue dating is such a great boon if you can do it!

 

[jopop]

The rescue centre have been great. So far they only have baby sow who we could try in a few weeks