Unsure who the top pig is

[dannif_piggies]

So I've had Lois and Laine since mid October, and since then I've been trying to work out who top pig is. They get on very well but sometimes there's a bit of tension (probably when one of them is on heat) but there's dominance behaviours from both of them. I always thought it was Lois as she would sometimes chase Laine around, and butt her head at her etc, but recently Laine is "fighting" (not literally) back. I just witness pee spraying for the first time ever since keeping guinwa pigs, Laine done it to Lois! Is this Laine simply being like "leave me a lone" or is this Laine trying to gain dominance?

 

[Wiebke]

So I've had Lois and Laine since mid October, and since then I've been trying to work out who top pig is. They get on very well but sometimes there's a bit of tension (probably when one of them is on heat) but there's dominance behaviours from both of them. I always thought it was Lois as she would sometimes chase Laine around, and butt her head at her etc, but recently Laine is "fighting" (not literally) back. I just witness pee spraying for the first time ever since keeping guinwa pigs, Laine done it to Lois! Is this Laine simply being like "leave me a lone" or is this Laine trying to gain dominance?

In the bonds where ther dominance is not as important, it is not very visible. What you are witnessing is the stronger seasons that come with puberty. Sows can also suffer from stronger hormone output but it rarely leads to fights and fall-outs during this time.
Sow Behaviour

 

[DMS260820]

So I've had Lois and Laine since mid October, and since then I've been trying to work out who top pig is. They get on very well but sometimes there's a bit of tension (probably when one of them is on heat) but there's dominance behaviours from both of them. I always thought it was Lois as she would sometimes chase Laine around, and butt her head at her etc, but recently Laine is "fighting" (not literally) back. I just witness pee spraying for the first time ever since keeping guinwa pigs, Laine done it to Lois! Is this Laine simply being like "leave me a lone" or is this Laine trying to gain dominance?

Dot sprays burnie if she wants to be left alone. She got him straight in the face yesterday lol. Then he does a shake and accepts it, then tries to harass her later on. They are pretty much 2 pigs in the same cage, but live seperate lives. But bernie did manage to do the business with her last week and she let him haha

 

[dannif_piggies]

In the bonds where ther dominance is not as important, it is not very visible. What you are witnessing is the stronger seasons that come with puberty. Sows can also suffer from stronger hormone output but it rarely leads to fights and fall-outs during this time.
Sow Behaviour

We are unsure of their ages so by this behaviour would you say they were younger than a year? A year is what they are thought to be but we have no idea as they were dumped

 

[Wiebke]

We are unsure of their ages so by this behaviour would you say they were younger than a year? A year is what they are thought to be but we have no idea as they were dumped

No - when you see this behaviour in adult sows, and there is constant rumblestrutting and dominance behaviour, then you are most likely dealing with ovarian cysts.
You will find the relevant information in the sow guide I have linked into my previous post. It is usually worth reading those links as I can't repeat all the information in there all the time.

 

[dannif_piggies]

No - when you see this behaviour in adult sows, and there is constant rumblestrutting and dominance behaviour, then you are most likely dealing with ovarian cysts.
You will find the relevant information in the sow guide I have linked into my previous post. It is usually worth reading those links as I can't repeat all the information in there all the time.

I have it a read after I asked that question, thank you