What should I do? Grumpy piggie?

[Bitzy&Patches]

Hello!
I'm in need of some advice about one of my piggies. About 2-3 weeks ago my piggie, Clementine, lost her cage mate. She didn't seem very affected by her passing, however, I decided to add an extension onto my other pair of girls C&C cage so that she could see them through the grids and have a small bit of piggie interaction. The first couple of weeks went extremely well- Bitzy and Patches didn't mind having Clementine next to them at all and Clementine, after she settled in and got used to the routine of things, seemed very happy about the new arrangement. Their hay piles are next to each other and I often saw them all sitting right up against the partition eating and sleeping together.

However, yesterday I started to see Clementine display some unusual, dominant behaviour that is definitely not like her. Whenever Bitzy or Patches come up to the partition to eat hay and Clemmie is there also, she starts to rumble strut. Bitzy and Patches seem to ignore her but I've seen all three stick their noses through the grids at times, and I believe I caught the end of a nip between Clementine and Bitzy. I don't obviously want this to escalate and cause any injuries or unnecessary stress so I'm unsure whether I should block the girls off completely so they can only hear each other, or just to leave it and see if Clementine gets over herself? Could it be that Clementine is in season or has potential ovarian cysts? I'll also mention their ages if that could make any potential difference- Bitzy and Patches are both 4-year-old sisters and Clementine is around 2 years old (rescue).

Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you in advance

 

[Deleted member 131797]

Hi! I would leave it for the minute. Clementine is a little young for ovarian cysts (possible but unlikely) and she may be in season. However, it may well be that she’s expressing happiness by rumblestrutting - especially if followed by a popcorn or two. My boy does this all the time whenever I come into the room for cleaning or food or hay - he starts rumblestrutting around the cage. He doesn’t popcorn much anymore (he’s a bit older now) but it is happiness.

The nip was through the bars right? I wouldn’t worry about it yet, sounds like she’s just being enthusiastic and got told off.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello!
I'm in need of some advice about one of my piggies. About 2-3 weeks ago my piggie, Clementine, lost her cage mate. She didn't seem very affected by her passing, however, I decided to add an extension onto my other pair of girls C&C cage so that she could see them through the grids and have a small bit of piggie interaction. The first couple of weeks went extremely well- Bitzy and Patches didn't mind having Clementine next to them at all and Clementine, after she settled in and got used to the routine of things, seemed very happy about the new arrangement. Their hay piles are next to each other and I often saw them all sitting right up against the partition eating and sleeping together.

However, yesterday I started to see Clementine display some unusual, dominant behaviour that is definitely not like her. Whenever Bitzy or Patches come up to the partition to eat hay and Clemmie is there also, she starts to rumble strut. Bitzy and Patches seem to ignore her but I've seen all three stick their noses through the grids at times, and I believe I caught the end of a nip between Clementine and Bitzy. I don't obviously want this to escalate and cause any injuries or unnecessary stress so I'm unsure whether I should block the girls off completely so they can only hear each other, or just to leave it and see if Clementine gets over herself? Could it be that Clementine is in season or has potential ovarian cysts? I'll also mention their ages if that could make any potential difference- Bitzy and Patches are both 4-year-old sisters and Clementine is around 2 years old (rescue).

Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you in advance

Hi!

It sounds like Clementine is in season but is also bonding through the bars with your girls and is establishing her claim. It is actually a good sign that she is interacting with the other piggies and is definitely not depressed when she is building up a next door relationship.

With a dominant piggy you inevitably get some measuring up dominance behaviour. The 'boar haka', i.e. the measuring up rumble-strut along a shared territory border, is the way my various (neutered) boars establish a clear hierarchy between them without actual fighting.
Nipping is mild dominance behaviour, so nothing to worry about.

Just leave her be and be glad that she is picking up life again!

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Here is a 'boar haka' video between a young husboar of mine with a new arrived same age summer holiday guest: