The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Eastling on May 14, 2013, 07:12:55 pm
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On Sunday we got an 11 month old GOS gilt to keep Nellie company. She is about a third of the size of Nellie.
We tried to introduce her on Sunday evening as the little one had been calling/ barking through the fence.and seemed keen to go in with Nellie. Nellie had a grump at her and chased her off, Little pig ran off and stood in a corner out of her way.
Since then we have tried several times but Nellie is set in her ways only gets up for food and peeing and pooing very difficult to persuade her to get up outside that routine!Little pig is now not keen to even try and mix with her she will go into Nellies area and have a walk around have a poo, but not go into the stable where Nellie is. She can see through the stock fence she has barked at Nellie but seems to not want to take the next step. Nellie is not phased at all.
This morning i have sprayed both of them with perfume swapped bedding but this has not had any effect.
The little one now appears to be inseason and has a snotty nose,and a bit hit and miss with her eating,(she was on growers but now on sow nuts,) Not keen to just leave them to it as the area is a rectangle and worried Nellie might pin her in a corner. If it was in a field and an ark would probably not worry so much. Any ideas concerned about the little one left all her pals had an hour in a trailer, new home anda grumpy neighbour, Don't want her to get depressed. Pics to help explain where they are.
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Give them time. So long as both pigs have access to shelter and water, and Nellie isn't actively seeking out the gilt to attack her, I wouldn't worry. I'd be very surprised if they don't get on ok after a few more days.
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One of my sows is very grumpy! Will scrap with anything who is new, just because she likes to be top! I hate it, but the best thing to do is to leave them to it. If Nellie is stronger, she will be on the top of the pecking order, and the new one will learn this, but she has to be taught :/ As long as the little one doesn't get injured, everything will be ok! :)
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Thanks just want to do the right thing for both of them, the little one has a nice warm bed, she knows where her food and water are. She likes a fuss. Nellie is not bothered at all thinks she knows she could squash her if she wanted to :innocent:
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Thanks Nic Nellie not actively seeking her out, and little one knows Nellie is top pig keeps out of her way.
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Hi,
We introduced our big girl Flo to the Kunekunes at the weekend and she did the same thing as she did when we had GOS weaners in with her - she chased them and tried to give them a nip! But the smaller ones quickly learn to get out of her way. In fact, with the GOS, they would often go up and bug Flo when she was having a rest. Just to be annoying sods I am sure. She would just get up and chase them off but at night they would all cuddle up together! Give them time, they'll be OK. You could always get another little one if you are worried, an allie for the new one.
We do find that weaners need to be fed separately to the big ones or only [size=78%]the big one will get most of the food.[/size]
[size=78%]Keep us updated![/size]
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Hi BEB That has made me smile can just picture it.Unfortunately there was only one piggy available and she cost enough! but we have said today that perhaps having two would have been better.
The main thing seems to be getting the little one to be brave,and get in there as Nellie won't be made to move. They have their own water and are feed separately as Nellie would definitely push her out the way to eat the food! I have keep them separate unless we are out with them. Worried that if Nellie corners her she may well do a lot of damage to her. but they can see each other through the fence. Will persevere and as the weather has turned wet and windy here i doubt they will wont to come out and socialise.
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I'm maybe not going to be popular by suggesting this :-\ but I'd say put them together and let them get on with it. The more time they spend together the quicker they'll bond, keeping them separate is just prolonging it and causing you worry ;)
The fact that Nellie isn't seeking to attack suggestes she knows she's top pig (and the younger ones reluctance to challenge Nellie means she knows it too :thumbsup:)
The little one will find her way, I usually find when mixing pigs that for the first night the lower ranking ones sleep outside or wait til the big ones are sleeping and sneak in to the arc, it doesn't take them long to figure it out. If you're really concerned try giving them both a beer with their afternoon feed and put them together just before bedtime - I'm sure they'll be fine :thumbsup: (as long as there's no vulva biting going on it's not serious - honest !)
Good luck,
Karen x
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Hi Karen
It does sound like a plan but...... just been scared of the damage that could happen, as we have only ever had the two pigs.
We can remove the solid gate between the two areas, so they could both come and go and the little pig could get to her sleeping area if necessary. Or do we just put her in the area that Nellie is in and shut the gate? Oh and can i have a large Vodka or 3 sure with all the worry and stress i'm getting more grey hairs ;)
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One week ago exactly I introduced our lonely Tamworth sow to two new 9 week old OSB weaners, having first made up a small temporary ark knowing they wouldn't be allowed into the main one to start with. For the first 2 days there was constant chasing by Mango and attempted biting, but both weaners got out of the way too fast. For their part, they tried and tried to make friends right from the beginning, and initially chose to sleep outside behind the ark, rather than in the spare one.
Gradually hostilities lessened and have now vanished completely. On the third night the OSBs slept in one corner of the ark and Mango at the opposite far end, yesterday and tonight all three are cuddled up together as if they have known each other for ever. The only thing I am still doing is separating them for feeds, as Mango wolfs hers down in 1/3 of the time the two little ones take.
I'm sure it is only a matter of time and yours will become the greatest friends too. After 4 or 5 days the bigger pig will probably have completely forgotten what life was like when they had a different companion, or were on their own, and from then on a new status quo evolves where the new group happily co-exist. Good luck, and don't worry - Tamsaddle :pig: :wave: :pig:
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Agree with what Karen says, you are just prolonging the situation. Don't shut the new one in with nellie but open the gate so that both can get to each others area. The little one needs to be able to run from Nellie.Mostly the fighting is noice rather than serious injury and cuts heal very quickly.
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Thanks Berkshire Boy will give that ago and open the gate! :fc:
Tamsaddle that is reassuring to hear especially as you introduce weaners
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I'm maybe not going to be popular by suggesting this :-\ but I'd say put them together and let them get on with it. The more time they spend together the quicker they'll bond, keeping them separate is just prolonging it and causing you worry ;)
The fact that Nellie isn't seeking to attack suggestes she knows she's top pig (and the younger ones reluctance to challenge Nellie means she knows it too :thumbsup: )
The little one will find her way, I usually find when mixing pigs that for the first night the lower ranking ones sleep outside or wait til the big ones are sleeping and sneak in to the arc, it doesn't take them long to figure it out. If you're really concerned try giving them both a beer with their afternoon feed and put them together just before bedtime - I'm sure they'll be fine :thumbsup: (as long as there's no vulva biting going on it's not serious - honest !)
Good luck,
Karen x
Helloooooo Karen :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: - we made it :tired: How's Lou doing :-*
Sorry to hijack the post - I do agree with what's been said though - usually lots of noise & no serious injuries ::) Nellie will cotton on quickly enough that it's nice to have another body snuggling up to her these cold nights :eyelashes:
:love: :pig: :love:
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Hi jackie
Agree with what the others have said let them thro to each other and so long as each has an area to go 'cool' off they'll be best mates in a few days :fc:
any consolation is wet & windy here too today, my lot wouldn't even come out their houses! Only daft me stood out in the howling gale and horsontal rain. lol.
Mandy :pig:
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Thanks Mandy
We will be taking off the gate to allow them to get together but don't expect either of them to try today in this weather! They are not darft :innocent:
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loooooo Karen :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: - we made it :tired: How's Lou doing :-*
Sorry to hijack the post - I do agree with what's been said though - usually lots of noise & no serious injuries ::) Nellie will cotton on quickly enough that it's nice to have another body snuggling up to her these cold nights :eyelashes:
:love: :pig: :love:
Hello mrs :-) i've pm'd you. Been in and out hospital with Kaitie (back in again today :-() so things are MENTAL at home. Hopefully get back to semi-normal by the weekend and try to give you a ring. Take care xxx
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Gate is off but took till late afternoon for them to both come out.
Lottie has stayed out of Nellies way but getting closer. Nellie has been a star, she has not put a trotter wrong. After dinner Lottie was trying to pluck up the courage to go into Nellies stable, Nellie then got up and went into Lotties bed. Much to her dismay. She has spent the last couple of hours again trying to pluck up courage to go to bed with Nellie. I've just settled her in Nellies empty stable hopefully she will stay for the night! :fc:
Thanks again for all the reassurance :relief:
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We usually spend more time worrying about them than they will getting used to each other ;-)
I'm sure they'll both be fine, have some antibiotic spray on hand just in case of any little scrapes - but I'm sure you'll not need it (if there was going to be an almighty battle it'd have happened by now)
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Hi Karen
Feel a bit daft now worrying so much about it. Have spent most of the afternoon keeping our distance in the rain and wind! but all worth it in the end.
Lottie was very funny when I went in, she came up to me as if she wanted reassurance bless her. Nellie hoovered her dinner in record time then went in search of Lotties but I had picked it up!
thanks again
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Sounds like it won't be long before they are snuggled up together like old friends.
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Success :thumbsup: they spent the night together and are now sleeping in Lotties bed, Very relieved. Thanks again for all the advice and kid up the backside to to just do it. :excited:
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Great news, you will be more relaxed next time you need to introduce a new pig. :thumbsup:
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May have spoken too soon!
Was in giving Nellie a fuss then Lottie came in and laid down, I went out Nellie then got up had a smell at her then went to bite her on the bum. Lottie has spent most of the day laying outside which every bedroom Nellie was in! In separate bedrooms tonight will see where they are in the morning.
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Don't panic, leave them to it they will sort themselves out. My sows have been together for years and they still argue on and off for a few days after being reintroduced together.
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Not to worried as no damage done.
Having to feed separately in different areas, which is a bit of a pain as have to stay around to keep an eye. Nellie and her sister used to push each other out the way and swap troughs, don't think Lottie would cope with that. she is a very delicate eater and just changed her to sow nuts (was on growers with previous owner) Don't think she has every had any fruit of veg. Gave her a banana yesterday she took it then spat it out.
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Don't worry keep up the good work :thumbsup: thats the joy of pig keeping a new curve ball every day! lol. Lottie will soon get the idea that yummy treats are just that. A big pig will always try and dominate a smaller pig, i have a 19wk old gilt in with a 9wk old gilt and little 'un actually sits like a labrador half in half out of her feeding trug so big 'un can't oust her out of it also she's learned to give big 'un a nip if she puts her nose anywhere near! so just give it time.
mandy :pig: