[Eastling]

 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.

[Tiva Diva]

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.

[NicAlford1234]

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!

[Eastling]

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

[Eastling]

Thanks Nic Nellie not  actively seeking her out, and little one knows Nellie is top pig keeps out of her way.

[Button End Beasts]

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]

[Eastling]

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.

[HappyHippy]

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  )
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  (as long as there's no vulva biting going on it's not serious - honest !)
Good luck,
Karen x

[Eastling]

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

[Tamsaddle]

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

 

[Berkshire Boy]

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.

[Eastling]

Thanks Berkshire Boy will give that ago and open the gate! 
Tamsaddle that is reassuring to hear especially as you introduce weaners

[Beewyched]

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  )
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  (as long as there's no vulva biting going on it's not serious - honest !)
Good luck,
Karen x

Helloooooo Karen    - we made it     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 
 

[Fowgill Farm]

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
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

[Eastling]

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