Pigs are social animals who typically do well living with other pigs. However, that doesn’t mean introducing pigs to one another is always easy! While every situation will be different and will be impacted by the individuals involved, generally speaking, pig introductions have the potential to be a bit more complicated than some other farmed animal sanctuaryAn animal sanctuary that primarily cares for rescued animals that were farmed by humans. resident introductions. This isn’t to say that every pig introduction will be challenging, but it’s important to recognize the potential complications that may arise. With careful planning, some (but certainly not all) complications can be avoided. For those complications that cannot be avoided, you can at least go into the introduction process better prepared to respond if they arise. In this resource, we’ll discuss important things to consider before and after conducting pig introductions as well as the introduction process itself.
Planning For Pig Introductions
When conducting resident introductions, planning and thoughtful consideration are key! In addition to the considerations outlined in Preparing For And Conducting Resident Introductions, there are a few additional things to keep in mind when planning for pig introductions.
You Might Want To Let Young Piglets Mature A Bit
Though certainly not always the case, introducing a piglet to an adult pig tends to go a bit more smoothly than introducing two adults. That said, there are still important things to consider when determining if and when an introduction should be conducted. At the very minimum, you must wait until the piglet has finished their quarantineThe policy or space in which an individual is separately housed away from others as a preventative measure to protect other residents from potentially contagious health conditions, such as in the case of new residents or residents who may have been exposed to certain diseases. period and has been deemed healthy enough to be introduced to other pigs. Additionally, you want to consider the impact the introduction could have on your ability to continue to meet their unique needs. For example, young piglets have different dietary needs than more mature pigs and in some climates may need additional warmth to keep them comfortable and healthy. Before moving ahead with an introduction, it’s important to consider if living with other pigs or in a different living space (if applicable) will interfere with your ability to continue to meet their needs.
For piglets who are not living with their mother, it’s often easiest to wait until the piglet is fully on solids (around 8 weeks of age) before thinking about moving them in with adult pigs. This also gives them time to physically grow a bit – younger piglets could be more easily injured, even accidentally. On the other hand, if you have rescued two or more piglets who did not come in together, introducing them as soon as they complete quarantine, even if they are still on milk, may work well. This will allow the piglets to have companionship and (when they are ready) can make introducing them to your other pig residents easier. Each situation and individual is unique, so you’ll need to make decisions on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to considering how the introduction impacts your ability to continue to meet the piglet’s unique needs, you also need to consider if there are any safety issues associated with the new living spaceThe indoor or outdoor area where an animal resident lives, eats, and rests. or with the individuals you plan to introduce them to. This includes but is not limited to the risk of being trampled or otherwise injured by another pig resident, the risk of escape if fencing has gaps a piglet could fit through, and the risk of predation. Piglets are more vulnerable to predation than more mature pigs, so allowing them to roam in large outdoor spaces or to have outdoor access overnight may not be appropriate. Depending on your setup, you may be able to make modifications that allow you to introduce the piglet while still keeping them safe from predation – for example, moving the group to a smaller pasture that is not close to wild spaces, providing human supervision while outdoors, and/or closing the piglet into a safe space overnight.
Make Sure Breeding Is Not Possible
Remember that a male pig can remain fertile for up to 6 weeks after being neutered. Do not conduct introductions until you are confident that breeding is not possible. If you’re not sure, check in with your veterinarian for guidance. Scheduling a new male resident’s neuter as soon after their intake as possible (following your veterinarian’s recommendations) can help avoid a long delay between discontinuing quarantine and being able to conduct introductions.
Think About Personalities, Size, And Physical Abilities
If you care for multiple pig herds at your sanctuary, be sure to consider herd dynamics and individual personalities when determining which herd may be the best fit for a particular resident. Similarly, if you are caring for a solo pig and are looking to adopt another pig to be their companion, you’ll want to think carefully about each individual’s personality and how you anticipate they will mesh. While you certainly don’t want a situation where anyone is being bullied, it may be easier to pair a more dominant individual with someone who is more submissive (and therefore less likely to try to challenge the other individual’s dominance).
In addition to personalities, you also want to think about each individual’s size and physical abilities. While some sanctuaries have successfully housed mini pigsThe term “mini pig” is used to categorize smaller breeds of pigs, such as Potbellies, Julianas, and Kunekunes, and to differentiate between these breeds and large breed pigs, such as Yorkshires, Landrace, or Hampshires, who are sometimes referred to as “farm pigs”. The descriptor “mini” can be a bit misleading- some breeds of mini pigs can weigh over 200 pounds! Terms like “teacup”, “micro”, “pocket”, “nano”, and “micro mini” are deceptive terms that are sometimes used to intentionally mislead people into thinking an individual pig will remain a certain size. and large breedDomesticated animal breeds that have been selectively bred by humans to grow as large as possible, as quickly as possible, to the detriment of their health. pigs together, this may not be a safe option for everyone. An altercation between individuals of very different sizes could result in serious injury. You also want to consider their health and physical abilities. If the introduction involves individuals with disabilities or health issues, be sure to consider what impact an introduction’s stress and possible physicality might have on them. Some introductions may not be safe to attempt.
Evaluate The Space
Before moving ahead with pig introductions, it’s important to evaluate the space where you plan to conduct the introduction. If possible, it can be very helpful to conduct the introduction in a neutral space so no one feels territorial. Just make sure the space is set up appropriately for pigs.
Whether using a neutral space or not, you need to make sure it provides residents with enough space. In smaller, more confined spaces, confrontations may be prolonged simply because the individuals are forced to remain in close quarters, and injuries are much more likely if residents do not have the space necessary to retreat or keep their distance. Because outdoor spaces typically offer more room than indoor living spaces, it may be best to conduct introductions outdoors. Not only will an outdoor space typically offer more room for individuals to steer clear of each other if they so choose, but it may also include elements that can be used as physical or visual barriers (such as trees, boulders, shade structures, etc.). The larger and more varied the space, the better.
Because introductions can result in confrontations between individuals, you must ensure individuals can easily move away from each other. Therefore, be sure to avoid (or block off) spaces that create deadends where an individual could be cornered by others. For indoor/outdoor setups (versus setups where the pigs’ indoor space is the caregiver’s house), it’s very helpful to have at least two entrances in and out of the indoor space. This can help avoid a situation where one or more residents are unable to move freely between the indoor and outdoor space due to another resident(s) blocking the only entrance.
Proper traction is always important but becomes even more so during introductions. Confrontations are common, and individuals may need to move quickly. Slips and falls can have devastating consequences, so ensure all the flooring/terrain they will have access to provides appropriate traction to avoid this.
Be Mindful Of The Weather And Environmental Conditions
In Preparing For And Conducting Resident Introductions, we stress the importance of considering the weather when planning introductions, but it bears repeating here. Pigs do not sweat, and that, combined with their large body size and relatively small lung capacity, makes them more vulnerable to heat stress, which can then lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. To keep residents safe, you’ll want to avoid conducting introductions when the weather is hot (or warm and humid). If morning temperatures are cooler, you may be able to conduct pig introductions earlier in the day before temperatures heat up, but other times you may have to wait for a heat wave to subside before moving ahead with the introduction.
In addition to paying attention to temperature and humidity, you must also consider other environmental conditions. Ice, slick mud, and hard, packed snow can create slippery conditions that could pose a safety risk. Be sure to evaluate the space for slick spots and address them before conducting the introduction (or postpone the introduction until conditions are safe).
Make Sure You Have Pig Boards (Also Called Sorting Panels Or Sorting Boards)
We recommend having pig boards on hand and making sure everyone involved in the introduction knows how to use them. Pig boards are sturdy, but light-weight boards that can be used as a protective physical barrier between a human and a pig and can also be used to safely and calmly encourage a pig to move in a certain direction. It’s not safe to try to break up altercations between pigs with your hands or to try to put yourself between pigs who are fighting. Instead, you can use the pig board to separate individuals and move them away from each other.
Conducting Pig Introductions
Once you’ve done all your prep work and ensured everyone involved is healthy enough to come into contact with each other, it can be a good idea to give the pig residents time to get used to each other by living in separate but adjacent spaces before fully integrating them. After moving individuals into spaces where they can see each other, it’s common to observe behaviors such as foaming at the mouth, chomping, raised hackles, and vocalizing. Pigs may position themselves so their side is facing the other individual, and separated individuals may follow each other back and forth along the barrier while exhibiting these behaviors. Some pigs may even try to physically fight and bite through the barrier. It’s important to make sure that the physical infrastructure can withstand any altercations that may occur through a shared divider. To avoid injuries, be sure to cover or remove any sharp elements on the divider, and cover any gaps that could allow individuals to bite each other. There have been instances of pigs having their tail and ears bitten through a gap in a shared barrier, so be sure to take steps to prevent this from happening.
Consider giving the pigs at least two weeks of living in separate but adjacent spaces before moving to the next phase of the introduction process, paying close attention to how residents interact with each other through the physical barrier. Ideally, you would wait to move on to the next phase of the introduction process until any obvious tensions (including the behaviors described above) have quieted down. Keep in mind that every introduction is different, so the amount of time individuals need to be kept separated may vary.
Once you’re ready to allow the pigs to meet in a shared space, supervision is key. We recommend having multiple experienced caregivers on hand to supervise the introduction and assist if needed. If you are introducing one pig into a group of pigs (versus introducing one pig to one other pig), some caregivers recommend introducing the pig to each member of the group individually, but others have opted to let everyone meet at once. To lessen the risk of serious injury from biting, some sanctuaries recommend using anti-bite pig sprays during introductions.
Altercations are not uncommon when pigs meet in a shared space for the first time (or when they meet again after being separated for some time). You may see similar behaviors as when they first lived in separate but adjacent spaces. However, without the barrier to keep them physically separated, you may also see chasing, circling, shoving, biting, and head swinging. Ideally, this is short-lived and someone backs down quickly.
In situations where neither individual is willing to back down, or one pig backs down but the other continues to pursue them, you may need to step in with your pig boards to prevent someone from being injured. Be aware that in some cases pigs will actually rise onto their hind legs during a fight, and there have also been instances of pigs physically tossing another pig during a confrontation. While it is important to prevent escalated confrontations from continuing, this must be done extremely carefully to avoid injury to the humans involved. In addition to watching to make sure no one is causing injury during the introduction, you must also watch for signs of exhaustion or overheating, and step in as needed.
After any physical altercations have been resolved, be sure to continue to observe your residents’ body language and general interactions. If one or more individuals appear to be very intimidated by someone else in the group, this may not be a healthy living arrangement for them. While individuals may settle in over time, if residents are constantly stressed and/or unable to engage freely in normal activities (for example, if they are regularly kicked out of their nest or prevented from coming and going freely), they should be provided with a different living arrangement.
Things To Keep In Mind After Conducting Pig Introductions
Once you’re confident that everyone is settled in and is safe to stay together without supervision, there are still important things to keep in mind as everyone adjusts to their new living arrangements.
Pay Close Attention To Mealtime Dynamics
Even among closely bonded companions, mealtime can sometimes result in tension, so it’s important to pay close attention to dynamics after conducting an introduction. Everyone may get along well throughout most of the day, but you may find that certain individuals are on edge during meals. Some individuals may be reluctant to approach their food dish if it is too close to other residents who are excited to eat. Others may be so caught up in making sure no one steals their food that they eat too quickly or end up spilling their food in an attempt to bring it to a safer spot. To ensure everyone can eat comfortably, you may need to separate newly introduced individuals for meals, at least initially.
Make Sure Everyone Has Easy Access To Resources
In addition to making sure residents can eat comfortably, it’s important to watch closely to ensure that everyone in the group continues to have easy access to other resources such as water, shade, shelter, and nesting material. To avoid issues, it’s a good idea to increase access to these resources and spread them out when possible. For example, to ensure everyone has easy access to drinking water, you may need to offer additional water sources throughout the living space. Similarly, if you offer small pools of cool water for residents to cool off in, you may need to offer a few extra while everyone gets used to living together.
As mentioned above, it’s ideal if living spaces offer multiple ways in and out so residents can come and go as they wish. However, even if they have access to multiple entrances, be sure to closely observe the group to make sure everyone feels comfortable coming and going. A quick peek in on the group may reveal no obvious tensions, but upon further observation, you may notice that one of your residents is too nervous to come inside or that another individual regularly chases them outside when they try to burrow into their bed. In some cases, you may need to provide additional options for shelter, even if they are just temporary. For example, to provide additional ways for residents to get out of the sweltering sun, you could create shaded areas throughout the space using metal t-posts and shade cloth. To ensure residents can sleep comfortably, you may need to offer them a separate place overnight and during the times of day your residents spend napping, perhaps giving them time in a separate pen in the living space where they can continue to be near their new companions but still have a safe place of their own to sleep. Just be sure to check in regularly so you can let them back out when they’re done napping!
Watch For Signs Of Tension When Residents Are Confined
In addition to considering if a resident needs a separate space to sleep, be sure to consider if they need a separate space during times when the group needs to be closed indoors (for example, to protect them from dangerous weather conditions or to prepare for a health care procedure). If residents must be confined indoors, be sure to watch closely for signs of tension. When residents have ample room to spread out, you may not see any obvious signs of discord, but this may change when they are confined. To avoid undue stress and possible injury, you may need to temporarily separate certain individuals when they must be in more confined spaces.
While following the guidance above (and the guidance contained in Preparing For And Conducting Resident Introductions) can help set you up for success, it’s important to remember that every individual and situation is unique. Some introductions may take more time than others, and some residents may simply never get along, so it’s always a good idea to have a plan B in mind!
SOURCES:
Pig Care Guide | Farm Sanctuary
