Strange behaviour?

[tracy]

I have various groups of sows and have noticed a problem in two groups, one of which consists of 8 sows and the other of 4 sows. I have been noticing bald patches on three different sows from both groups and was absolutely flummoxed as to what might be causing this, but on several occassions I have witnessed certain pigs take a chunk of fur in their mouth and pull it out! In the group of 8 sows, it is happening to three pigs. In the group of 4, two have the same bald patches. They aren't hungry and the culprits aren't what you'd call 'bully pigs' - in fact they are both the quiet, motherly types, so I can't understand what's causing them to behave this way?
I can't think of what else may cause the baldness. They are healthy and happy pigs, there are no sores and have been treated for lice and mites. The hair grows back but causes the girls to look patchy. Any ideas?

[sandra]

It's called barbering where the animals
will over groom themselves or do it to
another if in a group or pair.

[Dawn - Admin]

Maybe you could give them things to do to take their mind of doing it. More toys, hay stuffed in toilet rolls etc.

[tracy]

We have had a case of barbering before, and when that happened the pigs would actually chew on each other's fur rather than pull it out. Do you think it is because they are bored? They don't get to go in the run as often when the weather is bad. I will have to look at buying chew sticks etc to keep their minds occupied!

[celia]

fungal can cause this too , i have a pig here that looses hair on her back with fungal skin . She does not have any scabs just some dry skin but the hair falls out and regrows again