2 New Females.

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Alec

Alec

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Hi everyone, I am a new piggie owner from Swansea UK and think I might be having problems with bullying. We have had them for around 3 weeks and when we had them, one was apparently 12 weeks old and one 8 weeks. The 8 week old one is considerably smaller and we feel is getting bullied. There is a lot of peculiar behaviour going on which includes chasing, rumbling, swaying from the older one and the little one seems to be shoved in the corner sometimes. Even though we have read that these are trates of bullying they sometimes popcorn straight after and seem ok. We have separated beds to give them their own space and our hutch is big enough. We obviously don't like the little one being picked on so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I know it is always a worry when you see them doing this but to me it seems like normal behaviour.

I have 4 sows (2 older girls and 2 younger ones). One of the older girls Teddi is the boss and she makes sure they all know it.

When we first introduced the 2 younger ones to the older ones Teddi constantly gave them grief. They hid away from her most of the time and learnt to run away from her if needed. However they have grown now and are nearly her size and seem now to have accepted that she is the boss and therefore she does not seem to have to prove anything to them any more.

There are still times occasionally that they all seem to have a bit of a squabble but it soon dies down and is forgotten.

As long as they both have their own hideys and space I think they will eventually work things out. Just be watchful and make sure the little one is getting her share of food and hay and water etc.
 
It sounds as though they are working out who is going to be the dominant pig... some pigs are more aggressive about maintaining their place in the hierarchy than others! It's necessary for them to figure out the hierarchy, this is how guinea pig 'society' functions, where only one can be the boss and the others know their place in the pecking order. The things you are mentioning (swaying, rumbling, chasing, mounting, etc.) are all ways to determine the boss. As long as the littler one is getting access to food, water, is able to lay down and rest, etc. and there are no physical fights I wouldn't necessarily consider it out of the ordinary. Also bear in mind that you have two adolescent girls there... hormones are very active and a guinea pig in heat often displays these dominance signs as a result of hormones. So it's very normal with sows to see these behaviors flare every couple of weeks due to the natural hormone cycle. It's more noticeably in some sows than others (one of my normally very meek pigs would become an absolute bear when she was in season! There was nothing but squabbles those days until she mellowed out again!) In all likelihood, you'll see things settle over the next few months, as hormones regulate and the pecking order is more established. Just watch to make sure the little one is able to eat, rest, drink, and rest and I think they will work the rest out.
 
Thank you all for your messages it has been a great help and is now a load off my mind. They both get good access to food and drink and both have a hidey to go in. It's just a slight worry when you see this. They are taking a little while to become less petrified of us lol but we are plugging away each day. The little squeaks for fresh food twice a day is the cutest thing ever . Thanks everyone.
 
Cant add anything to the great advice received above. Just wanted to say Welcome to the forum, hope they settle down soon, I am sure they will
 
Tha
Freela said:
It sounds as though they are working out who is going to be the dominant pig... some pigs are more aggressive about maintaining their place in the hierarchy than others! It's necessary for them to figure out the hierarchy, this is how guinea pig 'society' functions, where only one can be the boss and the others know their place in the pecking order. The things you are mentioning (swaying, rumbling, chasing, mounting, etc.) are all ways to determine the boss. As long as the littler one is getting access to food, water, is able to lay down and rest, etc. and there are no physical fights I wouldn't necessarily consider it out of the ordinary. Also bear in mind that you have two adolescent girls there... hormones are very active and a guinea pig in heat often displays these dominance signs as a result of hormones. So it's very normal with sows to see these behaviors flare every couple of weeks due to the natural hormone cycle. It's more noticeably in some sows than others (one of my normally very meek pigs would become an absolute bear when she was in season! There was nothing but squabbles those days until she mellowed out again!) In all likelihood, you'll see things settle over the next few months, as hormones regulate and the pecking order is more established. Just watch to make sure the little one is able to eat, rest, drink, and rest and I think they will work the rest out.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your time.
 
Caron's Cavies said:
I know it is always a worry when you see them doing this but to me it seems like normal behaviour.

I have 4 sows (2 older girls and 2 younger ones). One of the older girls Teddi is the boss and she makes sure they all know it.

When we first introduced the 2 younger ones to the older ones Teddi constantly gave them grief. They hid away from her most of the time and learnt to run away from her if needed. However they have grown now and are nearly her size and seem now to have accepted that she is the boss and therefore she does not seem to have to prove anything to them any more.

There are still times occasionally that they all seem to have a bit of a squabble but it soon dies down and is forgotten.

As long as they both have their own hideys and space I think they will eventually work things out. Just be watchful and make sure the little one is getting her share of food and hay and water etc.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your time.
 
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