Barbering

[My girls]

Can someone help me please?
I rescued three female guinea pigs two years ago (one has since died from a tumour) the other two are with me and healthy. A Peruvian, a Rex and a Texel. I don't know their age.
My girls have a big cage with two levels along with toys, tubes etc. They have lots of hay and veggies in the day.
Crystal ( Rex ) has started to barber my Moon (Peruvian ) I had no idea why Moon's long hair was looking more choppy and short although it's not down to her skin. Never owning guinea pigs before ( I rescued them as nobody would take on all three) I was floundered. I was also finding poo with hair in it. After googling and finding the reason, I became concerned that Moon may be being bullied. She is a curious, mischievous lady and Crystal is less tame and wary. I handle them both but Crystal is never keen.
I have now separated them because I don't know what to do. Is this the best thing?
I don't want one bullying the other but I don't actually know if Moon is bothered by the barbering. Equally I don't want to upset them by keeping them apart. They can see Each other still.
Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please don’t separate them. Barbering can have several causes but in itself is not grounds to separate - barbering isn’t really bullying.
I would however have her seen by a vet to rule out a medical reason for her starting to barber but sometimes it can be down to stress, sometimes they just do it for no reason.

How big is their cage?

 

[Wiebke]

Can someone help me please?
I rescued three female guinea pigs two years ago (one has since died from a tumour) the other two are with me and healthy. A Peruvian, a Rex and a Texel. I don't know their age.
My girls have a big cage with two levels along with toys, tubes etc. They have lots of hay and veggies in the day.
Crystal ( Rex ) has started to barber my Moon (Peruvian ) I had no idea why Moon's long hair was looking more choppy and short although it's not down to her skin. Never owning guinea pigs before ( I rescued them as nobody would take on all three) I was floundered. I was also finding poo with hair in it. After googling and finding the reason, I became concerned that Moon may be being bullied. She is a curious, mischievous lady and Crystal is less tame and wary. I handle them both but Crystal is never keen.
I have now separated them because I don't know what to do. Is this the best thing?
I don't want one bullying the other but I don't actually know if Moon is bothered by the barbering. Equally I don't want to upset them by keeping them apart. They can see Each other still.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi!

Please do not separate. Barbering long-haired piggies is not at all uncommon; especially in a new situation and especially in rather stressed or insecure piggies. My own long-haired Gareth is not giving me much work - he is being kept rather shorter by his two wives. As it is a friendly affair, he is not complaining.

Please take the time to read our illustrated barbering guide. Barbering is rather more complex than you would expect. The guide will take you through the various aspects that can come into play.
Here is the link: Barbering ( Eating Hair)

 

[Freela]

I agree there's no need to separate for barbering. It's a strange behavior (one of my prior pigs would barber her cagemates totally randomly... month without and then suddenly her buddy would have a very dramatic 'haircut.') I never could figure out what prompted it, but the guinea pig getting the haircut generally is not bothered by it and it won't hurt the one doing the chewing.