Bonding question

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Fred&HarryPigs

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Hi
I have two 6 month old sows and an 18 month old boar living together in a 6x2 C&C cage. I waited 8 weeks to put them together (6 week post neuter and 2 week ringworm treatment!) and the initial bonding was excellent. Nothing to report everyone was eating, sleeping and grooming each other within 20 minutes with no dominant behaviour shown.

Now, within the last few days after them living together for 2 weeks I’ve noticed dominant behaviour. My timid sow Honey who also seems to be the dominant girl gets along with my boar Fred absolutely fine. However Winnie and Fred seem to be having difficultly in deciding who is boss.

Winnie and Fred rumble-strut a lot (Honey never participates in this) but I’ve noticed an increase in teeth chattering. Winnie is very inquisitive and will often go up to Fred and sniff his hair or push his chin up. This then leads to Fred teeth chattering, lots of rumble strutting from Winnie. A couple of times I have seen Winnie pounce at Fred. This will then stop after a few moments and they’ll lay down next to each other or Winnie will then popcorn and zoomie around the cage. I have also noticed a few tiny scratches on Fred’s nose/lip area.

The majority of the time they will happily sit/sleep together, eat hay and share a food bowl (they have 3 water bottles, 3 bowls and 3 open end hideys) but will often rumble-strut when passing each other.

Fred was always the dominant one with his previous cage mate and is very timid like Honey in nature.

I’m not sure if Winnie is just very excited by Fred. She was always biting at the bars to get with him whilst they were living separately during the 8 weeks or if this is normal behaviour?

Thank you for reading!
 
It sounds like normal dominance behaviour to me.
There is a good chance they are still just working each other out, and how they work together.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonds In Trouble

They are all still quite young, is there a chance one of your girls is in season?
Aside from that your girls are both becoming teenagers, so increase in testing of luck isn’t unusual.

As long as you see the cool down afterwards it is likely that it is nothing too serious.
You can keep a close eye, but I would not be to worried right now.

I had two boars who were best friends but whenever they woke up from a nap they would have a grand old rumble and humping of each other and then just go about their day. It is the cool down and going about with their day that I find most reassuring of the happiness in their bond.
Every piggie relationship is different, if you have a look through the guides attached, I think you will find it nice to learn some more about normal dominance behaviours and also warning signs.

As for his lip, he may have been caught in heat of things, or a kick to the face.
Do they seem to be healing at all? Or are they fresh.
I would suggest you keep an eye on the cuts/scratches and look out for any signs of infection/redness etc.

All the best x
 
I’m wondering if she may be in season. They come into season every 15-17 days and the first season post bonding can often be a stronger one.

If the behaviour is occurring because she is in season then it will settle within a few days
 
Hi both

Thank you for your reassuring comments and for attaching the guides which I have read through.

They do all cool down and will lay down together. It’s also just like she just needs to be close to him and is very attention seeking. Fred doesn’t give a lot of attention back unfortunately he very rarely tries to hump either of the girls. Winnie is also very very greedy and has a habit of gulping her good down and then stealing Fred or Honeys which as Fred is also very good motivated doesn't help.

The cuts on his lip and nose are healing and have almost gone. They are only very small so I’m hoping it’s just a nick and nothing more serious.

How would I know if she is in season? Sorry I’ve never had girls before now so this is new to me!

Ps. From left to right, Winnie, Honey and Fred.

X
 

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Fred&HarryPigs said:
Hi
I have two 6 month old sows and an 18 month old boar living together in a 6x2 C&C cage. I waited 8 weeks to put them together (6 week post neuter and 2 week ringworm treatment!) and the initial bonding was excellent. Nothing to report everyone was eating, sleeping and grooming each other within 20 minutes with no dominant behaviour shown.

Now, within the last few days after them living together for 2 weeks I’ve noticed dominant behaviour. My timid sow Honey who also seems to be the dominant girl gets along with my boar Fred absolutely fine. However Winnie and Fred seem to be having difficultly in deciding who is boss.

Winnie and Fred rumble-strut a lot (Honey never participates in this) but I’ve noticed an increase in teeth chattering. Winnie is very inquisitive and will often go up to Fred and sniff his hair or push his chin up. This then leads to Fred teeth chattering, lots of rumble strutting from Winnie. A couple of times I have seen Winnie pounce at Fred. This will then stop after a few moments and they’ll lay down next to each other or Winnie will then popcorn and zoomie around the cage. I have also noticed a few tiny scratches on Fred’s nose/lip area.

The majority of the time they will happily sit/sleep together, eat hay and share a food bowl (they have 3 water bottles, 3 bowls and 3 open end hideys) but will often rumble-strut when passing each other.

Fred was always the dominant one with his previous cage mate and is very timid like Honey in nature.

I’m not sure if Winnie is just very excited by Fred. She was always biting at the bars to get with him whilst they were living separately during the 8 weeks or if this is normal behaviour?

Thank you for reading!
Click to expand...

Hi

It sounds like their first season together, which tends to be pretty dramatic and wild. The shared excess of pheromones and mating behaviours serves to bond them together much more closely.

Sows are wired to live together in a group, which is usually related but the boars are generally not closely related and need to be accepted by the sows. All the drama binds them together more closely. Guinea pig boars do look after the young of the group as well; not just their own.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts) (includes a chapter on sows in season)
When Sows Experience A Strong Season (videos)

You should find that things are over again by tomorrow and that they are busy confirming their bond if it is a season. Most seasons will be a lot less dramatic, though.
 
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