Bullying

Mylittlespices

Mylittlespices

Junior Guinea Pig
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I am worried my guinea pig ginger is bullying my other guinea pig cinnamon, i know i have posted a similar thread there is just so much to guinea pigs. Ginger trys to humps and rubble struts at cinnamon and cinnamon lets her. Last time i was told ginger was having a strong season but this happens every few weeks and cinnamon doesnt look like she is gaining any weight either from stress or not eating enough while ginger is gaining weight like crazy. I try so hard to make sure they are happy and heathy but i am also very busy with school so i am not able to monitor or bond with them as much as I'd like. Any suggestions for whats going on or what to do would be greatly appreciated.
 
It is normal. Seasons come every few weeks.
How old is she? Have her checked by a vet for hormonal issues.
Are you actually weighing cinnamon? If not, then start weighing her to determine whether she is gaining weight or not.
 
They are both 7 months old and I want to start weighing them but i do not have a scale yet so i am going to have to wait until after chrismas to buy one with my own money and i will try to see if i can get ginger an apt for a vet until then i seperate them using the cage divider some nights not too often though. Thx
 
Separating them could well be part of the issue. If they get separated, if causes them to go into bonding and dominance every time they are put back together. Only ever separate piggies if there is a full on blood drawing fight.
 
I agree with what @Piggies&buns has said about the bond.

Having bonded 2 pairs of sows a few months ago I am convinced we are far more stressed by it than the piggies for whom this is normal behaviour
 
W/O a boar around, they seem to mount each other. The one IN season is the one doing the mounting, though technically both can be synced up and go into heat at the same time or within a day or so of each other.

IF you were to put a boar in with them (no bonding, nothing, straight into their established cage) he'd immediately mount the one trying to mount the other, assuming it's in heat. He would/should immediately pick up her pheromones, or at the very least, be alerted to the sounds both are making then investigate.

Easiest way to check is pulling the offending humper out, cradle her on her back with one hand/arm while supporting the spine, then carefully separate her vaginal area (index and thumb on the round circular patch, not into) and the horizontal seam should be separated, where you'll actually see into the opening, and the area might be semi-viscous (wet). IF the the vent isn't separated, you might see some dry crusting around it, or it might look more like a paper cut on a finger, where the vent area would be the cut. Usually, within roughly 24 hours, it WILL actually separate.

Another thing I've noticed after handling mine is, they emit a slight fishy-odor when it's separated. It's normal, but unmistakable in odor.

To be clear, what you are seeing IS normal. IF a boar was with them though, the boar would be doing the chasing.
 
Also, fwirw, once you have established a sow being in heat, mark it on your calendar. In roughly 2 weeks, they'll be back in heat again like clock-work, though it can vary by a couple days, so you'll know beforehand it's coming.

All 5 of my sows are are almost exactly every 14 days, and all 5 go through their humping period, and all 5 have synced up within a day or so of the other, so it's like a full week of that silliness.

The one that "seems" in distress (one being mounted), is doing EXACTLY what female gp do when a boar is trying to get with them, usually followed by streams of urine aimed at the offending humper wannabe to discourage him/her and say "not ready", following an eventual bum up in the air when ready, though the one doing the humping (when it's a sow) is the one that's ACTUALLY "ready" to be mounted, hence the mention of a boar immediately mounting it if one was available, as mentioned in my last post. She would/should immediately put her bum up for him, or they'll do a short circle chase like they are chasing each other's bum in a circle like a dog chasing it's own tail, then mount.

Other things the "mountee" will do is get really low to the ground- chin and all, squeal slightly differently, similar to their whining when not wanting to be handled atm, along with "double-tap" nipping i.e. "nip nip"' running away then immediately following the offending humper' dropping their chin to the ground when being approached while also emitting a different squeal/wheek; spraying a stream of urine directly behind them; jumping the back legs up when their fur is nudged against the grain on the lower back/bum area; doing 180 jump/spins to face the other, etc.. ALL NORMAL ;)
 
Chasing, mounting, and rumbling is very normal behavior that helps to establish dominance. Guinea pigs have a hierarchy... it's necessary for them as it's how they relate to one another. It may look mean to us judging it on human terms, but they are not judging it on human terms. Some leader pigs are bossier about it than others... and at 7 months they are hormonal teenagers too. So try to remember that this is normal social behavior for them- they aren't fighting.

If you're concerned about access to food for the less dominant pig, it may help to put in a second food bowl or otherwise have more than one place to get food from. That way the dominant pig can't hoard all the food. It's also important to remember that at 7 months they may not be growing as rapidly as they did as little babies, and that pigs can end up being different sizes naturally and still be healthy and getting enough to eat (I have a big pig and a little pig myself right now!) It's a good idea to weigh regularly anyhow to make sure that pigs aren't losing weight, so that might be something to try going forward, especially if you're concerned that one is not gaining appropriately.

Hope this helps a bit!
 
Piggies&buns said:
Separating them could well be part of the issue. If they get separated, if causes them to go into bonding and dominance every time they are put back together. Only ever separate piggies if there is a full on blood drawing fight.
Click to expand...
Ok thx and i only ever seperate them once in a while i have only done it twice but i won't anymore thx i just worry that cinnamon is scared since she will always hide and whinn when ginger comes in the same hidey but ginger just continues to chase her.
 
Freela said:
Chasing, mounting, and rumbling is very normal behavior that helps to establish dominance. Guinea pigs have a hierarchy... it's necessary for them as it's how they relate to one another. It may look mean to us judging it on human terms, but they are not judging it on human terms. Some leader pigs are bossier about it than others... and at 7 months they are hormonal teenagers too. So try to remember that this is normal social behavior for them- they aren't fighting.

If you're concerned about access to food for the less dominant pig, it may help to put in a second food bowl or otherwise have more than one place to get food from. That way the dominant pig can't hoard all the food. It's also important to remember that at 7 months they may not be growing as rapidly as they did as little babies, and that pigs can end up being different sizes naturally and still be healthy and getting enough to eat (I have a big pig and a little pig myself right now!) It's a good idea to weigh regularly anyhow to make sure that pigs aren't losing weight, so that might be something to try going forward, especially if you're concerned that one is not gaining appropriately.

Hope this helps a bit!
Click to expand...

Yes this helps i get so worried about them as it is my first time owning guinea pigs excpecially because they are mainly just my pets. I do place the food in a food bowl and in multiple hideys to avoid hoarding and will hopefully get a scale with my own money by the end of chrismas. Though i worry about cinnamon getting scared i have seen her stick up for herself and it usually ends a few days later.
 
This is the strength of the forum.
Lots of friendly and non judgmental help.
We are constantly learning from each other.
My piggies have certainly benefited from me being here- glad yours are too.
Hope you have fun here as well
 
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