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Dominance

Munch bunch

Munch bunch

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
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Hi, I am struggling with what to do about my Guinea pigs behaviour. I have two girls and they are about 17-19 weeks old. I have one who's very bossy and always bosses the over one around. I read a post about them needing there own bowl each and water bowl, is this true? And how long will this behaviour last for . Lots of nipping and purring going on and I don't like it lol. Thank you.
 
Yes it's best to have two of everything (especially with boys) two houses is most important. If the dish is big and wide then one would be fine in theory and one water bottle can work as I have one water bottle between my boys and one food bowl. I do have two hay racks though but that's just to bulk their hay not really to stop fights. How long have you had the girls? The dominance thing can take some weeks in some cases until the guinea pigs have cemented who is the dominant member. When sows come into season expect the behaviour to return - though it doesn't all the time. Nipping is part of the bonding process and we recommend separating only if a fight breaks out or you feel a guinea pig is going to come to harm.
 
It's not alway great to watch, some piggies are bossier than others. It should settle down though. It's always best to have 2 of everything with a pair of pigs, spaced enough apart so a pig can't guard them all.

What size enclosure do they have?
 
I have 2 boars and only give them seperate houses I've tried giving seperate bowls and so forth but they end up only using one and don't seem to mind sharing so i let them stay with one food bowl and water bottle and hay sack and all is fine may get better in time may not
 
Jesse's pigs said:
Yes it's best to have two of everything (especially with boys) two houses is most important. If the dish is big and wide then one would be fine in theory and one water bottle can work as I have one water bottle between my boys and one food bowl. I do have two hay racks though but that's just to bulk their hay not really to stop fights. How long have you had the girls? The dominance thing can take some weeks in some cases until the guinea pigs have cemented who is the dominant member. When sows come into season expect the behaviour to return - though it doesn't all the time. Nipping is part of the bonding process and we recommend separating only if a fight breaks out or you feel a guinea pig is going to come to harm.
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We got the girls on the 8th June this year. I hand feed them aswell with some of the greens.
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
It's not alway great to watch, some piggies are bossier than others. It should settle down though. It's always best to have 2 of everything with a pair of pigs, spaced enough apart so a pig can't guard them all.

What size enclosure do they have?
Click to expand...
I know. I always worry but I know they don't get hurt. I'm getting a bigger cage for them I'm about a week to see if that helps. Thank you for your help, much appreciated
 
Munch bunch said:
I know. I always worry but I know they don't get hurt. I'm getting a bigger cage for them I'm about a week to see if that helps. Thank you for your help, much appreciated
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How do I share the picture of their cage.
 
Munch bunch said:
How do I share the picture of their cage.
Click to expand...
I
Jesse's pigs said:
Yes it's best to have two of everything (especially with boys) two houses is most important. If the dish is big and wide then one would be fine in theory and one water bottle can work as I have one water bottle between my boys and one food bowl. I do have two hay racks though but that's just to bulk their hay not really to stop fights. How long have you had the girls? The dominance thing can take some weeks in some cases until the guinea pigs have cemented who is the dominant member. When sows come into season expect the behaviour to return - though it doesn't all the time. Nipping is part of the bonding process and we recommend separating only if a fight breaks out or you feel a guinea pig is going to come to harm.
Click to expand...
I've had the girls since 8th June this year
 
Munch bunch said:
I know. I always worry but I know they don't get hurt. I'm getting a bigger cage for them I'm about a week to see if that helps. Thank you for your help, much appreciated
Click to expand...

More space will always help! What size are you getting?

I believe you can share a photo by uploading the file in a post :)
 
So ruffle 4 ft ×2 ft which is about 8 sqft which is very small for 2 boars if you have room id double the size you'll have much happier pigs
 
The op has two sows.

Munch bunch when I first got Mistletoe and Jingle from the rescue back in Janurary this year Jingle would always chase Mistletoe out of any hidey. She would eat the food first and seemed to always want what M had and would chase her away.

I often heard dramatic submission squeals from M. They had a 150 c 75 cage. I scatter fed and always made sure that there were two or three piles of hay so that a certain someone (jingle) didnt claim it as hers!

They have calmed down a lot and even shared a hidie earlier today (an ikea dolls bed).

More space is great. Mine now have a large c and c set up. I am fortunate to have the space to offer that to them. Floor time each day is a great way to bond with them and to give them space that can be tidied away. Its tricky with other animals. We have two dogs who are not allowed in the guinea pigs room.

Good luck. Would love to see pics.
 
flowerfairy said:
The op has two sows.

Munch bunch when I first got Mistletoe and Jingle from the rescue back in Janurary this year Jingle would always chase Mistletoe out of any hidey. She would eat the food first and seemed to always want what M had and would chase her away.

I often heard dramatic submission squeals from M. They had a 150 c 75 cage. I scatter fed and always made sure that there were two or three piles of hay so that a certain someone (jingle) didnt claim it as hers!

They have calmed down a lot and even shared a hidie earlier today (an ikea dolls bed).

More space is great. Mine now have a large c and c set up. I am fortunate to have the space to offer that to them. Floor time each day is a great way to bond with them and to give them space that can be tidied away. Its tricky with other animals. We have two dogs who are not allowed in the guinea pigs room.

Good luck. Would love to see pics.
Click to expand...
Yea the grey one is called happy JJ and the black and lit brown is Ellie, both girls but my boys named them lol. Yea happy is always nicking the food bless her. They use to live outside but when Ellie hurt her leg they came inside and been there since, I love having them indoors. I can't seem to upload any pictures from by gallery but I don't know why.
 
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