Female Fighting

[gmsong]

The fighting started today. Both guinea pigs were very dominant. Before today the older one was usually the one that always rumble strutted and wanted dominance, but today it was the younger smaller one that did most of the rumble strutting. It seemed to alternate between pigs. They would take turns climbing on each other's backs. Is this normal or something?

 

[Swissgreys]

A lot will depend on their ages and otehr factors like cage size.

Can you give us a bit more information about them and how long they have been together.
Were they fighting (tackling each other, biting until blood was drawn, rolling around locked together in a ball of fur) or just being dominant with each other as they 'discuss' their hierarchy?
There is a big difference between the two.

A good place to start to try and work out what is going on is here:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Wiebke]

The fighting started today. Both guinea pigs were very dominant. Before today the older one was usually the one that always rumble strutted and wanted dominance, but today it was the younger smaller one that did most of the rumble strutting. It seemed to alternate between pigs. They would take turns climbing on each other's backs. Is this normal or something?

Hi!

It sounds like a strong season at a guess. It would help if you please added the ages of your sows and how long you have had them.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts) (contains a chapter on seasons)
When Sows Experience A Strong Season (videos)

 

[gmsong]

The older guinea pig is 5 months old and the younger one is 3 months. They have been together since this April. The older one I got in March and the younger in April. All they were doing was rumble strutting and climbing on each other's backs. I thought I knew who was the dominant pig by now, but now I doubt my opinion.

 

[Wiebke]

The older guinea pig is 5 months old and the younger one is 3 months. They have been together since this April. The older one I got in March and the younger in April. All they were doing was rumble strutting and climbing on each other's backs. I thought I knew who was the dominant pig by now, but now I doubt my opinion.

I sounds like one of them (like the underpiggy) was having a stronger season. Rumblestrutting and mounting is very normal for that, and it can - depending on the constellation - have a dominance factor. Your old girl is now a teenager.

You should find the links in my previous helpful.

 

[gmsong]

I sounds like one of them (like the underpiggy) was having a stronger season. Rumblestrutting and mounting is very normal for that, and it can - depending on the constellation - have a dominance factor. Your old girl is now a teenager.

You should find the links in my previous helpful.

What's seasoning?

 

[Merab]

A season is when a sow is ready to mate.
Most of the time they just happen and we don’t notice.
Other times a sow will have s strong season and cage life can get chaotic with rumbling, mounting and chasing.

 

[Wiebke]

What's seasoning?

A season is the time sows are ready to mate.
Please have a look at these two links below. One is information and contains videos of a full-on season as they can get.
I have already linked them in for you to get the necessary information to understand what is going on into my first post, but here they are again. Please take the time to look at both of them, so you have a better idea what to look out for with your sows in the coming years and in what behaviours are typical for them. You should find both very interesting as your girl behaviour will start to make sense to you.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
When Sows Experience A Strong Season (videos)

 

[VickiA]

Sows can be very lively when in season. I many years ago remember first witnessing a strong season by my then submissive sow and being horrified at her behaviour to her cage mate. Next day back to normal. It sounds like this may be what you’ve been witnessing, too.

 

[gmsong]

So all this dominance behavior will stop soon?

 

[Wiebke]

So all this dominance behavior will stop soon?

If it was a normal season, it would have already stopped. If it is a dominance dispute it may go on for a while.
If you have adult sows, I may be a symptom of ovarian cysts.

It is all explained in the links I have given you in previous posts. The matter is a bit more complex than you can explain in two simple sentences, so please read the information if you want to be able to judge what is really going on!

We can only give you advice that is as good and informed as what you are telling us since we can't see the guinea pigs directly. Please read the information links so YOU can judge what is going on because we can't from what little you are telling us.

 

[AlphaUrd13]

Yes, do spend some time reading all the guides that are pinned at the top of each thread category, they usually answer almost ALL your questions with pics and videos.