Female Guinea Pig Dominance Issues

lilpigpiglets

lilpigpiglets

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Hi! So my two females have been living together for a year and a half and ever since I moved them to a 2x4 c&c cage I have noticed some issues. For a little background info in my pigs I have a older 6 year old Guinea pig with a 1 almost 2 year old guinea pig, I have bonded them my self and they seemed to like each other until now. Almost everyday my younger piggie chases my older piggie and try’s to hump her. This confuses me as before bonding them I researched behaviour in dominance and all sources of info suggested the older guinea pig should be dominant? Does anyone know how to react to this behaviour and if I should consider separating the girls?
 
@Wiebke this member will get you some very good info, just hang in there. I think i know the problem but I'm not experienced atall with bonded guinea pigs. I know that sows with ovarian problems can get a bit funny in behaviour
 
No don’t separate them,
When did you move them into their new cage? Guinea pigs have to reestablish the hierarchy in a new environment, so if you have just moved them into their new cage recently, then that is probably why you are seeing issues. If that is what it is, then it should settle down, once they have settled into their new home.
 
Welcome to the Forum :wel:

It sounds like your girls may be adjusting their heirachy a little, which is natrual over time.
It is certainly not always the older pig that is dominant, and sometimes a younger pig will challenge an older pig for dominance as they sense them getting weaker with age.
This is all a natural process, and as long as your girls are both happy, eating well and not loosing weight then you have nothing to worry about.

Weigh them both regularly, but if you older girl doesn't seem to be bothered, and the younger pig isn't stopping her eating, etc. then they will probably sort things out between themselves.
Make sure you have 2 of everything (food bowls, water bottles, hideys) and that these are spaced well apart so one piggy can't control everything.
Hopefully their bond will be fine and is just undergoing a small reshuffle :)
We would love to see pics of them too - we like guinea pig pictures here.
 
Please so NOT separate them. The younger one is just showing off her dominant behaviour. By all, have the younger one checked for ovarian cysts if the behaviour continues but I really wouldn’t worry.

My Ellen is 3 years and 8 months old and she is mounting her husboar, Edward regular. I had her checked for ovarian cysts just to make sure but she’s fine and is just being a bossy madam.

It isn’t always the case that the older is the most dominant one. Both my Eliza and Emma were the dominant sows of their groups but as they got older and the younger ones came along, they were happy to step down
 
Piggies&buns said:
No don’t separate them,
When did you move them into their new cage? Guinea pigs have to reestablish the hierarchy in a new environment, so if you have just moved them into their new cage recently, then that is probably why you are seeing issues. If that is what it is, then it should settle down, once they have settled into their new home.
Click to expand...
They moved in about a month ago from a outdoor hutch.
 
Swissgreys said:
Welcome to the Forum :wel:

It sounds like your girls may be adjusting their heirachy a little, which is natrual over time.
It is certainly not always the older pig that is dominant, and sometimes a younger pig will challenge an older pig for dominance as they sense them getting weaker with age.
This is all a natural process, and as long as your girls are both happy, eating well and not loosing weight then you have nothing to worry about.

Weigh them both regularly, but if you older girl doesn't seem to be bothered, and the younger pig isn't stopping her eating, etc. then they will probably sort things out between themselves.
Make sure you have 2 of everything (food bowls, water bottles, hideys) and that these are spaced well apart so one piggy can't control everything.
Hopefully their bond will be fine and is just undergoing a small reshuffle :)
We would love to see pics of them too - we like guinea pig pictures here.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information I will keep this in mind! There both in there igloo atm do I couldn’t get a good pic but here you go...81BC87C0-469F-4696-B803-D71A42E37B58.webp
 
Claire W said:
Please so NOT separate them. The younger one is just showing off her dominant behaviour. By all, have the younger one checked for ovarian cysts if the behaviour continues but I really wouldn’t worry.

My Ellen is 3 years and 8 months old and she is mounting her husboar, Edward regular. I had her checked for ovarian cysts just to make sure but she’s fine and is just being a bossy madam.

It isn’t always the case that the older is the most dominant one. Both my Eliza and Emma were the dominant sows of their groups but as they got older and the younger ones came along, they were happy to step down
Click to expand...
Right I keep it mind of the possible illness and thank you for the info!
 
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