Guinea Pig Blocking Other From Eating?

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mkoudsi

mkoudsi

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Hello. I have two female guinea pigs living in one cage. I had a successful trio until about a week ago, when my oldest pig passed away at five years. Now the two she left behind are squabbling a bit. No serious fights or anything, but Peaches has been blocking Marley from coming up to the kitchen area. I have a double decker C & C cage, with a ramp leading up to the "kitchen area". Peaches has been sleeping in the entryway in front of the top of the ramp and has been making Marley slide back down the ramp every time she tries to go up there. I have noticed that Marley has been able to sneak up there and eat and drink, but I don't think that will be enough. I want her to be able to go up there in peace. And I do have two water bottles and two food bowls. Any advice would be great! Thank you!
 
What you are witnessing is typical dominance behaviour. I assume that they have lost the lead piggy? So they have to sort out a new hierarchy.

Please arrange an second kitchen corner on the ground space with a bowl, bottle and a hay rack. Things will hopefully settle down eventually and Marley will be allowed up again once Peaches is feeling totally secure as top lady.

I am of course very sorry for your loss!
 
Wiebke said:
What you are witnessing is typical dominance behaviour. I assume that they have lost the lead piggy? So they have to sort out a new hierarchy.

Please arrange an second kitchen corner on the ground space with a bowl, bottle and a hay rack. Things will hopefully settle down eventually and Marley will be allowed up again once Peaches is feeling totally secure as top lady.

I am of course very sorry for your loss!
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You would think that, but Tia was the submissive one. Peaches was the head pig, but for some reason it seems that she feels the need to assert it over again. Do you really think that it'll get better? I did put a bowl of food and a water bottle in the lower floor, so hopefully that'll help.
 
Yes, I'd do 2 of each food bowls at opposite ends of their run or cage. Then if one is blocked there's always the other to go to. Maybe try putting them by a bowl each when you put their food out.

If it does continue badly and you've got enough space then I'd consider getting a neutered boar to stabilize things. It worked with mine.
 
I actually went to the pet store and bought a female pig. She's in the quarantine process right now. I don't know if it'll help, but I can only hope. I actually bought a male from the pet store ( they told me it was a female) then I checked at home and it turned out to be a boy. I thought of neutering him, but considering the high possibility of it not working out in his favor, I decided not to go down that route. So I brought him back :( he was a cutie, too.
 
Stewybus said:
Yes, I'd do 2 of each food bowls at opposite ends of their run or cage. Then if one is blocked there's always the other to go to. Maybe try putting them by a bowl each when you put their food out.

If it does continue badly and you've got enough space then I'd consider getting a neutered boar to stabilize things. It worked with mine.
Click to expand...
I actually went to the pet store and bought a female pig. She's in the quarantine process right now. I don't know if it'll help, but I can only hope. I actually bought a male from the pet store ( they told me it was a female) then I checked at home and it turned out to be a boy. I thought of neutering him, but considering the high possibility of it not working out in his favor, I decided not to go down that route. So I brought him back he was a cutie, too.
 
When a piggy dies or is separated, the hierarchy needs to be adjusted.

I have a couple of very greedy piggies amongst my crowd. With Nerys, I always have to serve any veg and pellets in two bowls with at least a body length between them, or Nerys will sit on one bowl while she eats from the other! Their hay tray has access from two sides... :whistle:

PS: I would recommend that you move one of the water bottles downstairs.

PS2: Very sorry about the boy! :(
 
So you think that this will just last for a little while? Poor little Marley is sitting at the bottom of the ramp, like she wants to go up but can't because Peaches is up there.
Wiebke said:
When a piggy dies or is separated, the hierarchy needs to be adjusted.

I have a couple of very greedy piggies amongst my crowd. With Nerys, I always have to serve any veg and pellets in two bowls with at least a body length between them, or Nerys will sit on one bowl while she eats from the other! Their hay tray has access from two sides... :whistle:

PS: I would recommend that you move one of the water bottles downstairs.

PS2: Very sorry about the boy! :(
Click to expand...
So you think that this will just last for a little while? Poor little Marley is sitting at the bottom of the ramp, like she wants to go up but can't because Peaches is up there.
Thank you. I keep thinking about him and wondering if I should get a boar... but I'll just stick with three girls for now. This little baby is a cutie. I've already been able to introduce her to carrots, lettuce, spinach, celery, and oranges. I've only had her for 2 days now, so that's pretty good :)
Look at my little stunner. I named her Shiloh.

Sleeping on my lap <3
 
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