i introduced a new guinea pig to one of mine that i already had and that was about 2 months ago, and for the last month and a half my one that i have had previously has been purring at the new one like going up to her slowly and purring at her butt. i thought she was in heat at first but i think that’s too long of a time? what does this mean? also they get along and they don’t ever fight unless she gets mad at the other one for going up to her butt.
guinea pig purring at another guinea pig
- Thread starter csojka
- Start date
First, Have you checked both piggies are definitely female?
Rumbling is normal dominance.
Guinea pigs go into heat every 15-17 days so it’s something you will see a lot of with two sows!
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Rumbling is normal dominance.
Guinea pigs go into heat every 15-17 days so it’s something you will see a lot of with two sows!
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
i checked before but i just checked again I'm almost positive they are both girls lol i looked it up idk if it’s different when they are younger though because they are both around like 7 months i wanna say.
I'm desperate to know is there some way to stop them from rumbling? It really gets on my nerves, they do it constantly all day, one rumbling, then the other, then the other doesnt like the rumbling and starts whining while the other rumbles and its a sound that really really gets your blood pressure going upwards. They are both females, i dont know what to do.
No you can’t stop them from doing it. It is a normal behaviour and something they will do to reinforce their relationship. Sows will show dominance when in season, around every two weeks.
The whining is submission, a totally normal and correct response from the other piggy.
But isint one guinea pig usually the dominant one? because its both of them, females at that! Rumbling at each other and whining about it, trying to mount each other, trying to place their head on another to show dominance, its been about. year of such behaviour, one is 1,3y l, the other 1y
Yes, one is dominant but it doesn’t mean that they won’t both display such behaviours particularly when they are in season, which happens around every two weeks. They will know which one is actually in charge and that is why a bond works.
It doesn’t matter that they are female - dominance behaviours are practised by both sexes.
If their bond is failing, they are arguing over their relationship etc, then you would have no choice but to carry out a temporary separation. At the end of the separation period you then try a neutral territory reintroduction. If that then fails you would had to make their separation permanent.
Is their cage big enough? 150x60cm for two sows.
Do you have multiple of everything in the cage?
Do all hides have two exits?
Its larger than that, 180×80, a c&c cage and yes, we have tunnels, two wooden houses which they switch often, two bowls for dry food and two bowls of water, they dont usually fight for food, tho one is greedier than the other, so we seperate them during fresh veggie time
Its larger than that, 180×80, a c&c cage and yes, we have tunnels, two wooden houses which they switch often, two bowls for dry food and two bowls of water, they dont usually fight for food, tho one is greedier than the other, so we seperate them during fresh veggie time
There is no need to separate them at veggie time. Repeated separations are unnecessary and stressful for them, and can actually cause an increase in dominance when they go back together. You interrupt their natural behaviours by separating them to eat - eating is a social time for them.
You should scatter feed their veg and pellets so each has a share and ability to forage for it. This is an important source of enrichment. We don’t recommend the use of food bowls at all, not for veg or pellets due to the fact eating them becomes a mindless activity with no mental stimulation. Encouraging foraging and natural abilities makes veg time stimulating for them.
It is the dominant piggy’s right to have first choice plus as veg isn’t a main food source it doesn’t matter is one gets a bit more.
If you really are worried about it, then it’s best to simply hand feed them both their veg portion rather than separating them repeatedly