Hair Pulling

[Bigsize9fot]

I'm still trying to get to grips with my two girls- only had them 6 weeks. My question is. On lap time, they want to be together and will try to get to each other if separated. They snuggle together. They are very vocal. One keeps trying to eat the others hair (they are long haired) Is this grooming? It doesn't look like it. But doesn't look aggressive either. They also try to clone user and over each other and give each other a shove every now and then.
Thanks.

 

[Swissgreys]

Eating hair (their own or each others) is called 'barbering' and is not an unusual behaviour in guinea pigs.
When a guinea pig repeatedly chews their own hair in a specific area it can be a sign that they are in pain, but obviously this is not the case with your girls.

And my lot can seem quite rough with each otehr and will often sit on or climb over any pig that is in their way (if I were to name and shame I would be looking at Eddi right now). As long as no one is getting hurt or is in danger of falling off your lap then I would say it all sounds like fairly typical guinea pig behaviour.
Looks like your girls are settling in nicely.

 

[Wiebke]

I'm still trying to get to grips with my two girls- only had them 6 weeks. My question is. On lap time, they want to be together and will try to get to each other if separated. They snuggle together. They are very vocal. One keeps trying to eat the others hair (they are long haired) Is this grooming? It doesn't look like it. But doesn't look aggressive either. They also try to clone user and over each other and give each other a shove every now and then.
Thanks.

It is called barbering and is quite common in guinea pigs. With yours it is likely friendly social interaction.
You may find our barbering guide informative: Barbering ( Eating Hair)

 

[Bigsize9fot]

Eating hair (their own or each others) is called 'barbering' and is not an unusual behaviour in guinea pigs.
When a guinea pig repeatedly chews their own hair in a specific area it can be a sign that they are in pain, but obviously this is not the case with your girls.

And my lot can seem quite rough with each otehr and will often sit on or climb over any pig that is in their way (if I were to name and shame I would be looking at Eddi right now). As long as no one is getting hurt or is in danger of falling off your lap then I would say it all sounds like fairly typical guinea pig behaviour.
Looks like your girls are settling in nicely.

Ah good. Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[Dorothy&Coco]

Ours climb over each other too. The only person it seems to cause distress to is my daughter who worries they will hurt each other. The pigs are oblivious and just carry on.

 

[Flutterby]

I've had pigs barber in the past, just keep an eye on it as occasionally it can be over done.

 

[Freela]

Barbering is a normal (if not quite explainable) guinea pig behavior. Hadley is a sheltie cross and Sundae intermittently barbers the longer portions of her fur... then she'll stop for awhile, and then she'll start all over again!