How Do I Stop Ear Bitting?

[Amba]

I finally caved in a bought a friend for my guinea pig Poppet. I had assumed because Poet will raise her chin near Poppet, that Poppet was in charge. When they were first establishing heirachy Poppet would only allow Poet in one corner of the hutch and when ever she dared come out Poppet would chase her back. Poet also likes to be near Poppet, which Poppet seems to tolerate. I know Poet really likes Poppet, but I'm not sure it's too reciprocated. Which is unfortunate, because I hoped to make Poppet happier by getting her a friend. Both guineas interchange between following each other when out of the hutch. They have a few little tiffs every so often, which only last a couple seconds, they seem to butt and give a tiny nip. They don't launch and their hackles don't go up. They both weigh a kilo, are female and Poppet is four and Poet is two.
Yesterday I noticed Poppet wet herself right after a tiny tiff. I picked her up later that night and notice she has a few little tears in her ear which weren't there before. This is really upsetting. Poet seems to be a sweet little thing. And Poppet seems to win when they both wont a particular bit of food, though there's never a big deal. Poppet will raise her hackles occasionally when eating around Poet. Poets ears are undamaged. They have live in a c+c cage 4x4 with a 1x1 hammock corner. Is there anything I can do to stop this behaviour?

 

[Amba]

photos of Poppets ears

 

[Amba]

Edit: hutch is 4x2 with 1x1 hammock corner

 

[Guineapigfeet]

Piggies groom/nibble the ears of those they want to be part of their group and can get a bit carried away some times. Maybe Poet was trying to be boss but Poppet doesn’t want her to be ? I’m sure it will settle now once they have this sorted between them. From what you’ve said I don’t think there’s any reason to separate. Her ears don’t look half as bad as my BB’s! She had a phase where she tried to take over and Chewie made sure she knew not to go there again!

I am by no means a bonding expert and if I’m wrong in any of this, I’m sure someone will correct me!

 

[Amba]

Thanks I have only since seen dominate behaviour from Poppet and no ear bitting from either. Maybe it happened some other way (scratching ears). Poppet still likes her space but hopefully in the future they'll be more bonded

 

[Freela]

Pigs will groom/nuzzle/nibble ears as a gesture of affection, as a way of saying, "I want you in my group." Most of my pigs have had a couple of jagged edges on their ears even before they came to me as babies, so I think this behavior is very common and is unlikely to be aggressive in nature, particularly if you're not seeing any overt aggression in their other interactions. Also, be aware that not all bonded pigs spend all their time side by side- many (probably even most!) still like their own space as well. It doesn't mean that they aren't friendly or bonded if they go about their business side by side without always interacting!