Intriguing Struggle For Dominance

Sasra

Sasra

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 22, 2014
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Location
Hampshire
Hi,
My two, who have been renamed Scruffy and Scrappy, are settling in well, I've had them for 12 days now. They've been vet checked and lice-treated and they now have a large indoor run to exercise in.

Scrappy is definitely more inquisitive and less timid than Scruffy, but a lot smaller. She's the one that will come out and explore first and not make a run for shelter everytime I move! I've got them in the run at the moment and have been observing some differences in the behaviours. Scruffy (18 weeks old) is now going for anything that Scrappy (17 weeks) has. She's pushing her out of whichever tube Scrapps has chosen, taking her carrot away, even though there are 4 carrots in the run and now, Scruffy is hiding in the paper bag (inspired by the Primark Bag thread) that I filled with hay.

It's not a small bag, but Scruffy will NOT let Scrappy in there with her. I've watched Scrappy try and enter a few times, only to come hurtling out with a squeak seconds later. Until now I have thought that Scrappy was in charge, or that they were more of an equal partnership. Is Scruffy going for the top spot? Is it because they are still so young that they are still working it out? Poor Scrappy desperately wants to get inside the bag, but has given up and is sitting in a tube with her head on her paws, looking dejected......
 
Sasra said:
Hi,
My two, who have been renamed Scruffy and Scrappy, are settling in well, I've had them for 12 days now. They've been vet checked and lice-treated and they now have a large indoor run to exercise in.

Scrappy is definitely more inquisitive and less timid than Scruffy, but a lot smaller. She's the one that will come out and explore first and not make a run for shelter everytime I move! I've got them in the run at the moment and have been observing some differences in the behaviours. Scruffy (18 weeks old) is now going for anything that Scrappy (17 weeks) has. She's pushing her out of whichever tube Scrapps has chosen, taking her carrot away, even though there are 4 carrots in the run and now, Scruffy is hiding in the paper bag (inspired by the Primark Bag thread) that I filled with hay.

It's not a small bag, but Scruffy will NOT let Scrappy in there with her. I've watched Scrappy try and enter a few times, only to come hurtling out with a squeak seconds later. Until now I have thought that Scrappy was in charge, or that they were more of an equal partnership. Is Scruffy going for the top spot? Is it because they are still so young that they are still working it out? Poor Scrappy desperately wants to get inside the bag, but has given up and is sitting in a tube with her head on her paws, looking dejected......
Click to expand...

Scruffy has obviously settled in, got her bearings and is now exerting her dominance; dominance is not related to which piggy is more forward. This behaviour is typical. Please provide everything in twos, from bowls (only feed small portions of pellets and veg that can be eaten in one go and the bowls then removed 2-3 times a day), to hideys (preferably with two openings) and toys.
The dominance phase lasts on average about two weeks, but it can take longer.
Sow Behaviour
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
 
my bad.... there are two of everything except the bag..... although they will both eat from only the one bowl and drink from the same bottle. In both cases there is always one near empty and the other untouched, but they feed at the same times. Scrappy decided to make her own bag opening by chewing through the back of the bag, and then eventually, after some squeaking they both settled for a snooze in there. Thing I will remove the bag for now though!

Thanks for the advice!
 
Oh dear, that's girls for you! They're all like sisters and forever squabbling. I agree with @Wiebke , it should pass (as much as it can pass XD).

My girls never share hideys, they bicker over 1 piece of food that is apparently tastier than all the other veg in there and, if someone's in season, humpings galore! :)) Believe it or not, they're happily bonded :D
 
Sasra said:
my bad.... there are two of everything except the bag..... although they will both eat from only the one bowl and drink from the same bottle. In both cases there is always one near empty and the other untouched, but they feed at the same times. Scrappy decided to make her own bag opening by chewing through the back of the bag, and then eventually, after some squeaking they both settled for a snooze in there. Thing I will remove the bag for now though!

Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...

If it just a matter of bickering and Scrappy gets her own, I would not worry - just make two openings in the bag. it simply sounds like some typical sow dominance bickering, but they are happily and well bonded.
 
I notice that once they are in their cage they are both calm and quiet. The bickering only happens in the run.
 
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