Normal? New Bonded Sows

[Wookey78]

hi

So my two have been in together for 2 weeks now. Outside in a hutch with daily time in the run. Pumpkin is 5 months and Peaches 10 weeks.

Firstly is it normal for a lone gp who gets a friend to stop being so friendly and welcoming to humans? She used to run up to the cage and it the bars when it was food time etc. She hardly does any of this now Peaches is there.

Also the last two days she seems to turn on Peaches and makes that sound ( to me it's a goat sound =angry? ) at Peaches and chases her out the sleeping area and is just a bit mean in the hutch. But seems fine in the run and they even popcorn etc. She has also seemed to try and get on her from behind in the run but Peaches runs away then it's normal for a while.

When I was tickling Pumpkin under the chin she was fine but when I stopped she seemed to have a go at Peaches for no reason. So I just tapped the hutch and she stopped.

She also isn't that great at being held at the moment always wriggling to get free, but used to be fine. Could this be hormones or is it because she is now spending more time in the run than with us due to nice weather?

One other thing to consider is we have also moved the hutch outside so until Easter she was in the hutch in the dining room. But since we got her a friend they have been outside. So would the less hustle and bustle change her?

Sorry for the massive post.
Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

hi

So my two have been in together for 2 weeks now. Outside in a hutch with daily time in the run. Pumpkin is 5 months and Peaches 10 weeks.

Firstly is it normal for a lone gp who gets a friend to stop being so friendly and welcoming to humans? She used to run up to the cage and it the bars when it was food time etc. She hardly does any of this now Peaches is there.

Also the last two days she seems to turn on Peaches and makes that sound ( to me it's a goat sound =angry? ) at Peaches and chases her out the sleeping area and is just a bit mean in the hutch. But seems fine in the run and they even popcorn etc. She has also seemed to try and get on her from behind in the run but Peaches runs away then it's normal for a while.

When I was tickling Pumpkin under the chin she was fine but when I stopped she seemed to have a go at Peaches for no reason. So I just tapped the hutch and she stopped.

She also isn't that great at being held at the moment always wriggling to get free, but used to be fine. Could this be hormones or is it because she is now spending more time in the run than with us due to nice weather?

One other thing to consider is we have also moved the hutch outside so until Easter she was in the hutch in the dining room. But since we got her a friend they have been outside. So would the less hustle and bustle change her?

Sorry for the massive post.
Thanks

Hi and welcome!

Your two girls are in the middle of the dominance phase fo the bonding process. This is essential to establishing a hierarchy. As your girl has now got piggy company AND is coming on top, she naturally is no longer quite as dependent on you; but the friendly relationship will rebalance. enjoy seeing her popcorning with her new friend in the knowledge that you have made Pumpkin very happy and will in time be able to enjoy cuddles with both girls, not just one.

Please make sure that there are no hideys with just one exit during the dominance phase, so the underpiggy cannot get caught. Chucking underpiggies out of the prime spot, be it food bowl or sleeping area, chasing, forcing he chin up are all typical sominancve behaviours.

I would also recommend to feed pellets and vegetables in a bowl each in small portions that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times daily with the bowls removed between meals. That prevents food hogging and attracting vermin. In the meantime, your girls can eat unlimited hay, which should make around 80% of the daily food intake for good health and longevity, so they are not missing out.
Also always feed, handle, cuddle and groom the dominant piggy first. It keeps things on an even keel if you observe the hierarchy, too. If you engage in dominance behaviour with Pumpkin (lifting the chin), you will see it travel down the ladder.

If your girls are in an outdoors hutch, please protect it well in the current cold weather spell!
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot Weather Management And Heat Strokes

You may find these guides here helpful in understanding what is going on:
Sow Behaviour
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
We have more information via this link here and at the top of our various Care sections which you may find interesting: New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit

 

[Wookey78]

@Wiebke thank you. I hope you are ok.

I have read most of the links and followed lots of suggestions already. Cardboard house with 3 exits( in the run) two bowls two water bottle. We have just been putting the veg on the floor of the hutch at the moment as it looked a bit crowded with the two tunnels as well and Peaches is still too timid to go to the bowl she eats it at the back of the hutch.

I wouldn't have thought that about the chin tickling! Thank you. I have wrapped the hutch panels in insulating bubble wrap stuff. I did have a quilt and tarpaulin over the hutch on top of the normal cover but have removed the quilt. So hopefully the 3 layers is enough. I also put lots of extra bedding hay at the back of the main cage in case Peaches gets kicked out. Poor thing she looks so tiny compared to Pumpkin.

I also forgot to ask would me cleaning the hutch out also have had an effect? As I done that on Sunday held Pumpkin then put her in. Then Peaches turn next.

Thanks for being so helpful. Still very much a novice 4 months down the line.

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke thank you. I hope you are ok.

I have read most of the links and followed lots of suggestions already. Cardboard house with 3 exits( in the run) two bowls two water bottle. We have just been putting the veg on the floor of the hutch at the moment as it looked a bit crowded with the two tunnels as well and Peaches is still too timid to go to the bowl she eats it at the back of the hutch.

I wouldn't have thought that about the chin tickling! Thank you. I have wrapped the hutch panels in insulating bubble wrap stuff. I did have a quilt and tarpaulin over the hutch on top of the normal cover but have removed the quilt. So hopefully the 3 layers is enough. I also put lots of extra bedding hay at the back of the main cage in case Peaches gets kicked out. Poor thing she looks so tiny compared to Pumpkin.

I also forgot to ask would me cleaning the hutch out also have had an effect? As I done that on Sunday held Pumpkin then put her in. Then Peaches turn next.

Thanks for being so helpful. Still very much a novice 4 months down the line.

No, a cage clean doesn't matter. Some boars, especially during the iffy testosterone high teenage months, can react to the loss of what they consider their marked territory, but it is not usually a problem with sows.
Pumpkin is simply in the process of adjusting to being a lead sow and the resulting gain in status - that works upwards with you as well as downwards. She is also now in the teenage months when pushing the boundaries is normal; not just in humans! Dominance will stop (or only flare up when she comes into season, especially at first) once she feels confident and comfortable with her new role and she is more relaxed about it.

Guinea pig ownership (like parenthood) is a life long learning curve. I am still on it, too...