OPINION NEEDED

[Lucy26]

PLEASE READ Hello all. I got my boars on Friday evening. It is now Monday evening. I’m curious if I should separate my pigs. Background info- adopted from petsmart. Bought as a gift but returned bc child didn’t want them. They live in a c and c cage. It’s a 2x4 (with the large grids) they have their own houses on opposite sides their own beds and their own food dishes. Poppy is dominant. Sesame is submissive. Problem is they fight often. I wouldn’t say constantly, and I could be wrong but i don’t think it’s play fighting. Poppy will often rumble strut all up in sesames space and they often see who’s chin is higher. I’ve seen poppy laying in front of the igloo once. Idk if it was intentional to trap sesame or not (sesame was sleeping) they do eat together often and usually they’re in their own houses but sometimes they’re together. Usually poppy will go inside a house and push out sesame. I think sesame is getting tired of poppy constantly claiming dominance because he used to ignore it and agree to he submissive but now he’s starting to chase him when he rumble struts at him. Poppy tends to popcorn after he rumble struts. Now sesame has been popcorning also while they chase eachother They’ve been running all over and today sesame kept running in circles seemingly frantic/annoyed and Popcorning. I’m thinking of waiting it out. If it continues or gets worse I have a friend who’s offered to take the dominant one poppy and try to introduce him to her pair. And then I would go to petsmart and hold all of the guinea pigs to see which one matches how sesame acted in the cage and when I held him then I’d buy that one and introduce him to sesame and hope for the best.

 

[Wiebke]

PLEASE READ Hello all. I got my boars on Friday evening. It is now Monday evening. I’m curious if I should separate my pigs. Background info- adopted from petsmart. Bought as a gift but returned bc child didn’t want them. They live in a c and c cage. It’s a 2x4 (with the large grids) they have their own houses on opposite sides their own beds and their own food dishes. Poppy is dominant. Sesame is submissive. Problem is they fight often. I wouldn’t say constantly, and I could be wrong but i don’t think it’s play fighting. Poppy will often rumble strut all up in sesames space and they often see who’s chin is higher. I’ve seen poppy laying in front of the igloo once. Idk if it was intentional to trap sesame or not (sesame was sleeping) they do eat together often and usually they’re in their own houses but sometimes they’re together. Usually poppy will go inside a house and push out sesame. I think sesame is getting tired of poppy constantly claiming dominance because he used to ignore it and agree to he submissive but now he’s starting to chase him when he rumble struts at him. Poppy tends to popcorn after he rumble struts. Now sesame has been popcorning also while they chase eachother They’ve been running all over and today sesame kept running in circles seemingly frantic/annoyed and Popcorning. I’m thinking of waiting it out. If it continues or gets worse I have a friend who’s offered to take the dominant one poppy and try to introduce him to her pair. And then I would go to petsmart and hold all of the guinea pigs to see which one matches how sesame acted in the cage and when I held him then I’d buy that one and introduce him to sesame and hope for the best.

Hi! Take a deep breath! What you see is normal mild dominance behaviour as your boys work through estalishing a working group and hierarchy. This phase lasts quite some time after introduction.

If your boys are popcorning, then they are happy and not fighting. Running like mad (often in circles) is called zoomies; again it is an expression of excess energy and being happy.

Feel blessed - your boys are making themselves very much at home and they are fine together!

 

[Lucy26]

Hi! Take a deep breath! What you see is normal mild dominance behaviour as your boys work through estalishing a working group and hierarchy. This phase lasts quite some time after introduction.

If your boys are popcorning, then they are happy and not fighting. Running like mad (often in circles) is called zoomies; again it is an expression of excess energy and being happy.

Feel blessed - your boys are making themselves very much at home and they are fine together!

Ahhh I read somewhere that popcorning can also mean agitation, hence why I was concerned. Thanks then

 

[Siikibam]

If you can, make the cage bigger - 2x5 is good. Boats need more space than girls due to being more territorial. As said it’s all normal Enjoy watching them popcorn and zoom!
PS pics are ALWSYS welcome

 

[DM030819]

I find if I've got one boy who wants to be annoying and either block another pig in a house, or barge them out then a house with two entrances really make a difference.

 

[Lucy26]

If you can, make the cage bigger - 2x5 is good. Boats need more space than girls due to being more territorial. As said it’s all normal Enjoy watching them popcorn and zoom!
PS pics are ALWSYS welcome

I can’t quite make the cage any bigger rn. I only have a 2x4 fleece, and I’d need to find a better set up of furniture in my room, which I don’t think is possible. The rooms a 10x7, the cage and supply shelves takes up a lot of space.heres a photo.

I find if I've got one boy who wants to be annoying and either block another pig in a house, or barge them out then a house with two entrances really make a difference.

where do you find such a house? I can’t find one

 

[DM030819]

@Lucy26 You can use cardboard boxes and cut entrances into them. Step stools also work as long as they're not chewers.

 

[sport_billy]

We use these sticks as houses

Wooden Playsticks Large | Pets At Home