Sisters chasing ?

[Rebecca01]

Hi
I have recently picked up my two new piggies- they are very nearly 7 weeks and two sisters.

Most of the time when I’m in the room they seem fine, but then sometimes the bigger sister (the other was the runt of the litter) will chase the smaller one away from the food bowl if she is there too, or will push her away/chase her. They seem happy enough the rest of the time, but wasn’t sure if this was playing or aggressive behaviour?
I had four girls before and don’t remember seeing this behaviour but they lived outside so I probably saw less of what went on than I do with these two who I keep inside.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Chasing very normal, it’s mild dominance and not of concern.
They will also be in a period of establishing their relationship (which happens in any new environment).
Plus they will be coming into season (first time happens at around 4-6 weeks of age and then around every 15-17 days thereafter) so you will see dominance at those times.

We don’t recommend the use food bowls though. We recommend you have two large hay piles and then scatter feed their veg and pellet portions into the hay for them to forage. This serves two purposes:

1. Stops the dominant from being able to hog food and prevent the other from eating.

2. Encourages mental stimulation. Piggies spend a large part of their day foraging through loose piles of hay, it keeps them occupied. Looking for their veg and pellets also encourages that foraging. Whereas eating from a bowl is a mindless activity over in a few minutes.

Make sure you are carrying out the routine weekly weight checks to ensure they are both eating enough hay

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
I have recently picked up my two new piggies- they are very nearly 7 weeks and two sisters.

Most of the time when I’m in the room they seem fine, but then sometimes the bigger sister (the other was the runt of the litter) will chase the smaller one away from the food bowl if she is there too, or will push her away/chase her. They seem happy enough the rest of the time, but wasn’t sure if this was playing or aggressive behaviour?
I had four girls before and don’t remember seeing this behaviour but they lived outside so I probably saw less of what went on than I do with these two who I keep inside.

Hi and welcome

This is normal dominance behaviour that will become more pronounced whenever the dominant sow will come into season around every two weeks.
Here is a bit more information on settling-in dominance and seasons: Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Please sprinkle feed round the cage to minimise dominance s well as for general important enrichment purposes.
Only have huts, tunnels etc. with two exits; at least one place for each piggy so they cannot be dominance 'locked in'. It is a myth that guinea pigs sleep together; they have in fact evolved by creating their own little tunnel/grass cocoons close to each other in the thick undergrowth of the denning area but they don't den in a shared room or nest. Even very closely bonded piggies will generally spend part of the night apart unless there is a strong emotional dependency once they stop being babies.
See especially the chapter on group establishment and dominance: New Guinea Pigs: How to Best Manage Arrival and Settling In

The links are part of our very helpful practical information resource for new owners. You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need as you will pick up on different things at different levels of experience: Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners