Strange behavior question

[Derek Mc]

My daughters piggies are sisters and as we got them one two weeks after the other when about 8 and then naturally 10 weeks old they get on fairly well when in the hutch but do nip and fight occasionally. Strangely they do seem to nip more if we hold them and put them together side by side or similar which we find odd.

However tonight it got all a bit strange the more adventurous and outgoing one was (after getting the hutch cleaned and a fresh feed added) doing the leave me alone noise and chasing the more submissive then vice versa and nipping is going on far more than usual. Both piggies are now around 5 1/2 months old so am a bit unsure what is on her mind tonight, but if anyone can help?

 

[Wiebke]

Sister can be often quite bickering (I have such a pair myself). They may also not like to be forced close together.

It sounds like your girls are either in season or in the middle of a dominance dispute (which is often triggered by a hormonal season). Girls at that age often have hormonal surges, like boars, but they usually don't end up in fal outs.

Here is more about sow behaviour: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561

 

[Derek Mc]

Thank you so much we were all quite worried, Lucy appears to have been the runt of the litter and is a real beauty with more personality than Ruby Wax, Abi we bought later to give Lucy some company and they have got on so well after the first day of bickering but tonight she is just a bit of a bully to poor abi and they are not eating properly 9well Lucy isn't)

Phew,,,, relief as they are much loved we thing's

 

[Wiebke]

If necessary, have 2-3 bowls well spaced apart to make sure that a bullied girl can eat her bit.