Stress Or Moulting

[Sian Drinkwater]

Hi
My female guinea pigs gave birth two weeks ago and has just recently shortened the length of her hair. She is a long haired lunkarya and there is no sign of hair in her cage. Is she just moulting or is she stressed. How can I help her if she is stressed.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
My female guinea pigs gave birth two weeks ago and has just recently shortened the length of her hair. She is a long haired lunkarya and there is no sign of hair in her cage. Is she just moulting or is she stressed. How can I help her if she is stressed.

Barbering is not uncommon in guinea pigs. It is most likely either her babies or herself; see what is the case. Self-barbering points to bodily discomfort/pain or in some piggies from a stressful background to a nervous habit. Please take the time to read our guide; it discusses the various aspects of barbering in detail. You should find it helpful.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

Please be aware that you need to separate any male babies at 3 weeks old.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sexing-separating-baby-boars-and-rehoming-babies.109391/

 

[Sian Drinkwater]

I’ve worked out that it is her son who is barbering others. I’ve moved him in with other young males and he’s been doing it to them. What should I do? Is it best to separate him andp keep him on his own? He is meant to be living with three adult males in a few weeks time so I need to know what’s best for him and the other guinea pigs.

 

[Claire W]

I’ve worked out that it is her son who is barbering others. I’ve moved him in with other young males and he’s been doing it to them. What should I do? Is it best to separate him andp keep him on his own? He is meant to be living with three adult males in a few weeks time so I need to know what’s best for him and the other guinea pigs.

Please do not seperate him. Barbering really isn’t an issue and he doesn’t deserve to live alone because of it.

I have a piggy who’s fur is shorter than it should be as she gets barbered.

The barbered piggies don’t even realise that they’ve had a hair cut

 

[Sian Drinkwater]

I don’t mind so much that he is barbering, I’ll just need to inform his new owners so that they are aware.

 

[Freela]

Barbering is more of a nuisance behavior than anything else. It doesn't mean he shouldn't be with other pigs and there's no risk to him (i.e. they won't form hairballs like a cat.) He may well grow out of the behavior on his own (one of my pigs would periodically barber her cagemate... no rhyme or reason to it at all. She would be constantly at it for a few weeks and then stop for months.)