Stroppy Sows

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lastgirl

lastgirl

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Hi All,

Newbie worrying again - am hoping one of the girls in my pair isn't bullying the other - I have read that to us humans it looks / sounds much worse that it is but being new I do not know what is bad / normal piggy behaviour.

I managed to get a video clip - is there anyway I can post it here and could someone take a look for me? Or could I PM / email it it to someone? I could do with help, I could separate if needs be but don't want to interfere unecessicarily.

We had this for a couple of days in the beginning, but had settled down lovely but tonight Treacle has been rumbling and chasing pudding - I do not think she is biting, but Pudding is squeaking and not very happy. Could she be in season and trying to mount her? Pudding has never done this, Treacle is the only one to have ever rumbled and been a bit of a bully (or so it appears to me). Pud is chilling out minding her own but Treacle goes to bother her. I have had them 3 weeks, there were housed together with 4 others prior to this. They have never "snuggled" up together, but they will sit munching from the same hay pile - all had settled quite well until tonight, treacle seems quite persistant with bothering her.

Thanks folks, just want them to be happy piggies
 
BUMP! Please, worried about leaving them overnight together
 
Have a look at Wiebke's helpful post on sow behaviour http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?38561-Sow-behaviour

It doesn't sound like behaviour you should be worried about, just the normal run of things. It may just be that as they have gone down to a group of two they need to sort out who is top pig, especially if they are youngsters and going through hormonal patches. One of my females would frequently harass the others when she was in season, constantly rumblestrutting and mounting, but it didn't last very long and was just part of her reasserting her top position. As you've read, what looks like worrying behaviour to us is usually normal to them, and if you separate them, they will have to start sorting things out all over again when they are reintroduced.
 
It could just be that she is in season so I would leave them and see how they go. Really only if blood is drawn or one of them is injured should you separate. My 2 girls went through a phase of fighting because they were in a cage that was too small, how big is your cage? They are probably sorting out there dominance so unless it gets worse (injuries etc) I would just leave them to it.
 
120 x 60cm - two tier. Thanks everyone, it is currently sounding so awful but I don't want to interfere and make it worse
 
My Cleopatra and Nefertiti are like this- Cleopatra is almost 200g heavier than her friend and she knows how to throw it about; she's always sending Nefertiti scurrying out of hidey holes that she appropriates for herself, and watching them squabble over veg is quite funny. Often she'll waggle her arse and make deep purring sounds, while Nefertiti makes squealing, warbling noises that sound quite agitated. A month back there was a lot of nipping and butting from Cleopatra as well, though Nefertiti seems to have got wise to that and just clears out now.

I experimented with separating them early on, but Nefertiti just scuttled around the cage wheeking and looking for her friend. They might not snuggle together, but they do seem to enjoy each other's company, they play follow the leader during floor time and run laps around the cage together. It's a dysfunctional little relationship, but apparently that's Guinea Pigs for you.
 
Thanks for the link ortonc - not having had them before I wasn't sure, I think I was panicing at the amount of noise poor pudding was making, she sounded so upset!
And thanks bubble&squeakforever - the cage is great, has taken them 3 weeks to suss out there is a second floor and start using it, so pleased. I need to get a run sorted - hopefully this weekend if I can find something locally, need to start them on their floor time now.

I wonder if finding a new level has maybe contributed to treacle proving she is top piggie again, or maybe one of them is in season. Hopefully this time tomorrow it will be peaceful again :O)

It has gone quiet - lights out now so fingers crossed!

I
 
I saw the title of the thread and wondered what the wife had been doing now! :)) :)) :))
 
The high pitched wheeking is just the lower ranked sow showing she is accepting the other one being dominant. I used to do the same as you and panic that she was getting hurt, but it is just their way of saying "all right you're the boss!". They will have the odd bicker, but if they're like mine, the only time it goes on a bit is when something has happened to unsettle the balance. It does sound like going from 6 to 2 they need to bicker out the pecking order.
 
They are chilled out piggies again today, none of the sillyness :-) Living peacefully again.

Thanks for your reassurance everyone
 
My Freddie and baz were same baz was the bigger one nicking his food then eating his own chasing him they never had fights where blood was drawn Freddie was always wheeking loud and you knew baz was up to something lol They never slept close to each other it was only from the other day when Freddie became hill that baz slept next to him and would not leave his side
 
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