Are They Fighting Or Just Sorting Who Is Boss?

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GPmummy

GPmummy

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Hi all, as some of you might be aware at Christmas time we got two baby guinea pigs and that we are first time piggie owners. They are boys born on 28th November and are related though I do not think they are brothers. They came from a farm where they were together and have been in a cage together since 24th December. One was very scary but he has come out of himself recently after lots of tlc and cuddles in a hat! The other day I noticed a small scab on Hattie's (the more timid ones) back. It was healing but today he has come in for a cuddle and he has a cut on his nose and one at the side on his face. We recently noticed they do annoy each other but thought that was just because they were standing on each other and it is very hard to work out who is starting it. Should I be very concerned or are they just sorting out the pecking order between them.
Thank you for your continued help.

* just been watching them and Hattie (the timid one and one with cuts) got right in the face of Ted and Ted backed right up. Then Hattie started to grind his teeth. One of them in the hutch is also making a deep, vibrate, purr noise but I am not sure which one.

Very worried about them :soz:
 
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I'm no boar expert, but it sounds like they have been fighting, if there's been scabs on a piggies back, it is not just sorting out who's boss.
I think Wiebke is needed!
 
It sounds like there is some serious winding up going, which has ended in a few scuffles. I'd think that you have to consider separation as the two are rather obviously not working out as a pair. How old are they? They sound like they have hit the big teenage hormones and you little boy is a dominant character. :(

I would recommend to do a test run. Separate them for a night in cages next to each other and see whether one of the boys is noticeably happier when on his own (relationship is not working) or if they both want to be together again. That should give you your answer without having to risk a fight.

PS: Give your boys a bath before you put them back together if they still want to be together; that washes off the offending testosterone stink.

As a consolation: it does NOT matter one bit whether baby boys are related or not; that is unfortunately a breeder's myth. What matters is that their personalities are compatible when they go through the big hormonal flashes together, as same age baby boys have the biggest fall-out rate, brothers just the same as unrelated boys. Two dominant boys are bound to clash. :(
 
We sadly don't have the space to separate them unless we purchase a new hutch as they are in a hutch in the garage as present. They seem to want to be together and when running around they go to be with each other. I have put a couple of hiding places in the upstairs of their hutch so they can separate themselves if they want. They will be 8 weeks tomorrow
 
That is too early for the hormones, but if dominance is that fierce already it doesn't bode well for when the hormones kick in in another month.

Sorry that it isn't the way you'd imagined your start into piggy ownership. :(
 
Is there really no other option? Clearly I want to do what is best but we are limited on space here. Do you think having the places to escape to might help them?
 
To be honest, if they don't gel character-wise, they don't gel. All the tricks in the world can stave problems off for a little while, but not forever. You can try, but please don't close your eyes to realities. Use any time to have a plan B in place in case it doesn't work out.

We all would love our piggies to get on with each other, but unfortunately, sometimes it is not to be - it is the same like sticking two people who very much get on each other's nerves into a small office and expect them to become best friends. Piggies can be very specific in who they get on with, just like people in furry business suits!
 
We have a good group but thst doesnt stop minor spats, like siblings. IE - Astro our Boar will often head butt Star if she gets really close but come bed time they will snuggle up together like an old married couple. However, I have seen what happens when you try to get two piggies that dont get on come together. We tried introducing a sow to the group who was only about 8 weeks old and she hated the group on sight and they didnt like her. When she literally leaped at Astro and her started to chatter wildly I separated them with a baking tray and removed her. Age has nothing to do with it or blood ties (indeed these could make it worse). I echo Wiebke and I think you should try her suggestions.
 
Thank you for all the advice. They are together tonight and tomorrow we are going to completely clean hutch and give them both a bath. If they doesn't help then it looks like we will be separating them. Does that seem a sensible option? As we only noticed the fighting/dominance today I have all my fingers crossed it is a one off :soz:
 
I had an issue recently with my two boars not getting on. I really didnt want to separate them but after the timid one got a scratch that resulted in a big scab on his nose I decided it was best. The both seem a lot happier, the dominant one has become a lot louder again and the timid one had become more friendly. I'm going now looking into dating for new friends so they can be really happy.
I didnt relise how much it was affecting them both until I separated them
Also I found towards the end my timid boar wouldnt go into hides that only had one entry/exit. He was scared of not getting out. Now he loves his fleecy bed!
 
Well they seem happier today, still grumbling at each other but no signs of new marks and they are continuing to want to snuggle together. I noticed this morning they fought over food so they now have two food bowls, two treat bowls and two water bottles. I have also put two nesting balls in there sleep section to snuggle in and also left a space if they want to snuggle together (which is where I have found them ever time I have checked on them today).
 
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