Baby Sows

[starla]

After many years of piggie owning - and having a relaxed group of older ladies - I have been given two baby sows. They are about 8 weeks old.
I've never had a problem with ones so young before. One sow is very active and noisy, the other a bit quieter and hides a bit more. Whenever the active pig gets nearer the quiet pig, quiet pig nips her and makes her squeal. She also chases her out of any hiding places. They obviously aren't going to be best buddies ever but is there any way I can make things easier?

 

[Wiebke]

After many years of piggie owning - and having a relaxed group of older ladies - I have been given two baby sows. They are about 8 weeks old.
I've never had a problem with ones so young before. One sow is very active and noisy, the other a bit quieter and hides a bit more. Whenever the active pig gets nearer the quiet pig, quiet pig nips her and makes her squeal. She also chases her out of any hiding places. They obviously aren't going to be best buddies ever but is there any way I can make things easier?

What you are experiencing is normal dominance behaviour as your girls are establishing a hierarchy and therefore a working social group. The behaviour is very much in milder range. The loud squeaking is submission and not caused by pain, as the nipping is a very careful judged gesture of power, letting an underpiggy just feel the teeth without breaking the skin. it is also par for the course to establish supremacy when it comes to food and choice of hideys. Young guinea pigs are very vocal and dramatic, so it can come as quite some shock.
Once the dominance has been sorted, your girls can then concentrate on becoming good friends afterwards.

Ideally, you have more than one hidey. I would also strongly recommend to serve pellets and veg in several portions that can be eaten in one go in a bowl each per piggy to prevent food hogging. Unlimited hay should make up to 80% of the daily food intake, so your girls will have plenty of the best stuff to eat in the meantime!

Sow Behaviour

We have got more information on behaviour and settling-in tips in our starter kit, which you may find helpful: " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

 

[starla]

Thank you Wiebke. I'm reassured it's just mild dominance. The babies do sound super dramatic. I will occasionally see similar with my older girls - they'll push another out of a hidey place but they are not as dramatic/squeaky, they just run off.

I have now put another hidey in the cage and I spread their veg around so they both get a chance. Hopefully it'll all settle down in a few weeks!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you Wiebke. I'm reassured it's just mild dominance. The babies do sound super dramatic. I will occasionally see similar with my older girls - they'll push another out of a hidey place but they are not as dramatic/squeaky, they just run off.

I have now put another hidey in the cage and I spread their veg around so they both get a chance. Hopefully it'll all settle down in a few weeks!

They generally are at their most vocal (and dramatic) during the first 4 months of their lives - that is the time when they are at their most vulnerable to predators and other dangers, so all the chattering when not asleep is a constant status update for the group. The dominance phase lasts on average about 2 weeks until everything is settled, but it is generally the first few days that are the toughest.

 

[starla]

Should they also be going for each other when having lap time? I can understand it when in their own environment, but if they are sat side by side on my lap there is a lot of cross-ness and going for the face