Barbering...any reasons behind it?

[Shellza]

I wasn't sure what section suited this question best, but I was wondering if there is any reason/cause for a guinea pig to start barbering?

In the 3 years I've had her, Lexi has never barbered before, but all of a sudden Archie is missing chunks of hair and I've caught Lexi nibbling him. I wondered if maybe it had something to do with the UTI she's recovering from or maybe a deficiency in something.
I was just wondering if any one else had any experience of this or if there is a known cause for a pig to suddenly start eating hair.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

I hear alot of talk about it being a nervous issue, like elephants who sway their heads.. not that I would suggest your guinea isn't well rounded/looked after. But the period of sickness she may have suffered may have put her through some odd self medicative behaviours which might have exaggerated.

Of course it could also be fixated grooming, or dominance?

My girl started doing it to herself since she developed an abcess on her hip. She nibbles the hair on the hind side of it.. Makes it easier for me to find to clean of course But I have to periodically pull hair from her teeth which gets trapped at the gum line (my girl had an op on her tongue and she can't move her tongue forward anymore to clear the hair herself).

 

[Shellza]

Yeah, it's odd as she's only really started in the last few weeks. I've never noticed it before. As you say...it may be her way of coping with the pain or stress. I wondered if it could be caused by a deficiency in something that could then be supplemented, but then I don't see how hair could be a substitute for anything :{. She is still on antibiotics and pain meds which may be messing around with her system a bit.