Bullying guinea pigs

[Hillab]

Hello, looking for some help and knowledge.
I have 3 piggies - mammy pig and 2 babies (sows).

babies are 8 weeks old now and baby 1 has started getting very chatty and very brave and I think she may be trying to take charge but mammy pig shuts her down every day.
They are settling in their new home and they share a large hidey with 2 entrances, over the last few days baby 2 (the runt) haa started sleeping just over the door if the hidey.
is she too hot or is she getting bullied by baby 1 or mammy pig?

 

[Piggies&buns]

This isn’t bullying. Not all piggies like to cuddle up with others.
However, you really need multiples of items - three bowls and bottles, three hay piles and three (or more) separate hideys - one hidey for each piggy - so that they all have somewhere to go and no piggy can claim any one hidey as their own. This can help prevent a lot of issues.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, looking for some help and knowledge.
I have 3 piggies - mammy pig and 2 babies (sows).

babies are 8 weeks old now and baby 1 has started getting very chatty and very brave and I think she may be trying to take charge but mammy pig shuts her down every day.
They are settling in their new home and they share a large hidey with 2 entrances, over the last few days baby 2 (the runt) haa started sleeping just over the door if the hidey.
is she too hot or is she getting bullied by baby 1 or mammy pig?

Hi!

This is not bullying but part of establishing their family group in new territory, which means you see a lot of dominance behaviours travelling down the ranks; dominance in group is always strongest against the sow just ranked below in order to reinforce the placement. Any uninvolved party will stay away if possible. It will settle down in good time; usually around 2 weeks plus the first few stronger seasons with sows. Babies are just so vocal and dramatic!
Please provide a hidey for each piggy; it is widespread misconception that they all sleep together all the time. In fact, the opposite is true - but it doesn't make for cute videos and pictures!

Here is more information on dominance behaviours:
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[MimiCreamie18]

 

[Hillab]

Hi!

This is not bullying but part of establishing their family group in new territory, which means you see a lot of dominance behaviours travelling down the ranks; dominance in group is always strongest against the sow just ranked below in order to reinforce the placement. Any uninvolved party will stay away if possible. It will settle down in good time; usually around 2 weeks plus the first few stronger seasons with sows. Babies are just so vocal and dramatic!
Please provide a hidey for each piggy; it is widespread misconception that they all sleep together all the time. In fact, the opposite is true - but it doesn't make for cute videos and pictures!

Here is more information on dominance behaviours:
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Thank you so much!

 

[Hillab]

This isn’t bullying. Not all piggies like to cuddle up with others.
However, you really need multiples of items - three bowls and bottles, three hay piles and three (or more) separate hideys - one hidey for each piggy - so that they all have somewhere to go and no piggy can claim any one hidey as their own. This can help prevent a lot of issues.

Thank you