Bullying?

[Tiayra]

So. I have a new baby Guinea pig that I just introduced to my teenage Guinea pig. The older one is Nanook, and the younger one is Nymeria. Now, Nanook and Nymeria seem to be getting along.. Until Nymeria tries to do anything. Nanook will chase her and make her scared. This is the first day, so I get she may be testing Nymeria's limit. But is Nanook bullying Nymeria? She won't even let her move. She barely lets her go to the food. Maybe it's just because I'm nervous, it is only the first day. But did anyone else have these problems?

 

[Wiebke]

So. I have a new baby Guinea pig that I just introduced to my teenage Guinea pig. The older one is Nanook, and the younger one is Nymeria. Now, Nanook and Nymeria seem to be getting along.. Until Nymeria tries to do anything. Nanook will chase her and make her scared. This is the first day, so I get she may be testing Nymeria's limit. But is Nanook bullying Nymeria? She won't even let her move. She barely lets her go to the food. Maybe it's just because I'm nervous, it is only the first day. But did anyone else have these problems?

Hi! This is normal dominance behaviour as your two girls are forming a hierarchy. Please removed any hidey with just one exit, so the underpiggy cannot be caught in a corner. Always stage an introductions in a neutral area to avoid the new arrival being seen as an intruder. The dominance phase can last days or even weeks.

You may find these guides here helpful:
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Sow Behaviour

 

[Tiayra]

Even with the fact that she won't let the little one eat or drink? Will that just phase out?

 

[Wiebke]

Even with the fact that she won't let the little one eat or drink? Will that just phase out?

That should hopefully settle. How did you introduce?

Please provide two of each during the dominance phase, bowls, water bottles, hideys with two openings and access to hay - or have two hay corners. And please read the guides I have given you.

 

[Tiayra]

Their introduction went pretty good. I put them on the kitchen floor, neither had ever been there. I put two plates of food filled with veggies and hay. Nanook never bit Nymeria hard enough to draw blood, so I never intervened. Two hours went by and they were sitting near each other and eating. The occasional chase but nothing bad. So while they remained in the cage I went and deep cleaned the cage I was going to put them in together. They were doing alright for 3 hours, but Nanook would constantly chase down poor Nymeria, every time she would go to get food or water. Then it stopped. For an hour. Nanook quit chasing Nymeria, nymeria came out and ate played and everything. But after that hour everything went back to the way it was. Then at midnight I went to sleep, woke up at 5 and Nymeria was in the same exact place she had been when I went to sleep, as was Nanook.

I did have a hidey that only had one opening. I have taken it out and replaced it with two double ended tunnels.

 

[Tiayra]

Oh. And if you are wondering about their cage set up. It is a training pad underneath a blanket. Litter box in the corner. Hay on the side. Two bowls of food. Two water bottles. 3 tunnel hides. Is there something I should adjust or change?

 

[Wiebke]

Oh. And if you are wondering about their cage set up. It is a training pad underneath a blanket. Litter box in the corner. Hay on the side. Two bowls of food. Two water bottles. 3 tunnel hides. Is there something I should adjust or change?

No, that is fine! Just make sure that the food bowls, bottles and hidey are well apart, so the dominant piggy physically can't control both at a time. Serve pellets and veg in smaller portions 2-3 times a day, so the big piggy can't hog it all. In the meantime, make sure that there is plenty of hay And if necessary, put out a bit more hay in one of the unused food bowls.
After that, it is just sitting it out. It should get less with every passing day.

 

[Tiayra]

Hmmm... Their food bowls and water were kind of close. I moved them to total opposite ends of the cage. The moment I did, Nymeria ran up and ate, and Nanook didn't chase her down. That was very helpful advice. Thank you! I'll be sure to keep an eye on them and keep you guys updated. Thank you, again, so much.

 

[Tiayra]

Well now that it's more sunlight outside, they have been going nuts in that cage. They are running around endlessly. Nymeria is eating more I noticed, and constantly squeaking (don't know if that is good or not). About an hour ago it seemed like they were playing hide and seek or something? It still seems like Nanook might be bullying a little bit, but Nymeria is actually getting food now, which is really nice.

 

[Tiayra]

I did have a question. At what point can I take them out of the cage and hold them again? I would imagine that I should wait until they're done asserting dominance? But I just wanted to see if there is a specific time, or if it's anytime.

 

[Wiebke]

I did have a question. At what point can I take them out of the cage and hold them again? I would imagine that I should wait until they're done asserting dominance? But I just wanted to see if there is a specific time, or if it's anytime.

It sounds like things are going the right way. Youngsters are chatting away the whole time they are in motion, so that is an encouraging sign that she has bonded. I would let them get on with it for today and then reassess tomorrow. Please always feed, handle, treat and cuddle Nanook first - it helps when you observe the existing hierarchy.

 

[Tiayra]

Update on my pigs:
Things are going amazing! There are no longer any tiffs! Nymeria is eating, although she is still cautious of me and my boyfriend. They seem to stick to each other's side a lot. Not just Nanook clinging to Nymeria anymore. Now if Nanook runs away, Nymeria follows. Is that good? They love playing hide & seek and I think tag. It's really adorable to wake up to. But things are going amazing. Thank you for all your advice!

 

[Wiebke]

Update on my pigs:
Things are going amazing! There are no longer any tiffs! Nymeria is eating, although she is still cautious of me and my boyfriend. They seem to stick to each other's side a lot. Not just Nanook clinging to Nymeria anymore. Now if Nanook runs away, Nymeria follows. Is that good? They love playing hide & seek and I think tag. It's really adorable to wake up to. But things are going amazing. Thank you for all your advice!

It is very much going the right way! Youngsters tend to choose an adult they follow round to learn from and to be reassured by.

Two years back my neutered boar Bedo did an amazing job with his triplet baby "wifelets" bounding after him wherever he went! I was too cute!