Bullying?

Paetwood

Paetwood

Junior Guinea Pig
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Sep 13, 2019
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So after the loss of my Panic, I got my guinea Fleetwood a new cage mate, we quarantined her for about a week and then went to the vet and got an all clear. We introduced over 3 days of holding them both, but not caving them together. Yesterday my dad was holding both of them and said Fleetwood (8 months+/-) bit Heart (2 months?) on the face. There was no blood or mark. But in the cage it seems that Fleetwood bullies Heart. She randomly like puts her face up to Heart and next thing I know she like charges her face (I don’t know if the biting her?) into Heart’s face and Heart shrieks, but when I check in her there doesn’t appear to be any visible harm. Fleetwood also popcorns an zooms when Heart is in the cage. Should I separate them? I want Fleetwood and Heart to not be lonely it I want to make sure Hearts doesn’t get the food+water stolen and/or hurt.

I turned the lights I have around their cage off 30 mins ago, and I’ve only heard one shriek (no visible wound), but Fleetwood is sitting down, staying parked by the food and near the water. And Heart won’t come out of her igloo.
 
Edit:

After about 10 mins of sitting by the water Fleetwood (bully?) went in the same hideout as Heart (I have 2). And Heart started squeaking/squealing (she’s ok). But neither have moved. I found them in the same hideout last Morning. I don’t get it.
 
The squealing is not a sign of pain. It's heart saying that she's the submissive piggy. It's kind of like "ok, ok, you're the boss!". Have you seen heart being refused access to shelter, water or food? Has she lost weight at all? It sounds like normal dominance behaviour at the moment and this can go on for a couple of weeks after introduction. I would not separate at the moment
 
Paetwood said:
Edit:

After about 10 mins of sitting by the water Fleetwood (bully?) went in the same hideout as Heart (I have 2). And Heart started squeaking/squealing (she’s ok). But neither have moved. I found them in the same hideout last Morning. I don’t get it.
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Hi!

The loud squealing is submission and not pain. Please be aware that the post-bonding dominance phase where the shape of the relationship is established takes about two weeks on average before things settle down to a more peaceful life.

Please make sure that you have at least one hidey (with two exits!) for each piggy, so none can be trapped and it can easily get out if being given the boot as well as a food bowl each at least a body length apart in which you serve veg and 1 tablespoon of pellets per piggy per day in portions that can be eaten in one go so you can remove the bowls in between meals. Also ensure that hay access (which should make over 80% of the daily food intake) cannot be blocked. This removes the most noticeable areas where the leader is usually throwing their weight around.

Be aware that the first few seasons in a new bond tend to be on the strong and dramatic side. You need to sit them out.

More information on dominance behaviours in sows:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (includes post-bonding dominance phase with typical behaviours)
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts) (includes a chapter on dominance, bonding and bullying)
 
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