i recently got two 10 week old girls, one was clearly more dominant but we didn’t think much of it. every now and again the dominant nips the other on the bum and chases her away from food etc. they are biological sisters but should i be patient or separate them?
bullying?
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Is the other one allowed to eat most of the time? I wouldn’t worry though, the odd, little well placed nip does not constitute bullying - it’s dominance. If it became sustained, one piggy not allowed to eat or rest at all, starts losing weight because they aren’t allowed to eat then that is different.
Do you have multiple of every item? Two food bowls, bottles hay piles, more than two beds etc ?
The guides below give further information
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Do you have multiple of every item? Two food bowls, bottles hay piles, more than two beds etc ?
The guides below give further information
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
thank you- we have two of everything, but the two food bowls contain two different things (fresh veg and pellets) so perhaps that only counts as one bowl? she still eats and rests but occasionally the dominant will snatch her favourite treat from the other
Yes that’s only one food bowl then. I don’t use bowls at all, I scatter feed veg and pellets so they are spread far across the cage, it 1) means they have to search for it so encourages natural foraging behaviour and 2) means it is not possible to have any bowl hogging - dominant piggy cannot guard every individual pellet so each piggy gets a fair chance to get their fair share. (Don’t forget to keep pellets limited)
Taking food from the other is also normal behaviour.
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
You can also try hand feeding so top-pig can’t snatch her food. But yes taking each other’s is normal. My top boar will whine if I give him veg, even when his friend isn’t anywhere near him 