GlimmerandGreta
New Born Pup
Can two females live side by side as well as I’ve seen a lot about males being neighbours but not females ?
Can Guinea Pigs Just Live Side by Side?
- Thread starter GlimmerandGreta
- Start date
Hi
Any two piggies can live side by side as long as they cannot get into the other cage; including a sow and a full boar.
Next door set-ups with each piggy having their own territory are by far the most common with boars due to the challenges the pet setting poses for particularly unmatched boar pairs but it works equally as well for any other combination where there is a fall-out or a failed bonding.
This here big sow Sulwen and her not yet neutered suitor Merlin, just to show you an example of my own. Merlin has just been neutered, so they will hopefully start the next year as a pair. Sulwen is a very fear-aggressive sow that failed to bond with any other of my piggies.
GlimmerandGreta
New Born Pup
Thank you !
GlimmerandGreta
New Born Pup
My girls aren’t separated at the moment but we’ve had some issues, I bought them together both from a separate litter but supposedly raised together. And obviously there is a period of re-establishing their bond in a new environment, everything was going fine until there was two incidents of chinning on the same day where they had to be supervised for the rest of the night.
It’s been 5 days since then and I haven’t noticed any more incidents of aggression and when checked there has been no signs of blood drawn, however they seem to be actively avoiding each other and refusing to enter the same area as each other whereas a week ago they were eating next to each other.
All I’m wondering is whether I should give up on trying to maintain there bond ?
It’s been 5 days since then and I haven’t noticed any more incidents of aggression and when checked there has been no signs of blood drawn, however they seem to be actively avoiding each other and refusing to enter the same area as each other whereas a week ago they were eating next to each other.
All I’m wondering is whether I should give up on trying to maintain there bond ?
I’ve moved your post to its own new thread.
How old are they?
How big is their cage?
Do all hides have two exits?
From what you have said, I wouldn’t be too concerned about this. If they are going, hormones are going to increase and there will be dominance. Provided everything remains within mild regions, you don’t do anything.
If you were to start to see an increased amount of chasing, much more aggressive facing off then you may want to watch them more closely.
The guide below explains what to do if you are worried about their bond.
How old are they?
How big is their cage?
Do all hides have two exits?
From what you have said, I wouldn’t be too concerned about this. If they are going, hormones are going to increase and there will be dominance. Provided everything remains within mild regions, you don’t do anything.
If you were to start to see an increased amount of chasing, much more aggressive facing off then you may want to watch them more closely.
The guide below explains what to do if you are worried about their bond.
GlimmerandGreta
New Born Pup
Both girls are 7 weeks old, which now doing more research I wished I’d adopted adult pigs because I think they’ve missed the social development of being with older guineas and learning acceptable behaviour.
All hides have two exits and the cage is currently a 4x2 but I’m currently upgrading due to a 5x2 because of their issues
All hides have two exits and the cage is currently a 4x2 but I’m currently upgrading due to a 5x2 because of their issues
They haven’t missed out, they are still learning and have lots more time. They will be absolutely fine from that point of view. Please try not to worry.
Unless there is more going on than what you have said so far, I’m not sure they are having any issues. It just sounds, so far, like young sows having their first seasons, getting adjusted to a new home and establishing themselves.
A 4x2 is absolutely fine for two sows, although more space never hurts! If they were truly to be having bond issues though then more space will not fix compatibility problems.
Unless there is more going on than what you have said so far, I’m not sure they are having any issues. It just sounds, so far, like young sows having their first seasons, getting adjusted to a new home and establishing themselves.
A 4x2 is absolutely fine for two sows, although more space never hurts! If they were truly to be having bond issues though then more space will not fix compatibility problems.
GlimmerandGreta
New Born Pup
Okay thank you I really appreciate it !
GlimmerandGreta
New Born Pup
The only other thing I can think of is sometimes they grab food and run away to eat it or the bigger sow will push the smaller out of a certain space almost nudging her and now the smaller will run away from where she is despite the larger not chasing her
All totally normal!
Mine move their veg around all the time!
The dominant sow will tell the submissive to move if she is in a space the dominant wants. The dominant has the pick of the best things!
Hi
Please take a deep breath. Your girls are doing all the normal things that are needed to establish a new hierarchical group in their new territory. There is a little more dominance because they are still at an age where they are actually looking for adult guidance so insecurity is higher but there is not the least risk of fall-outs.
This is our very helpful settling in guide:
This guide has a chapter on what behavious to expect from new sows:
Please take a deep breath. Your girls are doing all the normal things that are needed to establish a new hierarchical group in their new territory. There is a little more dominance because they are still at an age where they are actually looking for adult guidance so insecurity is higher but there is not the least risk of fall-outs.
This is our very helpful settling in guide:
This guide has a chapter on what behavious to expect from new sows: