Different Stages of Fighting - When should they be separated?

[guineafriend]

My 2 boys, 14ish weeks old are (I think) just working out who is going to be the boss.

In the cage they rumble at each other when the other gets too close. Neither appears to be keeping the other away from food or water or anything.

There has been some bum wiggling over the last 2 weeks.

They chace eath other, rumbling, jumping in the air, chasing, then back around the cage again.

There has been no teeth chattering and no blood.

They are fine during floor time, just the odd rumble when they get very close to each other as is in the cage.

When should I be worried? I don't want things to go too far.

 

[swsuey]

The behaviour you've described, in my experience, is totally normal and may happen right through their lives although less frequently as they get older. When they start figting like tomcats ie rolling around in a ball, biting, screaming, drawing lots of blood, that's when I'd separate them but only for a short time to let them "cool down". Keep a close eye on them. They're trying to establish dominance but at 14 wheeks I wouldn't be too concerned, they're still babies. It's when they get to "teenagers" (about 8 months) that it can be more significant.