Girls Fallen out

Status
Not open for further replies.
CandyFloss

CandyFloss

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
8,216
Reaction score
20
Points
695
Location
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK
5 of my girls live together - Sherbet, Ebony and Ebonys 3 daughters - Rolo, Smartie and Truffles. The daughters are about 1.25 years old.

They have the odd disagreement but since yesterday Rolo's been a monster. She's been charging at some of the others - took a chunk of Smarties fur out, has flown at Sherbet and Truffles and generally been an ASBO pig.

Yesterday I had to separate Sherbet and Smartie for their own safety for about an hour till she calmed down. This morning she was at it again and more fur was pulled out. I removed her and the cage became peaceful again. Whilst she was out after initially attacking the bed I gave her she calmed down and seemed happy.

They live in a 2 storey C&C cage 7 foot long by 28" and can use both floors. I've put her in a sectioned off end of the cage for now and she can see the others if they go upstairs....

Anyone got any advice? I dont want to keep her separated longer than I need to but dont want to put her back in with them and go out this afternoon and come back to bitten piggies either.

Any help welcomed :)

x
 
Hmmmm - tricky one. I would suspect hormonal issues with such a change in character, the ovaries can cause havoc with levels of aggression.

A source of pain can also make them very unpleasant too, but normally they would just snap at the others when they came too near - not run them down to attack them!

If I think of anything else I'll get back to you.

Suzy x
 
I agree with Suzy - I would suspect hormonal problems as well; it happens occasionally, although not often as badly as this.
 
Thanks Suzy & Wiebke.

She was really staring at them, chattering her teeth then charging. I've seen them have slight disagreements before but nothing like this.

I checked on her just there and she didnt show any obvious pain when I checked her over - she also seems a lot calmer .... although last night she did calm down a bit later too then it all kicked off again this morning.

Hopefully it is hormonal and should pass then in a couple of days rolleyes

xx
 
Is this the first time she's been aggressive? Keep track of the incidents if you manage to get her back in with the others. If it happens every 17 days or so then it's linked to her season, if it's not got much of a pattern I would suspect changes in the ovaries - most likely would be cysts.

Suzy x
 
Suzygpr said:
Is this the first time she's been aggressive? Keep track of the incidents if you manage to get her back in with the others. If it happens every 17 days or so then it's linked to her season, if it's not got much of a pattern I would suspect changes in the ovaries - most likely would be cysts.

Suzy x
Click to expand...

Yes, yesterday and today are the first time she's been aggressive like that.

I'll mark it on my calendar and keep track of her behaviour. I am going out this afternoon so will keep her separated at the moment. The cage is really peaceful now :) When I get home later though I will try re-introducing her over their veggies - at least then I will be there to intervene if needed.

Thanks again,

x
 
2nd attempt at this - 1st try crashed....so here goes.....

Well, had the piggies and Rolo out for their veggies in a run away from their cage .... all went well but Rolo was noticably shyer than normal :red - she took every bit of veg into a tent bed to eat it on her own ... whereas the rest sat round the food in a circle.... strange but all ok - I can cope with shyness.... was she embarassed at her earlier bahaviour ? I dont really think pigs think like that but unusual behaviour has been noted.

so after a while I put them back in the cage and opened up one of the cubes into the 'jail' (the area Rolo had been separated into earlier) - I sat and watched a while and they were mostly ok ....she faced up to Smartie one time but nothing serious.... so I went downstairs.... a little while later I heard a scuffle and went upstairs to check on them .... there was chattering from a few including Rolo rolleyes ..... but it all calmed down. That was over an hour ago.... I just refreshed their hay and Rolo and 'friends' are eating normally.....

So at the moment theyre still all together but I have put the jail cube panel back ready in case i need a quick change around .... but unless I need to I dont want her separated any longer than needed.... but obviously wont let her bully/attack them.

I'm gonna be around all evening so will hear if theres a problem - one advantage of living in a tiny open plan house :) and I am also working from home tomorrow so will be able to hear if theres any problems...

Will keep you posted :)

Thanks everyone for advice, support and encouragement.

xx
 
I hope that Rolo will calm down again and that the group will go back to normal. good that you are around to keep an eye and ear on the situation!
 
Thanks Wiebke - I hope so too. Sherbet is just recovering from what looked like a bite wound - she's hairless so its easier to see - the others could have them too under their fur .... So I really hope that things calm down now.

x
 
Well the girls have been together most of today.

There was a bit of teeth chattering and charging after evening veggies and Rolo was removed for about an hour - I never actually saw her charging this time but heard a lot of running about and saw 3 of them chattering when I got there, Rolo being one of them so I made an assumption that she was to blame (rightly or wrongly) and removed her. She didnt seem in such a strop this time though and the rest settled down.

I cleaned the cage and put her back in with their nuggets and food and alls quiet again - in fact she's happily sharing with the rest. Definately wasnt as bad as yesterday so fingers crossed she's coming through this..... rolleyes

x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top