Guinea pig has sores on her body

[Didorcas123]

My guinea pig has got these little sores and dry skin around her bum area. And a bit of a dry ear. We aren't sure if it's motes or she's getting bullied by the others. There have been times when she goes into a hutch and screams and runs right out. And times when others are in a hutach and she just isn't.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You must always have a vet check the sores first so the medical angle is covered first before looking to it being a bond issue. So please do have her seen.

We could not comment on the functionality of their relationship without a bit more information being provided.

How many piggies are there?
Are they all sows?
Their ages?
How long have they all been together?
How big is their cage?
What is happening/are you witnessing bullying?

If she is given a clean bill of health and you are finding there is likely problem in the relationship, then separating her with one of the piggies she does get on with and keeping them as a pair is likely the next step.

Bonds In Trouble
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[Didorcas123]

You must always have a vet check the sores first so the medical angle is covered first before looking to it being a bond issue. So please do have her seen.

We could not comment on the functionality of their relationship without a bit more information being provided.

How many piggies are there?
Are they all sows?
Their ages?
How long have they all been together?
How big is their cage?
What is happening/are you witnessing bullying?

If she is given a clean bill of health and you are finding there is likely problem in the relationship, then separating her with one of the piggies she does get on with and keeping them as a pair is likely the next step.

Bonds In Trouble
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

They are all females. There's 4 of them
3 years, 3 months and 6 weeks. Been together for about a month plus. They have a 3 by 5 c and c cage

 

[Piggies&buns]

You’ve given three ages but say there are four piggies. Were they all bonded at the same time a month ago or were some already together and then more been added to them?
Which one is the one that has the sores?
You’ve mentioned a hutch in your original post but mention a c&c cage. Is the hutch and c&c joined? A 3x5 c&c is a good size for four sows.
What is actually happening between them? Are you witnessing behaviours? If she is refusing to be in the same space with them then it doesn’t sound as if things are good between them.

Do have a vet check carried out though to rule out a medical issue, but as I said, if a medical issue is ruled out and things aren’t good between them it may be you need to split them into two separate pairs (keeping the piggies who get on best together).

 

[Didorcas123]

You’ve given three ages but say there are four piggies. Were they all bonded at the same time a month ago or were some already together and then more been added to them?
Which one is the one that has the sores?
You’ve mentioned a hutch in your original post but mention a c&c cage. Is the hutch and c&c joined? A 3x5 c&c is a good size for four sows.
What is actually happening between them? Are you witnessing behaviours? If she is refusing to be in the same space with them then it doesn’t sound as if things are good between them.

Do have a vet check carried out though to rule out a medical issue, but as I said, if a medical issue is ruled out and things aren’t good between them it may be you need to split them into two separate pairs (keeping the piggies who get on best together).

There's 2 that's 3 years

 

[Didorcas123]

There's 2 that's 3 years

The hutch is the little houses they have in the cage. The first 2 were together before I adopted them and then we got a totally separate one who wasn't part of the pair but they moved in on the same day. The last one was gotten about a month or so later. The last one who is 6 weeks old is the one with the sores. I made a separate cage for her but she left it and moved into the one with the others in it

 

[Piggies&buns]

Are the hutches two exit hideys? All hideys need to have two exits so that no piggy can get cornered inside by another piggy. How big are they? Is it simply that she is choosing not to be inside one of these hutches?

Again, what behaviours are you seeing which may mean she could be being bullied? Until a vet check is done on the sores, it’s not possible to draw conclusions particularly given choosing not to be in a hide is, in itself, not an act of bullying.. If the sores are caused by a skin condition or parasites, then there may not be a problem in their bond at all.
The dominant piggy in the herd will have the pick of the best hides. As the piggy with the sores is the youngest, she is likely at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Was she bonded in properly - all of them put in a neutral territory bonding pen for several hours and if successful then being moved back into the thoroughly cleaned out cage to finish the process (it takes two further weeks for a hierarchy to be fully established)

If you do separate the one with the sores if it becomes clear post vet check that she isn’t being accepted by the others, then, she is too young to ever be separated by herself - she would need one of the others with whom she does get on to live with her permanently

 

[Didorcas123]

Th

Are the hutches two exit hideys? All hideys need to have two exits so that no piggy can get cornered inside by another piggy. How big are they? Is it simply that she is choosing not to be inside one of these hutches?

Again, what behaviours are you seeing which may mean she could be being bullied? Until a vet check is done on the sores, it’s not possible to draw conclusions particularly given choosing not to be in a hide is, in itself, not an act of bullying.. If the sores are caused by a skin condition or parasites, then there may not be a problem in their bond at all.
The dominant piggy in the herd will have the pick of the best hides. As the piggy with the sores is the youngest, she is likely at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Was she bonded in properly - all of them put in a neutral territory bonding pen for several hours and if successful then being moved back into the thoroughly cleaned out cage to finish the process (it takes two further weeks for a hierarchy to be fully established)

If you do separate the one with the sores if it becomes clear post vet check that she isn’t being accepted by the others, then, she is too young to ever be separated by herself - she would need one of the others with whom she does get on to live with her permanently

The hutch is single entry. I didn't know I had to do a bonding thing. I just added her to the pack

 

[Piggies&buns]

You really do need all hides to have two exits and have at least as many hides as there are piggies. A pigloo like yours can mean a if a piggy is cornered inside it and defensive wounds can occur. Sows nip as a gesture of power but it never breaks the skin.

Ok, so if she was just put into the cage then her arrival could have been seen as a territory invasion. Any new piggy needs to be introduced to the group in a specific process on neutral territory and not in the cage.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Please do have her seen by a vet though as only a vet can tell you if she has a skin condition/parasites.