Help Not Sure What To Do

Status
Not open for further replies.
helenk6

helenk6

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 4, 2016
Messages
90
Reaction score
54
Points
170
Location
London uk
Peppa and George have been with me now almost 3 weeks but today they seem to be falling out there has been some teeth chattering and chasing and I heard a squeal from one of them do I leave them together or will I have to separate them?
 
I think you are supposed to leave then if no one is injured, maybe take them out for some floor time and try some bonding activities like favorite treats.
I have 2 sows that fight constantly but I can't seperate them as it makes it worse. Some days I take out the hides as they seem to fight less without them, maybe there is a reason it's getting worse, they're bored or there is a problem cage accessory, I would watch for a little while and see if you can do some detective work.
I'm sure at times of hormone flair ups it might just be that they get feisty
 
I have been watching them all afternoon and they keep putting their noses up at each other and I'm not sure what to do
 
Sounds like they are "chinning" are they both doing it face on or is one more sidewards? I ask that odd question as it's quite easy to see who is the confident dominant one of the moment from that position. If one is more sidewards on I'd not be too worried right now.
But if they are nose to nose with it.. hmmm.

Also thos may seem like a stupid question but what are the genders as either of the names "could" be neutral.
 
They are both boys and they are face to face, they are not constantly like it but enough for me to worry I'm a first time gp owner
 
Hmm full frontal nose to nose chinning usually means neither are willing to submit right now and is something I would definitely keep an eye on as it "can" (Not saying it will) escalate into a fight. I've only seen nose to nose chinning happen once before (also with two males) and they ended up brawling to the point of drawing blood and were split up, not saying that will happen with yours.

I have a mixed gender pair and they chin now and then but the female is always side chinning when they do, they don't fight it's more of a "Who was the boss?, Oh right.. you." moment.

If they have hideys make sure you have at least 3 (1 per pig and 1 extra) and with a new pairing it's usually a good idea if the hideys have 2 exits so one pig can't be trapped during a dominance chase. I've also heard 2 boars require more space than 2 sows or a mixed pairing although I have no idea how large your cage is.

Make sure you have more than one food dish/water bottle so that deciding who gets priority to that does not add to the conflict but you more that likely know that already.


I think @Wiebke is probably the resident expert with behavior, and perhaps a few others. With any luck she'll have a read when she has time.
 
Lots of good advice so far, but I would also consider their living arrangements.
How much space do they have, and how often do they get floor time?
I know that boars need more space then sows.
Just like kids, I always think a tired pig is less likely to get into trouble.
Plus if they have lots of space and the chance to run around then they are less likely to annoy each other (assuming it is simply boys being boys, and not a bigger issue of course).
Also think about offering lots of interesting things for them to do and explore (boxes and bags stuffed with hay and treats, things to chew, etc).
 
They are in a ferplast cage 140 I try and get them out for floor time but they just hide in the tunnels and houses
 
i have two boys as well, i get the chinning as well as little nose jabs daily since the spring/teen hormones kicked in, but they always run off after and they never bare teeth, chatter, or rise up. My dom pig is hitting his teenage hormones and this is simply boys being boys and getting a bit rowdy. They will then be seen pop corning around together or playing follow the leader and mutual butt sniffing. As long as theres no other scary signs and they disperse shortly after it should be okay. Also as much as they hide you MUST take them out for exercise. Just remove the hideys if you must to catch them or use a snuggle sack of some sort or something like that to coax them into and then be lifted. The chinning can be scary, believe me, but as long as they go about their day pleasantly they should be fine. Try to monitor them, see if they avoid each other or if you can catch perhaps some better moments. My boars will make a huge fuss jabbing noses at each other and squeaking and then immediately break out into popcorn, with my dom pig usually the first to pop! if you feel there is tension between them stuff some hay into a toilet roll or offer another simple DIY toy to distract them. If my boys have been particularly rowdy i offer each a small piece of carrot and they immediately run off to their hideys to eat it away from the other and emerge much happier afterwards
 
I have 6 boars and 3 sows, my boys seem to get worse in the Spring which I'm told is when they release more grease from their glands, so I don't know if it's anything to do with that or if they are young it could be they are going through a hormonal period.

The girls are just plain naughty to each other all of the time! I think we have one TRYING to be the leader since their sister died but the other two won't let her so she's bullying one of them.

I do apologise, I don't read all posts due to rubbish concentration, just noticed @Keiko The Pig said what I've just put. Totally agree.
 
Keiko The Pig said:
i have two boys as well, i get the chinning as well as little nose jabs daily since the spring/teen hormones kicked in, but they always run off after and they never bare teeth, chatter, or rise up. My dom pig is hitting his teenage hormones and this is simply boys being boys and getting a bit rowdy. They will then be seen pop corning around together or playing follow the leader and mutual butt sniffing. As long as theres no other scary signs and they disperse shortly after it should be okay. Also as much as they hide you MUST take them out for exercise. Just remove the hideys if you must to catch them or use a snuggle sack of some sort or something like that to coax them into and then be lifted. The chinning can be scary, believe me, but as long as they go about their day pleasantly they should be fine. Try to monitor them, see if they avoid each other or if you can catch perhaps some better moments. My boars will make a huge fuss jabbing noses at each other and squeaking and then immediately break out into popcorn, with my dom pig usually the first to pop! if you feel there is tension between them stuff some hay into a toilet roll or offer another simple DIY toy to distract them. If my boys have been particularly rowdy i offer each a small piece of carrot and they immediately run off to their hideys to eat it away from the other and emerge much happier afterwards
Click to expand...

I am getting the teeth chattering and the rising up on back legs but last night they were butt sniffing and popcorning so it's really hard to tell
 
Be very cautious then. Keep a towel/ oven mitt on hand just in case. It might be spring hormones. How old are your boys? If they are not fighting don't separate. The rule is no blood no foul. So unless they become that rolling ball of fluff try to let them work it out. Make sure there's two of everything (at least, having extra hideys etc won't hurt). It does seem like neither is willing to submit to the other at this time, but it may still work out. The only other time you should separate is if one pig is being badly bullied. This means the pig is not allowed to eat/drink/rest. It's normal for the dominant pig to chase the other away from food/water or chuck him from a hidey but it should not be relentless. I hope everything works out! Keep us posted
 
Keiko The Pig said:
Be very cautious then. Keep a towel/ oven mitt on hand just in case. It might be spring hormones. How old are your boys? If they are not fighting don't separate. The rule is no blood no foul. So unless they become that rolling ball of fluff try to let them work it out. Make sure there's two of everything (at least, having extra hideys etc won't hurt). It does seem like neither is willing to submit to the other at this time, but it may still work out. The only other time you should separate is if one pig is being badly bullied. This means the pig is not allowed to eat/drink/rest. It's normal for the dominant pig to chase the other away from food/water or chuck him from a hidey but it should not be relentless. I hope everything works out! Keep us posted
Click to expand...
I was told they were 10 weeks old when I got the so they would 12 weeks old now
 
Ah welcome to the beginning of "teenage" hormones. The start is usually around 4 months old but can start earlier. It's normal for dominance to become worse during this time as the boys parts start to drop. Try to wait it out. My Dom pig used to be a rumble only type, he's now 4 months and I've seen mounting, ear nibbling, forcing the chin up, and their little nose jabbing scuffs. The fact that it's spring and your boys are around that age, it's to be expected some behaviour would start up. Like I said just keep an eye on them and hope for the best
 
Ah welcome to the beginning of "teenage" hormones. The start is usually around 4 months old but can start earlier. It's normal for dominance to become worse during this time as the boys parts start to drop. Try to wait it out. My Dom pig used to be a rumble only type, he's now 4 months and I've seen mounting, ear nibbling, forcing the chin up, and their little nose jabbing scuffs. The fact that it's spring and your boys are around that age, it's to be expected some behaviour would start up. Like I said just keep an eye on them and hope for the best
 
I think I'm going to have to separate them George is not happy he's just hiding
 
I wouldn't as it could make things worse. Just ensure there are plenty of hides with 2 entrances, that they get plenty of floor exercise and give Georgie some extra love
 
Cookies&Glitter said:
I wouldn't as it could make things worse. Just ensure there are plenty of hides with 2 entrances, that they get plenty of floor exercise and give Georgie some extra love
Click to expand...
George seems thinner and weigh less than Peppa I'm just not sure keeping them together it a good thing
 
At the end of the day you know your own pigs best, and you can also see first hand exactly what is happening.
If you really think George is not happy then maybe you should listen to your gut instincts?
It sounds like the cage is large enough - would it be possible to split them with a grid to divide the cage?
This means they could still see each other and have the company of another pig without the stress? It would also give you a chance to see how George reacts once he is on his own (e.g. does he seem happier)?
 
Swissgreys said:
At the end of the day you know your own pigs best, and you can also see first hand exactly what is happening.
If you really think George is not happy then maybe you should listen to your gut instincts?
It sounds like the cage is large enough - would it be possible to split them with a grid to divide the cage?
This means they could still see each other and have the company of another pig without the stress? It would also give you a chance to see how George reacts once he is on his own (e.g. does he seem happier)?
Click to expand...
Oh yes I could try that what a good idea
 
Maybe that would even improve things. I know does are different but when I got my first 2 girls one was bigger and picked on the other one so much that I would seperate then some days but for the most part it would make things worse. I have now had them almost 3 years and my timid little girl has now gotten bigger than her sister and most of the time they are fine but the same little one is still dominant and will make her sister scream at her just by existing near her some days.
She likes to sleep under her bed and when she gets grumpy if you even bump the bed or go near her she screams like she's being injured, it's been this way for 3 years, they are both healthy and for the most part happy I now know that I have a very dramatic pig
 
Just be careful if you do a trial separation (meaning removing one from the cage or room entirely). With boars this could be fatal to the bonding If there's still a chance they get along. When I first brought Milo in all he did was hide, whereas my other pig Keiko would be all over the new cage. Sleeping eating chirping drinking. I rarely ever caught Milo out and about. I was worried Keiko was bullying him so I took Keiko out for some 1 on 1 lap time to give Milo the run of the cage and you would not believe the instant screaming for each other!
 
Keiko The Pig said:
Just be careful if you do a trial separation (meaning removing one from the cage or room entirely). With boars this could be fatal to the bonding If there's still a chance they get along. When I first brought Milo in all he did was hide, whereas my other pig Keiko would be all over the new cage. Sleeping eating chirping drinking. I rarely ever caught Milo out and about. I was worried Keiko was bullying him so I took Keiko out for some 1 on 1 lap time to give Milo the run of the cage and you would not believe the instant screaming for each other!
Click to expand...
That's exactly how my girls are, drama together but so much worse apart they just cry for each other
 
The first time I heard the alarm cry from my piggy was when I took out Penney for some lap time when she had been swirling and getting picked on. She had just gotten nestled into my shirt when Cookie starting alarming at the top of her little lungs. I thought she was hurt! She just wanted to pick on her sister more :xd:
 
I have 2 boars too and when I got them about 2 months ago now I have one smaller and quieter too but all I have heard is rumbling. They get out for floor time and they popcorn and run after each other.I have a 3ft by 3ft cage and I tried separating them and all they done was gnaw at the divider to get back together. Sometimes one takes a little longer than the other to get used to you and the surroundings. Hope it sorts itself out soon for you
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top