In-season dominant behaviour?

[Porcellus]

Pepper, the smallest of my two girls, is usually bossed around by fat-girl Cinnamon, who likes throwing her weight around and showing her dominance. However, over the past few days, the tables seem to have turned and Pepper is doing much more rumbling and hip waggling, fluffing up her fur, etc. while Cinnamon makes a high-pitched, quiet squeaking in response, which is normally what Pepper does. (some sort of appeasement gesture?) Are guinea pigs generally more argumentative at certain stages due to hormonal changes? (e.g. when they're in season)

 

[lovelygirl]

not sure but quite interested to know as the same thing is happening with my girls now maybe there is something in the air?

 

[Wiebke]

Looks like Pepper is challenging for dominance and getting away with it! She who rumbles last is first lady...

My current two sisters are very different in size and character, but it is "little" Nia who is running the show, not "big" Nerys!

 

[Porcellus]

Thanks. Yeah, they were on the floor yesterday, and Pepper was doing lots of waggling. Cinnamon looked like she wanted to nip her ear, but chickened out at the last moment. Big softie :Ayociexp61:

 

[pompypigs]

One of my sows Gizmo is usually the most dominant & always rumbles when she's in season but last night, Gerty (Gizmos mum) started rumbling - I was amazed because she's never done it before so there must be something in the air :{

 

[Niki]

Pepper, the smallest of my two girls, is usually bossed around by fat-girl Cinnamon, who likes throwing her weight around and showing her dominance. However, over the past few days, the tables seem to have turned and Pepper is doing much more rumbling and hip waggling, fluffing up her fur, etc. while Cinnamon makes a high-pitched, quiet squeaking in response, which is normally what Pepper does. (some sort of appeasement gesture?) Are guinea pigs generally more argumentative at certain stages due to hormonal changes? (e.g. when they're in season)

The answer is yes |) Sows in season can be proper mardy mares! They do usually settle down afterwards & as long as no-one in the group gets too upset by their behaviour there shouldn't be any problems