New Guinea Pig Owner. Help!

[Sam Williams]

Hi

I bought two guinea pigs for my daughter's but I don't think they're getting on. We've only had them 3 days but there's a lot of jumping and squealing going on. Both guinea pigs are boys and one is slightly larger (I think it's the smaller one doing the squealing) will it always be like this?

 

[sport_billy]

Hi Welcome to the forum am tagging in our behaviour expert @Wiebke

Sorry for all the questions - Are they boys or girls? What size cage they in? Do they have a hidey house each?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I bought two guinea pigs for my daughter's but I don't think they're getting on. We've only had them 3 days but there's a lot of jumping and squealing going on. Both guinea pigs are boys and one is slightly larger (I think it's the smaller one doing the squealing) will it always be like this?

Hi! Guinea pigs need establish a hierarchy, that is how they operate. This is what you are currently witnessing. Dominance can be quite upsetting for newbies. The squealing is submission and not pain.
You may find these threads here helpful:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

Please make sure that each boy has a hidey and a bowl (at least one body length apart). Ideally the hideys should have two exits until things settle down more. A couple of upturned cardboard boxes with sides cut off or even an old hankie or kitchen towel pegged to the bars will do as a stop gap to prevent the underboy being cornered.

 

[MycuteBoys]

Hi and welcome to this fab forum lots of helpfully friendly people on here, you will find out lots of great tips. Wiebke is best at answering your question I just wanted to welcome you to the forum
Kell

 

[KittyandNancy]

Hi and welcome. I second what Kell said! Wiebke is the pig whisperer.

 

[Flutterby]

Hello and welcome! I Agree with everyone else, Wiebke is the person for you

 

[Sam Williams]

Hi! Guinea pigs need establish a hierarchy, that is how they operate. This is what you are currently witnessing. Dominance can be quite upsetting for newbies. The squealing is submission and not pain.
You may find these threads here helpful:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

Please make sure that each boy has a hidey and a bowl (at least one body length apart). Ideally the hideys should have two exits until things settle down more. A couple of upturned cardboard boxes with sides cut off or even an old hankie or kitchen towel pegged to the bars will do as a stop gap to prevent the underboy being cornered.

 

[Sam Williams]

Hi! Guinea pigs need establish a hierarchy, that is how they operate. This is what you are currently witnessing. Dominance can be quite upsetting for newbies. The squealing is submission and not pain.
You may find these threads here helpful:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

Please make sure that each boy has a hidey and a bowl (at least one body length apart). Ideally the hideys should have two exits until things settle down more. A couple of upturned cardboard boxes with sides cut off or even an old hankie or kitchen towel pegged to the bars will do as a stop gap to prevent the underboy being cornered.

I have no bought another set of everything to put in their cage to see if that works. They seemed settled again this morning and were cuddled up together so fingers crossed it will settle quickly!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Puzzlepigs]

What you've done so far sounds good; if each pig has a hidey and bowl it means that if they need to get away from each other, they have a separate space to go to. I can only echo what Wiebke has said. They may settle down now that you've got two sets of everything, but the only other thing that I can think of is to say is the bigger the cage the better, especially with male piggies.

It sounds like what you've done has made a difference and it's good that they seemed settled and happy with each other today. If you're having any more problems with them not getting on with each other, this thread might be of help:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

Feel free to ask any other questions you need help with on the forum and good luck with your new piggies!

 

[Sam Williams]

What you've done so far sounds good; if each pig has a hidey and bowl it means that if they need to get away from each other, they have a separate space to go to. I can only echo what Wiebke has said. They may settle down now that you've got two sets of everything, but the only other thing that I can think of is to say is the bigger the cage the better, especially with male piggies.

It sounds like what you've done has made a difference and it's good that they seemed settled and happy with each other today. If you're having any more problems with them not getting on with each other, this thread might be of help:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

Feel free to ask any other questions you need help with on the forum and good luck with your new piggies!

Thanks!

I think we've made progress. They're both sleeping in their own hideys now and there's been a lot more of the 'purring' kind of noise from them

Can't thank everyone enough already for their advice on here! It's great!

 

[KittyandNancy]

Thanks!

I think we've made progress. They're both sleeping in their own hideys now and there's been a lot more of the 'purring' kind of noise from them

Can't thank everyone enough already for their advice on here! It's great!

YAY! I hope all stays peaceful.