New guinea pig owner

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littlehelen

Hi all

I'm Helen and I am new to Guinea Pigs.
I have "aquired" 2 guinea pigs. They were here on thier holidays (they are/were my sisters) and I have said that they are staying here for the forseeable future.

The problem is, is that they have not been handled.
Now we have got to the point after less than a week that they wont run away when I open the cage (they are living inside now) and they will come to the cage door when I open it.

I dont really need help in the whole getting them socialised with humans again as I am used to dealing with unsociable animals (I run a ferret rescue)

What I need help with is the noises that they make.
I know that there is the "normal" Guinea Pig squeek.
But they also purr and chatter - what does this mean?

And (sorry) they seem to be fighting. Well one seems to be trying to mate with the other.

How do you sex them?

Thanks all

Helen :)
 
Hi Helen & Welcome :)

At the moment, are they boys or girls? How old are they?

Here are some pics of piggy "bits"

http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm

Chattering of teeth generally is a warning. Purring is a happy piggy esp if they're being cuddled/stroked or are they "purring" whilst in their cage?

The mounting is normal for all sexes; it's a show of dominance in same sex pairs & obvious in opposite sex pairs :(|)

Piggies are by nature naturally timid as they are prey animals & will run & hide but with lots of patience they soon learn that the large object that talks to them has nice things to eat ie veggies etc & will come to the cage front.
I have a 4yr old who chatters at me every night at veg-time if i'm not quick enough & as soon as i open his hutch door he shoots under his tunnel. He's done this ever since i had to give him baytril last year :(|)
 
I can't really add to Niki's advice here, but be confident that's all I can say.
If there are no BLOODY fights, then there is absolutely nothing to worry about and they will have there odd rift every so often. My boars do it. :)

Charl xx
 
For guinea pig behaviour see also this thread; it works for girls as well: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949

Humping doesn't just happen between male/female, but is also part of dominance behaviour, especially between boars. Boars can fall out with each when they are moved to a new home.

You can try to give them a bath with the same shampoo and the reintroduce them on neutral territory (i.e. bathroom floor or bathtub with a towel for grip). However, if there are bloody bites, you may have to consider keeping them apart from now on.
 
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