Not getting along(?)

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elherman0811

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Hello! This is my first time posting here so please let me know if I'm doing something wrong.
I have 2 guinea pigs, peaches and daisy, whom are about 11 months old. I bought them bonded and from the same litter. I believe this may be relevant.
Yesterday morning, I noticed daisy squealing. I got up to go check on them, and peaches was in Daisy's face while rumble-strutting. I didn't think much of it and I gave them each a treat to calm them down. A few minutes later, I heard the rumbling once more. It again was peaches, but she was now following daisy around and pushing her nose into Daisy's bum. I separated them (their cage has a divider door) but they began to act all friendly again. Throughout yesterday evening, I heard lots of rumbling from peaches. I'm not sure if this is a dominance issue or something similar, but please let me know.
Additional notes: Peaches does weigh a few more ounces than daisy, so she is a bit larger. They have no injuries, but they refuse to be next to each other. They don't want to eat near each other either. The cage is 8 square feet and space had never been a problem for them before. Thank you!
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.

How long have you had them? From babies? I’ve never had sows so I’m obviously not an expert but sometimes they can have strong seasons. As long as there is no fighting I’d just keep a close eye on them hopefully it will settle back down in a few days.

Have they got two hay piles and do you scatter feed their veggies around the cage just so they don’t have to be too close to each other at the moment.

Hopefully there will be something helpful in this guide:

Wiebke

Thread 'When Sows Experience A Strong Season (videos)'

Strong Seasons


Strong pheromone output by both new boars or other sows in season can sometimes trigger several sows close enough in their oestrus cycle to spontaneously come into season, too, which results in some very lively times!

During the initial stage, sows coming into season tend to mainly chase and mount other sows just below her in the hierarchy (or lacking that, the sow just above in the rankins or a submissive or gentle husboar). They will only mate at the end of the season.

Here you can see Briallen chasing mainly her next lower ranked undersow...
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I have had them since they were a month or two old, they were very young. They have not been fighting which I am very thankful for. They currently have one hay pile which they have been taking turns eating out of. I got them to the same side of the cage with the sound of the treat bag, but daisy will not eat her treat near peaches. However, I do scatter their pellets
 
Welcome to the forum

The behaviours are normal dominance and not of concern. It is normal for them to not want to eat or snuggle together as piggies mostly prefer their own space even though they are well bonded.
The squeaking from daisy was more likely to be submission which is a normal and correct response for a submissive to make to the dominant piggy.
Please reunite them on neutral territory as mild dominance behaviours do not require them being separated.

8 square feet is minimum size for two sows but 10 square feet is recommended space.

Please make sure there is two of everything in their cage - two hay piles, two hides and that each hide needs to have two exits

The guides below explain more about normal teenage behaviours and how to reunite them.
I have also added our bonds in trouble guide which explains more about how to stop the difference between normal dominance and aggression/failing bonds.

boureki

Thread 'Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs'

1 List of dominance behaviours in ascending order of aggression
2 What may cause this type of behaviour in boars?
3 When do you see these behaviours in sows?
4 What can trigger fall-outs?
5 Further helpful guide links


I thought it may be handy to have a sticky on typical dominance behaviours for a reference - hopefully it may help humans understand guinea pigs and their behaviour a bit more and hopefully prevent some avoidable problems!


1 List of dominance behaviours...
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Wiebke

Thread 'Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)'

1 Sexing on arrival
2 Important reproductive Facts
- Start of making babies - seasons - lack of menopause
- Pregnancy
3 Sows in season
- How a season runs
- Strong seasons (snap seasons; the social role of strong seasons; problem seasons)
4 Behaviour and social aspects
- Bonding (Possible combos; acceptance and dating; special bonding aspects)
-...
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Wiebke

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...
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Wiebke

Thread 'Bonds In Trouble'

1 Causes for bonds to fall apart
2 Bonds in Crisis
- What are the signs of a dysfunctional bond?
- Bullying
- How can I test whether a bond is no longer working?
3 Failed bonds and what next?
- What to do if my piggies have had a major fight?
- When rebonding doesn't work out


1 Causes for bonds to fall apart

Every fall-out has of course its own...
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Wiebke

Thread 'New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection'

Contents Overview
1 What This Collection Is About
2 Guinea Pigs as Pets
- Family and Classroom Pets
- Sourcing Your Guinea Pigs, Common Pitfalls and Your Customer Rights
- Human Pet Anxiety: Practical Tips for Sufferers and Supporters
- Naming and Finding Out the Breed
- Guinea Pig Facts: An Overview
3 Living Environment
- Housing (with sourcing tips)
- Bedding (with...
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