Not getting on?

[DM190921]

Hello, queenie & princess have been together since birth & are sisters. They have a very loving bond. We originally had them in the spare room downstairs but have recently swapped rooms & moved down so they are in the spare room upstairs now. My son has heard a few sequels like one has done something to the other. As far as I know this is not normal. There’s rumble strutting but I know they do this when ones in season. They both have separate places to hide in & the same each. When this has happened Ed they have both been in one together but it’s big so plenty room. I’m a bit worried as princess has a lump so I wandered is queen is sensing she’s unwel. Iv not witnessed what’s happened as they have been in the hiding place. Heard a bit of a commotion like a wee fight maybe. I’m worried as they have always got on so well. Although one chews the others ears badly but I think it’s gromming behaviour not in an attack way so thought maybe she’s doing that & getting to carried away & hurting her. They like being in the same place though at the same time. Iv not heard squeals before. I hope it’s not the moving rooms that’s done it. Thank you for reading

 

[Siikibam]

Moving them to a different room may have meant they need to establish themselves again. To you it’s the same house but to them it’s different territory if they’ve not been there before.

The squeaking may be submissive rather than something going on. You say chewing on the ear, are there any cuts or wounds? It may be a case of grooming. But I’d there are wounds then that’s not good either.

Keep an eye on them but so bear in mind that squeaking isn’t necessarily a bad sign.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonds In Trouble

 

[DM190921]

Moving them to a different room may have meant they need to establish themselves again. To you it’s the same house but to them it’s different territory if they’ve not been there before.

The squeaking may be submissive rather than something going on. You say chewing on the ear, are there any cuts or wounds? It may be a case of grooming. But I’d there are wounds then that’s not good either.

Keep an eye on them but so bear in mind that squeaking isn’t necessarily a bad sign.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonds In Trouble

Hi, thank you for that info. I think the moving rooms has done what you said. It’s not been often which is good. There’s no cuts or wounds on the ears. It’s never been crusty or blood but the thing is the ears are badly chewed as in buts missing. It’s never looked like a wound though. I think I will post pics of it. I’m a first time owner & haven’t had pigs before so I’m not the most knowledgeable on the eat thing as Iv not had them before. Xx

 

[DM190921]

Moving them to a different room may have meant they need to establish themselves again. To you it’s the same house but to them it’s different territory if they’ve not been there before.

The squeaking may be submissive rather than something going on. You say chewing on the ear, are there any cuts or wounds? It may be a case of grooming. But I’d there are wounds then that’s not good either.

Keep an eye on them but so bear in mind that squeaking isn’t necessarily a bad sign.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonds In Trouble

This is pics of her ears xx

 

[Siikibam]

They look like they’ve healed. So in the time you’ve had them, her ears have been chewed like that? How long have they been with you and when did you notice it?

 

[DM190921]

They look like they’ve healed. So in the time you’ve had them, her ears have been chewed like that? How long have they been with you and when did you notice it?

We have had them 2 years now. They are out for handling daily & iv never seen them bleed or look sore. They havent been crusty with dry blood either as i would have noticed. They have always been like that but also when we got her they had been chewed. Iv never heard them squel or fight & they are in the house living. Iv not heard anymore squeals thankfully. It seems to have settled down. I think when i moved them it caused upset. They look terribly chewed but because i havent seen cuts etc i thought was gromming. I did put a post before when we first got them & people said pigs can do it to groom? I read also online. Do you think i should be worried about her ears? I dont want her being hurt but it seems a bit much how bad they are xx

 

[Siikibam]

If they’ve always been like that then it likely happened where she lived before you took her home.

 

[DM190921]

If they’ve always been like that then it likely happened where she lived before you took her home.

Hi, weren’t as bad as that at all. They came together I think they were sisters. The other pig must have done it. I’m getting really worried now about it. But they haven’t fought before. Do you think I should be worried? This is my first pigs. They honestly seem so happy together & apart from moving rooms they have loved each other. There’s no more squeaking so they have settled in xx

 

[DM190921]

Hi, weren’t as bad as that at all. They came together I think they were sisters. The other pig must have done it. I’m getting really worried now about it. But they haven’t fought before. Do you think I should be worried? This is my first pigs. They honestly seem so happy together & apart from moving rooms they have loved each other. There’s no more squeaking so they have settled in xx

It’s definitely happened while they have lived here. The chewed ears were not as bad when we got them as baby pigs xx

 

[Free Ranger]

If I've had pigs that weren't getting on I've never had to wonder about it - it was VERY clear! I think yours sound fine and those ears are old news.

Sometimes even best friends can be tested when there is something like a hidey with a dead end. I have Ferplast cages as part of my set up and they have a 'cave' area made of a shelf with a side like in this pic. This caused tension as when a second pig goes in the resident gets trapped!


We modified them in a few ways: e.g replacing the side part with a bit of pegged towel so they can just push in and out like a tent, or replacing the whole shelf thus...
as my fat floofy girl likes to sit on top on a bit of fleece and the plastic one just sags!

One area has a hole cut in the wall of the tub at the back to there's a front and back door so they feel enclosed but not trapped. In that bit there's plenty of room for two girls but they still like it one at a time. All my other hideys have an entrance and exit... boxes or snuggle tunnels etc. I have a couple of 'Pigloos' for the lawn but often the piggy inside will just lift the edge with a nose and exit that way! Have a look at your set up and see if there's anywhere one piggy can get cornered and panic... you might spot something that can has caused trouble

 

[DM190921]

If I've had pigs that weren't getting on I've never had to wonder about it - it was VERY clear! I think yours sound fine and those ears are old news.

Sometimes even best friends can be tested when there is something like a hidey with a dead end. I have Ferplast cages as part of my set up and they have a 'cave' area made of a shelf with a side like in this pic. This caused tension as when a second pig goes in the resident gets trapped!
View attachment 180573

We modified them in a few ways: e.g replacing the side part with a bit of pegged towel so they can just push in and out like a tent, or replacing the whole shelf thus...
View attachment 180572 as my fat floofy girl likes to sit on top on a bit of fleece and the plastic one just sags!

One area has a hole cut in the wall of the tub at the back to there's a front and back door so they feel enclosed but not trapped. In that bit there's plenty of room for two girls but they still like it one at a time. All my other hideys have an entrance and exit... boxes or snuggle tunnels etc. I have a couple of 'Pigloos' for the lawn but often the piggy inside will just lift the edge with a nose and exit that way! Have a look at your set up and see if there's anywhere one piggy can get cornered and panic... you might spot something that can has caused trouble

Hi, thank you for all this advice. I don’t think the piggies were impressed with the room move. They have 2 of everything the same but I have noticed both pigs like to be in the same place at once. Although they are both the exact same I think perhaps it may be causing annoyance when one decides she doesn’t want the other in. I will definitely look at set up like you said & see about improving it for them & trying new things . The door has a safety gate & we can hear the pigs so I think I’d hear them fighting as I’m home all day. They had been downstairs until the other day when they moved upstairs. My older son is up there a lot & leaves his door open so he would hear. They have settled into the new room now thankfully. Maybe during establishing hierarchy the ear thing happened but would def know if they were cut or sore as see them daily xx

 

[DM190921]

Hi, thank you for all this advice. I don’t think the piggies were impressed with the room move. They have 2 of everything the same but I have noticed both pigs like to be in the same place at once. Although they are both the exact same I think perhaps it may be causing annoyance when one decides she doesn’t want the other in. I will definitely look at set up like you said & see about improving it for them & trying new things . The door has a safety gate & we can hear the pigs so I think I’d hear them fighting as I’m home all day. They had been downstairs until the other day when they moved upstairs. My older son is up there a lot & leaves his door open so he would hear. They have settled into the new room now thankfully. Maybe during establishing hierarchy the ear thing happened but would def know if they were cut or sore as see them daily xx

They really do love each other & will more than often choose to sleep together side by side rather than apart which they of course do sometimes xx