One Extreme to the other - Help!

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loveisdivine

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I know I dont post here often but I'm at my wits end.

The dynamic in our group of 4 changed recently. Top pig, Gloria, became 3rd pig and bottom pig, minners, became a very dominant number 2.

For the last week Gloria and minners have been going from one extreme to the other with their relationship. One minute they will be sleeping right next to each other in the hay loft, sharing some veg together, giving each other a little nudge and "kiss" the next minute its all out war fare! Loud teeth chattering, prominent butt swaying, nipping, aggressive chasing and the occasional lunge!

No blood has been drawn, infact I dont think they have really made contact yet. The "fighting" lasts about 30 seconds and then its all back to normal and their sleeping together again.

I cant take the 2 extremes! One second I'm going "Aww arent they cute" then its "Oh god their killing each other!"

Anyone experienced this?
 
I'm going through a similar situation myself atm. I had Sherbert as boss pig, Sookie as 2nd boss and baby Rio at the bottom of the ladder. But now Rio's grown up she's challenging the other two and now they're having a go at each other. mallethead
I think it's just a case of letting them sort it out themselves unless they start having serious fights.
 
It is a tough time when the hierarchy within an established group changes. As long as there are no bloody fights, you have to sit it out, I'm afraid. The show offs should subside once the hierarchy has been settled to both girls' satisfaction, but that may take some more days. However, I don't think that it will escalate into fights; both girls are careful about staying just this side of the line in order to not upset the group as a whole. I have a rather confrontational girl coming up the ranks, too, so I'm getting my tiffs, too!

Guinea pig dynamics can certainly it out of you at times! They are not something for the fainthearted! mallethead
 
Thanks for the quick responses!

Its just took me a bit by surprise. The dynamic first changed about 3 months back when we got our 4th pig. Gloria didnt like not being boss but she kinda go on with it. Then its only this last week that its kicked off.
I think maybe Gloria has had enough of the former bottom pig bossing her around.I knew she wouldnt take it forever, she wal always a very dominant pig so to see her suddenly become almost bottom was very odd.

I shall wait it out then and see if the situation deteriorates.
 
I have noticed a few shuffles in the dynamics in my gang, crystal is and always has been the boss pig, there has never been fights just an understanding. Then flash joined the group and minty the second in command took over the ordering of the group, crystal slipped into the background, once it was all settled she was boss again. Then last year crystal hurt her leg (brused) and fudge the bottom pig became the leader, even giving crystal a hard time for the couple of weeks until crystal was back to strength and she stepped aside.

now silver has been introduced again minty is in charge of the pecking order, and I have noticed she is very protective of crystal who at the same time has a skin problem (which is now healing). Crystal is very much in the background and left out of the sorting scuffles, although she is starting to feel much better - the scuffles are settling down as well so that might be why she is joining back in.

My lot are funny, they are all confident and take no prisoners but they also respect each other and rarely seem to need to actually fight, yes during the bonding there has been scuffles but nothing that I thought was worrying.

I love the dynamics of groups
 
I just wanted to give a little update to say that everything is now back to normal and they have been getting along great for a week or so now.

They are funny little creatures really :{
 
Well my update was obviously posted too soon. As the on and off fighting has started up again.
We made the cage bigger at the weekend and in fairness they do all seem more relaxed.

But when I went home for lunch today, I was sat watching them and Minners walked over to where Gloria was to share a munch of the toilet tube that was there and then one of them snorted then they stared at each other for about 5 seconds, then minners lunged for Gloria and gave her a little chase, then they went back to normal.

Most of the time they are fine, sharing the hay loft, sharing their food. Just every few days there will be a little stand off. Never any injuries.

At what point should I be worried? When I introduced a neutered boar it was clear from the start they didnt get along. Gloria and the boar couldnt be in the same room without really fighting. So its no where near as bad as that.
 
i'm afraid there's nothing you can really do that you haven't done. Good job making the cage bigger. I think you should just let them be and sort out their problems. If it's really getting to you, maybe let them have a time out from each other now and then.

The same thing is going on with my piggies as well. One minute they will be sharing food and the other they will be having a show down. You just got to let them work it out. Also, pigs tend to be very hormonal when they are 4-14 months old. Just give it some time.

good luck, xx
 
To be honest I think it bothers me more than it does them.

You're right, aslong as theres no actual injuries I just have to leave them be. Ill make sure they get extra floor time at the minute. Just to give them a break.

Thanks again.
 
Oooo hun I am feeling your pain!:{

I have tried everything to re-bond my 2 boys after a fight in May that resulted in bites and Jamies ear being torn :0

Ive tried bonding baths, car rides in the carrier, new bigger cage (5 x 2) C&C, new fleeces, new toys, 2 of everything.... you name it Ive done it!

When I put them together in the play pen downstairs, they tolerate each other for 3-4 hours. We have popcorning and chuts of excitement that they are back together, then we have the snorting, rumbling, teeth chattering, yawning the lot. For me, the problem is the youngest one Jamie. Gino ignores all his challenges, so Jamie nips him to get his attention to his rumblestrutting and then thats when the trouble starts.

I will be rehoming Jamie through the rescue, and looking for a new friend for Gino as hes desperate for contact. Sits staring at jamie through the divider, sleeps against it and gets all excited when Jamie approaches him.

Really sad :(
 
^^ It must be so frustrating. You have to do what you feel is best. Gut instinct and all that. It can be so disappointing though. I hated having to rehome my boar, but we just didnt have the room to build him his own cage and get him friend.
 
I have been lucky with my herd that I have 3 very confident girls that muddle along on the whole together but the youngest does get picked on rather a lot so I made the decision to introduce a boy last year in the hope that 4 was not a crowd and having an option to have two pairs if the older girls really hated the new addition. But they did accept him and became a lovely little mini herd of 4. But sadly this easter we lost him and I had to go through it all again with a new male, a very different personality and wondering if I had made the right decision.

Initially things were no worse or better than introductions with flash, silver took an absolute shine to the abbey girl minty and got into a fair few scuffles with her. After a week together inside I moved them outside into the hutch which was another worry - what if they got into a fight while I wasnt around to hear and split them up, what if they all fell out etc. But the two level hutch provided a bit of a divide naturally so they could have some time out from him as they had in the pen with the small upper level. And now weeks later they have settled even more. Minty still gives him a hard time, crystal who is boss pig will also boss him about sometimes but he eats from the same plate, hay racks and can sleep near them (they dont cuddle up to each other).

Its tough to ride out the noises and I felt really bad for silver, there was nothing seriously going on, a lot of noise and posturing over the first few days, some noise the following but it was not all peace and love at first sight and it does take time for them to learn to live with each other. I just kept remembering that acceptance is usually within 30 mins, they need to sort out their pecking order with reminders of this from time to time, as long as blood isnt drawn not to seperate. All my worrying was over perfectly normal behaviour.
 
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