Please enlighten me

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Srevxxx

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Hi I’m new to this, can anyone enlighten me on some behaviour of piggy’s please I don’t know if what they are doin is normal
 
Hello and welcome to the forum
Firstly what combo of piggies do you have? Male or female and what behaviour are you concerned about x

Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides Here is a guide which includes lots of useful info for new owners and also has all about guinea pig behaviours, but please ask away!
 
Piggies&buns said:
Do tell us what behaviour you are seeing which you would like clarified
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They are pushing each other about, one keeps trying to mount the other they are both girls and wheeking at each other just I have never had them before so I don’t know what to look for. One had a bit of cucumber and the other one was trying to take it off her and it sounded like she was purring at her and the chase each other
 
How do you mean pushing each other around? Taking food from each others’ mouths is entirely normal. What some other pig has is sometimes tastier than what they have. Mounting is also normal, both in boars and sows. Have you noticed more rumbling and mounting than usual in the past few days?
 
Srevxxx said:
They are pushing each other about, one keeps trying to mount the other they are both girls and wheeking at each other just I have never had them before so I don’t know what to look for. One had a bit of cucumber and the other one was trying to take it off her and it sounded like she was purring at her and the chase each other
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This all sounds very normal. Mounting is normal dominance behaviour. You will see them do it a lot, particularly when they are in season.
Have you checked their sexes yourself though? It’s always something we advise a new owner to do.

Taking food from each other is how they behave and learn what is safe to eat.
The guides below offer further information specific to sows, but also normal dominance behaviours for both sexes

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
Siikibam said:
How do you mean pushing each other around? Taking food from each others’ mouths is entirely normal. What some other pig has is sometimes tastier than what they have. Mounting is also normal, both in boars and sows. Have you noticed more rumbling and mounting than usual in the past few days?
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I’ve only had them for near two weeks and I havnt noticed this behaviour before, when they do it it’s only for short periods, and push is more like nudging each other.
 
That’s all normal. Have a read of the guides that were linked to above, they’re really useful.
 
It takes them around two weeks to settle into their relationship with each other (even if they were together before you brought them home, then a change in environment will cause them to reestablish their relationship). They are now likely feeling more comfortable in their home and are starting to show normal behaviours.
 
Srevxxx said:
Thanks
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I have two girls just I have never had them before so I don’t know if there behaviour is normal I’m hoping the are just trying to figure out who is the dominant one they are only 10 weeks old
 
Piggies&buns said:
It takes them around two weeks to settle into their relationship with each other (even if they were together before you brought them home, then a change in environment will cause them to reestablish their relationship). They are now likely feeling more comfortable in their home and are starting to show normal behaviours.
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Thanks it’s two weeks on Saturday that I have had them and I think that is what they are doin they aren’t hiding as much now so hope they feel at home
 
Srevxxx said:
They are pushing each other about, one keeps trying to mount the other they are both girls and wheeking at each other just I have never had them before so I don’t know what to look for. One had a bit of cucumber and the other one was trying to take it off her and it sounded like she was purring at her and the chase each other
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Hi!

I sounds like normal dominance behaviour while they are setting up a group in new territory, likely with a season mixed in. Please double-check the gender of all new piggies; mis-sexing is sadly not at all uncommon.
Here is more about sow behaviour in detail: Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Illustrated Sexing Guide

Snatching food from the mouth is also normal learning behaviour of piggies in the 'school weeks' between weaning and teenage when piggies learn to master their enironment and the niceties of social interaction, mostly by shadowing a willing older piggy. Rodents don't have a vomit reflex; they learn what is safe to eat or not by sniffing their elders' mouths and snatching food off them - a behaviour that is generally tolerated by adults but doesn't go down well when they are trying it on with their siblings.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

I sounds like normal dominance behaviour while they are setting up a group in new territory, likely with a season mixed in. Please double-check the gender of all new piggies; mis-sexing is sadly not at all uncommon.
Here is more about sow behaviour in detail: Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Illustrated Sexing Guide

Snatching food from the mouth is also normal learning behaviour of piggies in the 'school weeks' between weaning and teenage when piggies learn to master their enironment and the niceties of social interaction, mostly by shadowing a willing older piggy. Rodents don't have a vomit reflex; they learn what is safe to eat or not by sniffing their elders' mouths and snatching food off them - a behaviour that is generally tolerated by adults but doesn't go down well when they are trying it on with their siblings.
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Thanks just glad it’s normal behaviour I was getting worried
 
Srevxxx said:
Thanks just glad it’s normal behaviour I was getting worried
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Please take the time to read up on the guide links. We cannot give the whole background in every post, seeing that we are all doing this for free in our own free time; but we do have one of the best and most comprehensive information resources that allow you to read up and gain deeper understanding in your own time.

Our sow guide, which specifically addresses the most common problem areas with sows that we get the most questions and concerns about is just one of a very wide range of topic. You may want to bookmark the access link. Our guides are specifically written for new owners but they deal with all the tricky areas in as practical and precise detail in a step-by-step way as possible; no glossing over the sticky points!
Here the link to the collection: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Wiebke said:
Please take the time to read up on the guide links. We cannot give the whole background in every post, seeing that we are all doing this for free in our own free time; but we do have one of the best and most comprehensive information resources that allow you to read up and gain deeper understanding in your own time.

Our sow guide, which specifically addresses the most common problem areas with sows that we get the most questions and concerns about is just one of a very wide range of topic. You may want to bookmark the access link. Our guides are specifically written for new owners but they deal with all the tricky areas in as practical and precise detail in a step-by-step way as possible; no glossing over the sticky points!
Here the link to the collection: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Click to expand...
Thanks I read them
 
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