Strange Boy Behaviour

[Hank288]

Some of you may know I had Harley and Cookie together but cookie was bullied so they were split. I got a new 7 week old baby Sherman on the 1st April to bond with Cookie. Long story short the baby is a dominant little one and backed Cookie into a corner during bonding and flew at him so I managed to bond the baby with dominant Harley.

The boys Harley (just over 2 years) and Sherman (around 16 weeks old) live in a 2x4 c and c cage on shavings. They do the usual bum wiggles and rumbling at each other in the cage, I wouldn't say it was excessive though. There is no chasing or any other bullying behaviour at all. Quite happy to sit with each other to share their veg and pellets etc. Will sit side by side for photo's etc with no issues at all what so ever.

On clean out day I usually put them into a cat carrier, but it is a large one not one of the small ones, up until last week they were fine together in the carrier, just sat quietly waiting (sometime bar biting). But last week I heard a commotion so rushed over and Sherman had pulled a chunk of Harley's hair out. I separated into separate carriers and then put back in cage together. They are completely fine in the cage together. This week they sat and had their photos done and then I put them in the box, I always put Harley who is less dominant in first. Sherman flew at Harley and has bit and cut his ear, quite a bit of blood but wound all clean and Harley is fine. Cue separate boxes again while cleaned. Put them back in the cage together and watched them and they are completely fine with each other.

Question is why could they be like this with each other? Also is it ok if I put them into separate carriers for cleaning every week and then put them back into the cage together again?
Sorry for the really long post and thanks for reading.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Please give them more space, cage wise you need a minimum of 2x5 really and they're fighting because you're putting them in a small enclosed space while cleaning.

Do they have a run for their daily floor time? They definitely need more space because makes do not cope well in small spaces. A big run or section of the house baby proofed would be far better for them while you're cleaning out.

Hope they're okay!

 

[Hank288]

I can't extend to a 2x5 as there is not the space. At the moment I am also unable to baby proof an area of the house for cleaning as my OH is highly allergic to the guinea pigs so they have to stay in the room they are in. When we move house there will be more space as I am getting the garage as a piggy place. They do not get daily floor time, they have a ton of toys and stimulating items in their cage to keep them happy daily. None of my pigs have ever had daily floor time and I currently have 8 and have had more previously. All of my pigs are happy and healthy and have enough space to run and explore.

I did assume that it was just because of the small confined space of the carrier. Looks like I will have to come up with another solution for cleaning day.

 

[Wiebke]

Some of you may know I had Harley and Cookie together but cookie was bullied so they were split. I got a new 7 week old baby Sherman on the 1st April to bond with Cookie. Long story short the baby is a dominant little one and backed Cookie into a corner during bonding and flew at him so I managed to bond the baby with dominant Harley.

The boys Harley (just over 2 years) and Sherman (around 16 weeks old) live in a 2x4 c and c cage on shavings. They do the usual bum wiggles and rumbling at each other in the cage, I wouldn't say it was excessive though. There is no chasing or any other bullying behaviour at all. Quite happy to sit with each other to share their veg and pellets etc. Will sit side by side for photo's etc with no issues at all what so ever.

On clean out day I usually put them into a cat carrier, but it is a large one not one of the small ones, up until last week they were fine together in the carrier, just sat quietly waiting (sometime bar biting). But last week I heard a commotion so rushed over and Sherman had pulled a chunk of Harley's hair out. I separated into separate carriers and then put back in cage together. They are completely fine in the cage together. This week they sat and had their photos done and then I put them in the box, I always put Harley who is less dominant in first. Sherman flew at Harley and has bit and cut his ear, quite a bit of blood but wound all clean and Harley is fine. Cue separate boxes again while cleaned. Put them back in the cage together and watched them and they are completely fine with each other.

Question is why could they be like this with each other? Also is it ok if I put them into separate carriers for cleaning every week and then put them back into the cage together again?
Sorry for the really long post and thanks for reading.

Please ALWAYS handle, feed, groom and pet the dominant boar first; you need to observe the hierarchy and proper hierarchy etiquette, especially with a touchy youngster like Sherman. The top pig always comes first and has first choice.

You can put them in separate carriers during cleaning; in your case, it is actually better.

 

[Hank288]

Please ALWAYS handle, feed, groom and pet the dominant boar first; you need to observe the hierarchy and proper hierarchy etiquette, especially with a touchy youngster like Sherman. The top pig always comes first and has first choice.

You can put them in separate carriers during cleaning; in your case, it is actually better.

Thanks Wiebke. I always assumed it was better to handle the less dominant first so that the dominant one doesn't claim it as 'his'. I do usually feed Sherman first but that is usually because Harley is happy to sit by my hand and drag it off the tray while I put Sherman's food under his nose. I will now always make sure to deal with Sherman first and Harley second.

I think in this case you are right about the carriers. I am not even going to try it again, just use the separate ones. It seems to do them good to have a break from one another anyway. I just worried about the separate carriers breaking their bond, but the last 2 weeks they have always seemed fine back in the cage.