Stroppy Girls

[Thelmaandlouise]

Hi.

I have two girls who have been together since babies. They've been doing the rumble strutting for over a year and I thought it would calm down but it really hasn't. They get very jealous of each other. I have to stroke them at the same time so they don't get upset. they have a big 2 storey cage, separate houses, two options for hay and one food bowl for nuggets. They do like each other sometimes and they aren't aggressive towards each other, I just don't know what to do to stop them humping each other and stropping around their cage. I bought them a bigger 2 storey cage but it hasn't really helped except they can get away from each other. any help would be great. I don't want to spay them because it's a lot for them to go through

 

[Wiebke]

Hi.

I have two girls who have been together since babies. They've been doing the rumble strutting for over a year and I thought it would calm down but it really hasn't. They get very jealous of each other. I have to stroke them at the same time so they don't get upset. they have a big 2 storey cage, separate houses, two options for hay and one food bowl for nuggets. They do like each other sometimes and they aren't aggressive towards each other, I just don't know what to do to stop them humping each other and stropping around their cage. I bought them a bigger 2 storey cage but it hasn't really helped except they can get away from each other. any help would be great. I don't want to spay them because it's a lot for them to go through

Hi! Please be aware that sows come into season every 2 weeks, and that your girls' behaviour is perfectly normal for that, especially if they are fairly evenly matched. There is no reason whatsoever for worries. Their bond is not affected. if anything, sharing a stronger season together is actually binding them closer together. Sows are generally pretty tolerant when one of their sex is having a particularly strong season. Some pairs always have a very noticeable season while others are so quiet that you wouldn't really notice.
Even my group sows are rumbling and humping each other when they come into season (and sometimes even their neutered "husboar"!) They will mate with the boar only at the very end of their season when they are able to conceive.

Rumblestrutting and mounting are both mild dominance behaviour and nothing to worry about - and as they are social behaviours, not just sexual ones, you will continue to see them even in spayed sows.

Here is more information on sow behaviour and general interactive social behaviour. Please take the time to read through it, so you can understand your girls better and enjoy them more!
Sow Behaviour
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

 

[sport_billy]

Welcome to the forum., great advice above

 

[Thelmaandlouise]

Thanks. I just worry that they're not happy sometimes. We're having our first child shortly so, once he's toddling, I have a feeling they'll bond

Hi! Please be aware that sows come into season every 2 weeks, and that your girls' behaviour is perfectly normal for that, especially if they are fairly evenly matched. There is no reason whatsoever for worries. Their bond is not affected. if anything, sharing a stronger season together is actually binding them closer together. Sows are generally pretty tolerant when one of their sex is having a particularly strong season. Some pairs always have a very noticeable season while others are so quiet that you wouldn't really notice.
Even my group sows are rumbling and humping each other when they come into season (and sometimes even their neutered "husboar"!) They will mate with the boar only at the very end of their season when they are able to conceive.

Rumblestrutting and mounting are both mild dominance behaviour and nothing to worry about - and as they are social behaviours, not just sexual ones, you will continue to see them even in spayed sows.

Here is more information on sow behaviour and general interactive social behaviour. Please take the time to read through it, so you can understand your girls better and enjoy them more!
Sow Behaviour
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

Thank you for your advice. As long as they're happy, I'll let them carry on. I just didn't want them to be unhappy.

Ones gone in to have a lump removed today and the other one is really depressed because she misses her. It's times like this that I know that they really love each other.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks. I just worry that they're not happy sometimes. We're having our first child shortly so, once he's toddling, I have a feeling they'll bond



Thank you for your advice. As long as they're happy, I'll let them carry on. I just didn't want them to be unhappy.

Ones gone in to have a lump removed today and the other one is really depressed because she misses her. It's times like this that I know that they really love each other.

All the best!
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
Children And Guinea Pigs - A Guide For Parents

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