Sudden Barbering Fascination?

[Adelle]

i have 3 sows, 5 year old crunchie,15 month old mallow and 7 year old fudge- their positions in the hierarchy are in that order.

Crunchie will assert her dominance with some head lifting or a gentle nudge but never gets nasty since her spay- no one ever challenges her or nudges her. She likes to lick fudges eyes and mouth and fudge seems to enjoy it.

Mallow loves crunchie, follows her and copies her. Never challenges her. But with fudge, shes constantly asserting her dominance. If fudge tries to cross the bridge and mallow is sleeping at the bottom (where she usually lays) fudge wont walk over her for fear of being hit.. Mallow also makes loud screeching noises when fudge is trying to pass her but is too close. Sometimes this results in a forceful nudge, where fudge will wait until Mallow stops shouting before proceeding ahead. When fudge gets sick (she has heart failure), mallow becomes overly dominant and i end up pitting fudge on her own for a few days. This also helps me monitor her input and outputs when shes poorly, and seems content on her own.

Fudge doesnt challenge anyone, and only rumbles occasionally when in heat but soon stops after mallow puts her in her place.

Last week, fudge started eating mallows hair during lap time. Mallow again makes her high pitched screeching (not pain, more of a warning) but at a much lower noise level. This is a constant occurance now, and fudge seems obsessed with it. It only happens at lap time and fudge will follow mallow around to eat her hair- even though she dont dare try it in their cage. Its become an obsession with her lately and in the 3/4 years iv owned fudge, shes never done this.

Does anyone have any ideas? I hope you dont mind me tagging you @Wiebke , i know you are great with the behavioral side of things!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wiebke]

i have 3 sows, 5 year old crunchie,15 month old mallow and 7 year old fudge- their positions in the hierarchy are in that order.

Crunchie will assert her dominance with some head lifting or a gentle nudge but never gets nasty since her spay- no one ever challenges her or nudges her. She likes to lick fudges eyes and mouth and fudge seems to enjoy it.

Mallow loves crunchie, follows her and copies her. Never challenges her. But with fudge, shes constantly asserting her dominance. If fudge tries to cross the bridge and mallow is sleeping at the bottom (where she usually lays) fudge wont walk over her for fear of being hit.. Mallow also makes loud screeching noises when fudge is trying to pass her but is too close. Sometimes this results in a forceful nudge, where fudge will wait until Mallow stops shouting before proceeding ahead. When fudge gets sick (she has heart failure), mallow becomes overly dominant and i end up pitting fudge on her own for a few days. This also helps me monitor her input and outputs when shes poorly, and seems content on her own.

Fudge doesnt challenge anyone, and only rumbles occasionally when in heat but soon stops after mallow puts her in her place.

Last week, fudge started eating mallows hair during lap time. Mallow again makes her high pitched screeching (not pain, more of a warning) but at a much lower noise level. This is a constant occurance now, and fudge seems obsessed with it. It only happens at lap time and fudge will follow mallow around to eat her hair- even though she dont dare try it in their cage. Its become an obsession with her lately and in the 3/4 years iv owned fudge, shes never done this.

Does anyone have any ideas? I hope you dont mind me tagging you @Wiebke , i know you are great with the behavioral side of things!

Thanks in advance!

It sounds rather like social grooming gone overboard as a way of making friends with Mallow. The squeaking is a normal reaction, as you will see from the little video at the start.
You may find this guide here helpful: Barbering ( Eating Hair)

The high pitched sound is usually submission "don't come near me and be mean to me". Mallow sounds rather fear-aggressive than dominant to me from what you are saying.

 

[Adelle]

It sounds rather like social grooming gone overboard as a way of making friends with Mallow. The squeaking is a normal reaction, as you will see from the little video at the start.
You may find this guide here helpful: Barbering ( Eating Hair)

The high pitched sound is usually submission "don't come near me and be mean to me". Mallow sounds rather fear-aggressive than dominant to me from what you are saying.

Okay, thats interesting. She definately lashes out on fudge if she gets too close but i dont understand why she feels threatened.. Fudge is extremely submissive and always has been. Shes never mounted another guinea pig, never headbutts anyone and if she even thinks about rumbling she soon gets a nudge and stops.

Mallows noise intensifies until she lashes out (normally hits fudge with her mouth) but i would definately say fudge is scared of her- she wont pass her if there isnt a huge space and will stand at the top of the bridge until mallow moves from the bottom.

Its all very confusing!