Two Dominant Females

[WMUPiggy]

I recently got a new 5 week old guinea pig from a rehoming situation to be a companion for my almost 1 year old guinea. I had them in separate cages for a day or so (which I know should have been MUCH longer) and then did a floor meeting with them which did not go horrible. No blood has ever been shed from them and they have never been in scuffle what so ever. The older pig just tries to mount her but is unsuccessful because the baby pig is so fast. Since putting them in a larger cage together though, they have constantly been chasing each other, my older cavy will not stop rumble-strutting and chasing the younger one, and surprisingly the younger one will not step down. She will also entice the older pig, these interactions do not look harmful, but I feel very guilty they are constantly running around. They will eat together, but the older pig will try to push the baby away from food sometimes. This behavior has been happening for 2 days now, how long should I wait to see if they start acting normal and then have to keep them separated. Thank you!

 

[7squeakers.]

Your two girls are sorting out their hierarchy. This normally happens when two pigs have been moved to a new cage/ environment or when a new piggie is introduced to an established herd. Females very rarely come to serious blows. I would give them another two or three days. Have they got two of everything in their cage? i.e.; two food bowls, two water bottles, two or more hides (each with two exits), two hay racks? This will allow the bullied one to be able to eat or drink if the other one chases her from the food/water.

 

[WMUPiggy]

Your two girls are sorting out their hierarchy. This normally happens when two pigs have been moved to a new cage/ environment or when a new piggie is introduced to an established herd. Females very rarely come to serious blows. I would give them another two or three days. Have they got two of everything in their cage? i.e.; two food bowls, two water bottles, two or more hides (each with two exits), two hay racks? This will allow the bullied one to be able to eat or drink if the other one chases her from the food/water.

Yes they have two of everything! They seem to be improving slowly! Thank you for your reassurance!

 

[Wiebke]

I recently got a new 5 week old guinea pig from a rehoming situation to be a companion for my almost 1 year old guinea. I had them in separate cages for a day or so (which I know should have been MUCH longer) and then did a floor meeting with them which did not go horrible. No blood has ever been shed from them and they have never been in scuffle what so ever. The older pig just tries to mount her but is unsuccessful because the baby pig is so fast. Since putting them in a larger cage together though, they have constantly been chasing each other, my older cavy will not stop rumble-strutting and chasing the younger one, and surprisingly the younger one will not step down. She will also entice the older pig, these interactions do not look harmful, but I feel very guilty they are constantly running around. They will eat together, but the older pig will try to push the baby away from food sometimes. This behavior has been happening for 2 days now, how long should I wait to see if they start acting normal and then have to keep them separated. Thank you!

Hi! Please sit it out; acceptance has happened and your girls are now in the dominance phase where they sort out the hierarchy. the behaviour is typical for it. it can last from a few days to a few weeks, but it should gradually die down. As hard as it is, you have to let your girls work it out between themselves with as little intervention as possible. Unlike you, they instinctively know the manual, so they don't see it like you do, but as a core part of creating a unit that is "US".

Make sure that your girls have only got hideys with two exits (tunnels or if necessary adapted cardboard boxes or even tea towel tents pegged to the bars) and have a bowl each during that time, ideally at least a body length apart. Feed veg and pellets in smaller portions 2-3 times a day, so anything can be eaten on the spot and you can be sure that the baby is getting what she needs. In between meals, your girls have unlimited hay that should make up to 80% of the daily food intake, so they won't go hungry.
Chucking underpiggies out of a hidey or off a food bowl is a very normal part of it.

You may find these links with lots of details helpful:
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Sow Behaviour

Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

 

[7squeakers.]

 

[Freela]

It takes time for them to work this out, and this all sounds pretty normal. I think we sometimes expect the younger pig to buckle, but it isn't always so (I have almost 6-year-old Sundae and 18-month-old Hadley... Hadley has been top pig since they were introduced when Hadley was 12 weeks old! Sundae doesn't have a domineering bone in her body!)