I'm a first-time owner and did expect a small bit of this behavior, but right now it's concerning me as one of my pigs seems to bully his brother, chasing him around and nipping at him. This causes the other pig to chatter its teeth and squeak loudly. My more docile pig tries to cuddle with him; all he gets in return is mounting and chasing. It's not very nice to watch. This is my second day after adopting them. They are littermates but should I try and bond them? and how? There's no food aggression but the more bossy pig I feel is recourse guarding lettuce I've put out around the case. I feel so bad and want to comfort the shy pig but he's too scared of me. Is there anything I can do to help? I have three hides, a big cage, lots of hay, and fleece, I'm unsure what to do
Two new 7-week-old boars (littermates) were recently adopted and one is very dominant, almost a tyrant, the other cries and is shy.
- Thread starter holly1377
- Start date
Welcome to the forum
It is normal for piggies to reestablish their relationship and hierarchy when they move to a new environment. This takes around two weeks and while it is just normal dominance you just need to let them get on with it. Normal dominance is chasing and mounting and is not concerning.
Squealing from the submissive pig is very normal and is the correct response. It is called submission.
Their interactions can look rather rough to us but are normal to them
Bullying is a sustained set of behaviours and is so much more than dominance. It is relentless to the point where the submissive is never allowed to rest, loses weight through not being allowed to eat enough hay, is constantly chased and mounted. This either ends with the submissive becoming so withdrawn and depressed or has enough and physically fights back. Bullying is permanently bond breaking.
You need to ensure the cage is big enough (180x60cm or a 5x2 c&c cage), that there is enough resources and that all hides have two doors in them. Scatter hay and veg around the cage. Otherwise, for now, you do nothing. They have to sort things out between them and you cannot intervene unless a fight breaks out. I’d you interrupt their normal processes then you interrupt their bond and actually separating unnecessarily can do more harm than good.
You are going to see a lot of dominance once they hit their hormonal teens which is between the ages of 4 and 14 months. Even in compatible pairs it is normal.
Reacting to group or territorial changes: Dominance and group establishment/re-establishment
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection
Ps - I have removed your postcode from your profile for your own online security
It is normal for piggies to reestablish their relationship and hierarchy when they move to a new environment. This takes around two weeks and while it is just normal dominance you just need to let them get on with it. Normal dominance is chasing and mounting and is not concerning.
Squealing from the submissive pig is very normal and is the correct response. It is called submission.
Their interactions can look rather rough to us but are normal to them
Bullying is a sustained set of behaviours and is so much more than dominance. It is relentless to the point where the submissive is never allowed to rest, loses weight through not being allowed to eat enough hay, is constantly chased and mounted. This either ends with the submissive becoming so withdrawn and depressed or has enough and physically fights back. Bullying is permanently bond breaking.
You need to ensure the cage is big enough (180x60cm or a 5x2 c&c cage), that there is enough resources and that all hides have two doors in them. Scatter hay and veg around the cage. Otherwise, for now, you do nothing. They have to sort things out between them and you cannot intervene unless a fight breaks out. I’d you interrupt their normal processes then you interrupt their bond and actually separating unnecessarily can do more harm than good.
You are going to see a lot of dominance once they hit their hormonal teens which is between the ages of 4 and 14 months. Even in compatible pairs it is normal.
Reacting to group or territorial changes: Dominance and group establishment/re-establishment
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection
Ps - I have removed your postcode from your profile for your own online security
fluffysal
Forum Donator 2024/25
Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of guinea pigs.
I am slave to Dignified Sir George and Mischievous Master Boris who are collectively known as The Beastie Boys.
If you need to get a bigger cage I recommend looking at C&C grid panels on Amazon, much cheaper and more practical than store bought cages.
Do your boys have names yet?
I am slave to Dignified Sir George and Mischievous Master Boris who are collectively known as The Beastie Boys.
If you need to get a bigger cage I recommend looking at C&C grid panels on Amazon, much cheaper and more practical than store bought cages.
Do your boys have names yet?
Thanks so much for the reassurance and thx about the postcode I didn't even remember having put it on there. It's just tough to watch but I guess its part of the process. I scatter their food and their cage is 4x2, they don't seem to argue about veg or hay, more just about being too close together. they like to stay far away in opposing hides In their cage however about ten minutes ago the dominant one went to sleep with the shy one and I'm pretty sure they didn't squabble (for once)
Yes, I've named who used to be Raccoon Boy (the bossy one) Paddy and the other one who used to be named Bruno is now Beau. If I could figure out how to send photos I would haha
fluffysal
Forum Donator 2024/25
Once your registration is complete you should see an attach files button on the bottom left of the reply box.
I assume you mean a c&c cage? A 4x2 is ok, considered minimum size but a 5x2 is the recommended size for two boys. I originally has one of my boar pairs in a 4x2 but it quickly become clear they would benefit from more space.
About not wanting to be too close - that’s also normal. Most piggies will not snuggle up together
Truffolo
Adult Guinea Pig
Try to keep them together if you can as this is a good age to get the status sorted out, while they are less mature and serious. But keep observing them as if they actually bite hard enough to draw blood and fight seriously, they will need to be separated. They can live side by side with a partition between them, but this can make it more difficult for them to get back together in the long run. If they do fight seriously, then separating them into neighbouring enclosures would make it possible for you to keep them and they seem to live happily enough like that, but possibly not as happily as they would as part of a herd. The other option is to neuter them and get each one a female cage mate after two months (the time the neutering takes effect, before this they can produce babies). But then you might need a lot more money for vet expenses and more cage space, bedding and food. The more room they have the better, even if they live in separate cages. Neutering can be a dangerous operation for guinea pigs unless it's done by a vet who has done a lot of these operations. After-care can be tricky, although some piggies, especially if they are younger, get through it without problems. Good luck with your piggies. Let us know how things go with them.
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fluffysal
Forum Donator 2024/25
You really should have given a cuteness warning 