Two sows

[Piggylet]

My two sows don't seem to like one another. I thought at first tehy were just indifferent, and just went about what they wanted to do near enough ignoring one another. However, over the last few days since having them I've had some cuddle time and I've set up an indoor run.

Today is my day off and they've been inside for about 3 or 4 hours I guess now. I'm about to clean their hutch out and then they'll go back outside, but I do notice there seems a lot of squealing coming from their run, even though I can't see anything going on.

Both in their hutch and run they have a box each, so they can get away from one another and I've noticed they very rarely stay in the same box together. Also one of the girls (Emily) has had a few nibbles out of her ear, and I noticed a place on her back/neck area that looks like it could have been a nip or two. Emily is the more timid of the two and won't be picked up, even though she quite likes lap time. She's also always the last to appear when I take food to them. But she does have the guts to try and nick Suzy's food, so she can't be that scared of her?

I don't want them to live an unhappy life (especially Emily) but I'm not sure how much of this is normal behaviour and what isn't.

Any advice would be great - I see there's lots of boar behaviour advice, but sows seem to be a little more tricky.

Oh, and I haven't seen any blood on any bedding or any thing and I have been trying to look out for it, although as they're mainlybedded on hay, I guess it'd be hard to spot.

 

[Stacey]

Ive never had sows before but it does sound like Suzy is the more dominant female and sounds like she is making sure Emily knows this. You said that Emily is very timid. Has she always been like this or just since living with Suzy? If this is a new behaviour for Emily then i would honestly seperate them. As i said ive never had sows but i do have 3 boars and ive seen this type of behaviour in them and i wouldnt think the behaviour in Boars and sows would be that much different in the terms of dominance/bullying.
I would definatley seperate them if there is blood drawn, fighting occurs or if Emily seems depressed. I would keep a close eye on them to make sure no fighting occurs or injuries but if it was me, i would probably seperate than have one of mine getting bullied. Its not fair on the piggy. I went through this with 2 of my boys and one ended up having to get surgery on his ear and since he's lived alone and like Emily he was very timid but now he's a different piggy

Some Guinea pigs just dont get on with others, which my 3 have definatley proved to me

i would wait and see what others say, there way more experienced owners then me but i do try

All the best X

 

[Piggylet]

I got them from a breeder/rescuers (she mainly bred, but these two had come to her as other people tend to give her unwanted babies and these two were from unwanted litters). They had been housed together before with her (albeit with other females) and she said she'd never had any trouble between any of her females. Admittedly I'm not sure if the ear nibbles were there or not when I went and got them. I don't recall them, but then I probably wasn't looking properly.

I am keeping a close eye on them at the moment, but don't want to leave it too late.

I've had them roughly 2 weeks now - I thought perhaps they may settle down as time went on. But then it's only the last few days they've been confident enough to let me have a proper hold and look at them.

 

[lauralucy]

sorting out the heirarchy can take up to a month to sort out and can change. if there is no blood i would leave them, however keep an eye on them and make sure they are both getting food, spreading veggies throughout the hutch/cage can help this. when i only had 2 sows they didnt really get on as such they just lived together never slept together etc.

i would say that having them indoors and then putting them in an outdoor hutch can cause problems as pigges cant regulate there tempretures very well and the change in tempreture could cause problems.

 

[Stacey]

I got them from a breeder/rescuers (she mainly bred, but these two had come to her as other people tend to give her unwanted babies and these two were from unwanted litters). They had been housed together before with her (albeit with other females) and she said she'd never had any trouble between any of her females. Admittedly I'm not sure if the ear nibbles were there or not when I went and got them. I don't recall them, but then I probably wasn't looking properly.

I am keeping a close eye on them at the moment, but don't want to leave it too late.

I've had them roughly 2 weeks now - I thought perhaps they may settle down as time went on. But then it's only the last few days they've been confident enough to let me have a proper hold and look at them.

The behaviour could just be because its a new home for them and they havent sorted out who's the boss yet and it might very well calm down once they have.

 

[Piggylet]

i would say that having them indoors and then putting them in an outdoor hutch can cause problems as pigges cant regulate there tempretures very well and the change in tempreture could cause problems.

I am hoping they will be indoors soon permanently over winter. We haven't got heating on yet, and I am wary of the temperature change and make sure I have the heat pads and excess hay ready for when they return to the hutch - I also don't have them in if there is a big difference in temperature. I wouldn't ever have them in in the evening if the temperature is falling, only daytime when the difference is less.

 

[Wiebke]

It sounds like dominance behaviour, which can take quite some time after coming to a new home. Please make sure that the "nips" on the back are not down to mites/scratching.

 

[sophieandhoney]

my two girls have never really got on, I have had them almost 3 years now and they were about 6 months old when I got them - always rumbling at each other. I got Henry(mainly cos I fell in love with his picture) to try and create a herd for them to help Honey feel more secure. As yet it hasn't worked. They all sit apart from each other in the cage. makes me very sad.

Good luck with yours.

xx