What are my piggies doing?

[Rosie&Willow]

Hi guys this will be my girls 5th night at home. I give them veggies when I come in from work then they’re in and out of their hides constantly. Noises in the kitchen and my kids make them run and hide but they’re coming out much more. At this time of night when my kids are in bed when I sit talking to them they dart around in their cage, chasing each other, odd jumps and make noises. Sometimes it’s a little squeaks sometimes a hum. Never had Guineas so I’m wondering if this is them happy or annoyed with eachother… or me?

 

[Rosie&Willow]

Noticing them sniffing each others butts, squeaking, nudging then leaping …. I’m guessing it’s a dominance thing!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Without seeing a video, we can only make guesses but when taking everything you’ve said together, I’d hazard a guess that they are playing with some dominance mixed in. ‘darting around their cage’ sounds like zoomies and the odd jumps sounds like popcorning. Both signs of happy piggies

See if this is what you are seeing - 'Popcorning' (jumping) and 'zooming' (running) - joy and exuberance (videos)

A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours

 

[Swissgreys]

It sounds like they are typically active, happy piggies, who are starting to feel very much at home.

 

[Rosie&Willow]

Thank you both … I’ve just made them some
Toilet roll tubes full of hay and they’re running about squeaking / stopping to chew, and not running to hide … makes me happy