What's Wrong With My Piggies? :'(

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HoneyandJasmine

HoneyandJasmine

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Hello piggie lovers,
I've had my two 3 month old guinea pigs Honey and Jasmine for nearly 2 weeks now. Up until around now they got on fine and they did have tiny arguments and stuff but now it's got quite bad :( No blood has been drawn or anything but Jasmine keeps going up behind right up to her bottom and it doesn't look right. Jasmine keeps making honey squeal and run away and whenever I try and pet them when it's veggie time Jasmine starts vibrating and making that angry noise and teeth chattering and I don't know why, she didn't mind being stroked a few days ago! Also they don't really come out of their hidey a lot and when they are out I try and see them to give them a cuddle as they don't mind cuddles. However, they just run and hide and I know guinea pigs are generally skittish animals because they are prey animals but I see people's guinea pigs that don't run away. I'm so worried about them and I know people will say it'll take time and it's only been a week but they are quite tame already. I'm also new to guinea pigs so I'm pretty paranoid something's up with them.
Thank you in advance
xx
 
Hi! It is unfortunately down to time and patience!

One of your girls is likely to have come into season. They also have started to trust you enough to tell you "no" - it's a step on the ladder to build up trust. Please remind yourself that guinea pigs are not born as cuddly pets, and that - unless you adopt an ex-pet from a rescue - we have all gone through the slow process of making friends with our piggies on their own terms.

You may find these information threads here helpful in understanding your girls better. Additionally, you can place or peg a blanket over part of the cage, so they feel safer and less exposed in order to tempt them out.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/
 
They may be scrapping as one attempts to become dominant over the other. After all, someone has to be in charge ^.^ Butt sniffing and rumble strutting can be signs of dominant behaviour :) I've always been advised to let them decide between themselves - if they grumble and scrap, I've been told not to separate them unless it's getting nasty/blood has been drawn. If they do not settle (maybe both pigs want to be in charge) they may need to be separated :3
Also, some piggies are just not a social as others, just like people. It can take a long time for a new pig to settle into a new home, and get used to a new owner. I talk to my pigs all the time so they're used to my voice, and try to keep their cage somewhere they can see and hear you - then they can get used to you in their own time! Try hand feeding them in their cage to get them used to your hands too!
Hope I helped :D
 
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If you've only had them for two weeks, it is still early days. It took mine a lot longer than that not to run away when I put my hand in the cage. It takes time. What looks like docility in a brand new pet may in fact be them employing a 'freeze' strategy out of fear... for guinea pigs coping with potential danger, the only two modes are really 'freeze' or 'flee.' With time, they will become used to you and learn to trust you. Give it more time.

As for the behavior between the two of them, this sounds like normal dominance issues as they try to figure out who is going to be the boss pig in the pair. If they are fairly young, they may also be going through adolescence and may be hormonal. Guinea pigs have cycles just like people, and some guinea pigs become very moody with them. They come into heat every couple of weeks, so you may see an increase in dominance behavior and moodiness in a predictable cycle once you have had a few more months to observe them. Hope this helps a bit!
 
Hi
I hope everything has calmed down now?

I'm new to having guinea pigs and I've been scared witless over the last few months as I've been getting to know them and what is their normal behaviour! I really hope it's getting easier and you are enjoying their company more.

Best of luck x
 
Sianthomas98a said:
Hi
I hope everything has calmed down now?

I'm new to having guinea pigs and I've been scared witless over the last few months as I've been getting to know them and what is their normal behaviour! I really hope it's getting easier and you are enjoying their company more.

Best of luck x
Click to expand...

Hey, same. I always panic that the sounds aren't normal and stuff but yes they have calmed down dramatically and they even fall asleep in their fluffy bed for veggie time! Jasmine doesn't rumble as much now so I'm relieved they've calmed down. :) xoxo
 
Glad we have put your mind at rest re; the behaviour of your new girls. I am sure you will enjoy having them.
What sort of cage are you keeping them in? If you can keep them in a nice, big C and C cage (at least 2 x 5 for 2 pigs) they will be happier and more active. A large open cage with plenty of light will also help to make them less shy. Darkness breeds shyness.
 
Thank you, they are in a hutch but we have an indoor cage for winter. I'm saving up to get a big c&c cage when we've moved house and we'll have a lot more room
 
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