Young females bonding advice

[Willow&Sky]

I got two young female piggies about two weeks ago. I thought they we're already bonded when I got them but once I got them home I realised they hadn't formed a bond yet.

They're settling in well and seem to love their new home but they're not great friends. They play together and enjoy floor time together but in their enclosure they like their own space. The more dominant pig, Sky, still sometimes chases and nips willow. They never fight but sometimes Willow flicks wee and kicks out if Sky gets too close.
But then they'll settle down and sleep in different beds and seem quite content.

I've had guinea-pigs when I was much younger but never two youngsters at the same time. Is this behaviour anything to be worried about, or is if just normal for some piggies to have relationships like this?

Overall they seem pretty happy they just seem to irritate each other sometimes?

 

[Wiebke]

I got two young female piggies about two weeks ago. I thought they we're already bonded when I got them but once I got them home I realised they hadn't formed a bond yet.

They're settling in well and seem to love their new home but they're not great friends. They play together and enjoy floor time together but in their enclosure they like their own space. The more dominant pig, Sky, still sometimes chases and nips willow. They never fight but sometimes Willow flicks wee and kicks out if Sky gets too close.
But then they'll settle down and sleep in different beds and seem quite content.

I've had guinea-pigs when I was much younger but never two youngsters at the same time. Is this behaviour anything to be worried about, or is if just normal for some piggies to have relationships like this?

Overall they seem pretty happy they just seem to irritate each other sometimes?

Hi and welcome

Guinea pigs have to re-establish a working group in any new territory. A working group hierarchy is at the core of guinea pig society; bonding is much more complex than just meeting and accepting each within a few minutes or hours. The dominance phase, in which the form of the relationship is worked out, lasts around 2 weeks, so you have to be patient.
Please make sure that you have everything in twos - hideys (preferably with two exits), bowls, water bottles and access to hay that cannot be blocked; that helps as chucking the underpiggy out of prime estate or bowls is part and parcel of the dominance phase.

Please take the time to read these guides so you can understand what is happening.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Sow Behaviour

What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

These guides are part of our New Owners collection that addresses all the areas that we get the most questions and worries about - from understanding behaviour to settling in, making friends and handling (including a spot of guinea pig whispering) to care, diet and housing (including safe and dangerous toys/cage accessories) and learning what is normal and what not and how to spot illness early on etc.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[Willow&Sky]

Hi and welcome

Guinea pigs have to re-establish a working group in any new territory. A working group hierarchy is at the core of guinea pig society; bonding is much more complex than just meeting and accepting each within a few minutes or hours. The dominance phase, in which the form of the relationship is worked out, lasts around 2 weeks, so you have to be patient.
Please make sure that you have everything in twos - hideys (preferably with two exits), bowls, water bottles and access to hay that cannot be blocked; that helps as chucking the underpiggy out of prime estate or bowls is part and parcel of the dominance phase.

Please take the time to read these guides so you can understand what is happening.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Sow Behaviour

What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

These guides are part of our New Owners collection that addresses all the areas that we get the most questions and worries about - from understanding behaviour to settling in, making friends and handling (including a spot of guinea pig whispering) to care, diet and housing (including safe and dangerous toys/cage accessories) and learning what is normal and what not and how to spot illness early on etc.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Thank you for your response. Yes they have two of everything now. I removed all the one exit hideys so they just have tubes (that they love running through!) and fleece snuggles that have two exits. They don’t have any problems sharing the food bowl, hay or water, it was mainly the beds that Sky was very territorial over. But she has calmed down over the time she’s been here so hopefully that’s a good sign.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your response. Yes they have two of everything now. I removed all the one exit hideys so they just have tubes (that they love running through!) and fleece snuggles that have two exits. They don’t have any problems sharing the food bowl, hay or water, it was mainly the beds that Sky was very territorial over. But she has calmed down over the time she’s been here so hopefully that’s a good sign.

Things are going in the right direction. Your more dominant girl is going to throw her weight around occasionally, most noticeably when she comes into season roughly every two weeks, as described in the sow guide.