Young sows teeth chattering during floor time

[Helen C]

Hello,

I recently adopted two sows (they're sisters, about 7 weeks old. They came home on December 21).

So far, things have been going well, though we're all still very much in a "getting to know you" phase. They seem ok when they're in their cage (a C&C), mostly eating, sleeping (either in the same hidey or in separate ones) or pop-corning together.

I have noticed some whining when they're both in the same hidey, though (they're one-entrance hideys, so I ordered different ones with two exits, I should get them later in the week).

I started putting them in the piggy-proofed kitchen for floor time a few days ago. The first time went well, they explored and seemed generally happy. But the second time, on three occasions, I heard them chattering teeth and complaining very loudly (the first two times, they were side by side. The third time, they were facing each other, with their hair raised and their heads up, and showing teeth. I was wondering whether I should step in or not, but then someone sneezed in the next room and the sound spooked them and distracted them.)

I put them back in their cage and since them, all has seemed normal (we're not around 24/7 but whenever we see them, they seem back to normal, either ignoring each other or pop-corning together).

I'm nervous about putting them back in the kitchen again for floor time, though.

Why did they do that while they were in a larger space?
Is it that they were in a different environnement?
Should I put more hideys or food for them during floor time?
One of them (or both of them) peed on the floor (and of course, not on the towels but on the tiles); could it be that the smell annoyed them, if one of them stepped in it?
Am I overthinking this?

I need to clean their cage tonight but I'm kind of worried about what'll happen during floor time... (But then, much like guinea pigs, I'm an anxious creature... )

Should I try to distract them if they start facing off again?

Thanks!

 

[sport_billy]

Hello there, welcome to the forum

It would be lovely to see some photos of your little ones, what are their names?

Sounds like normal behaviour nothing to worry about.

Tow exit hideys are great we always use them we use big play sticks so they can go in and out and during season time there is no cornering.

In answer to your questions

Why did they do that while they were in a larger space? They may have felt nervous, and then the wanted to go back into their cage. In their run make sure they have plenty of hideys so they feel secure and safe. Also make sure they have their hay and food in there and water like they would in their cage.

Is it that they were in a different environnement? I would indeed think so

Should I put more hideys or food for them during floor time? Absolutely as answered above, the run should be like a huge cage

One of them (or both of them) peed on the floor (and of course, not on the towels but on the tiles); could it be that the smell annoyed them, if one of them stepped in it? Won't have made difference

Am I overthinking this? Hey, it is what we do as pet lovers and owners, first time things are new. You will get there and we are happy to help answer questions...

They will have little face off's they are establishing their hierarchy so nothing to worry about.

Have a read of this it has some details on sow behaviour Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[Piggies&buns]

 

[LunaPig72]

When my four girls have floor time I use a pop up playpen and put all the hideys, tunnels etc from their C&C cage into it, along with a pile of hay. That seems to do the trick as they have places to hide, though the babies can still definitely seem more unsettled and ansty in the playpen and as others have said this is most likely due to nerves at being somewhere different. Two of my four are babies and one of them is really quite skittish so is easily spooked. They do also love the different space and chance to run around though so it's worth persevering with floor time for your babies, but maybe limit the space slightly so that they are not overwhelmed.

 

[Black piggies]

Did they have shelter? Those Amazon boxes are our friend

 

[Helen C]

Thank you for the tips! We tried floor time again last night and a great time was had by all.
They seemed stressed at one point but started eating their hay and settled down. The only time I heard chattering teeth was when they both tried to go into the same hidey (because the giant strawberry is more fun than the wooden hideys).

It would be lovely to see some photos of your little ones, what are their names?
Their names are Capucine (the black one) and Eglantine (the brown one). (I'm from Belgium, hence the frenchie names).
I'd love to share pictures, but so far, I mostly managed to capture blurry balls of fur moving away from me. Hopefully, I'll manage better in the next few weeks, as they get more used to me.

Hey, it is what we do as pet lovers and owners, first time things are new.
Thanks! I've had guinea pigs before, but not two of them at same time. And as I grow older, I'm getting more nervous about handling them when they're young, too. (The "scoop them up in a tunnel" technique has been a life-saver, really).

Thanks again, I'll try posting pictures when I manage to get a clear one.

 

[Helen C]

Just venting...

The first weeks with two new piggies are soooo nerve-wracking.

Things have been rather lively since yesterday morning, with lots of rumbling, high-pitched talking, chasing and I'm pretty sure I witnessed some mounting yesterday, too.

They *seem* mostly okay (yesterday, they were chasing one another and at some point, the chase turned into zooming, as if they'd forgotten what they were doing. Or they'll be rubbing against each other when they meet, one of them rumbling, and then someone will start pop-corning).

I'm not even sure if it's dominance, one of them experiencing her first season (they're nearly 8 weeks old) or both.
It's certainly loud...

It would be funny if it didn't make me anxious (I'm so scared they'll end up fighting). Yesterday, Eglantine was chasing Capucine, who ducked into a hidey. Eglantine kept chasing for two laps around the cage before realizing Capucine was no longer there.

It doesn't help that it happens in the first weeks, when you don't really know the piggies yet and can't tell what's normal for them and what's not. (They won't let me handle them either, so I'm checking that they don't have visible injuries but it's not like I can check under their fur).

 

[Piggies&buns]

There doesn’t sound to be anything to worry about going on here. Try not to worry.
You are also not really likely to see any full on fights, it can happen, but generally it’s boars who are more likely to have such a fight.
The easiest way to handle them is to herd them into a carrier/snuggle sack/box and then lift them from that. You’ve had them for a while now so it is important to get them used to it so you can carry out their weekly weight and health checks. Mine didn’t like it at first, but they now associate their carrier with going out into the lawn. Even though at this time of year they aren’t going on the lawn, they still happily jump into the carrier expecting fun...instead they get health checked and I get betrayed little eyes glaring at me!

 

[Black piggies]

That all sounds fine. They seem full of beans and happy I eventually had to end up separating a pair of girls due to bullying but the guides on here were really useful to follow should that ever be needed, based on what behaviour you see.

 

[Helen C]

The easiest way to handle them is to herd them into a carrier/snuggle sack/box and then lift them from that. You’ve had them for a while now so it is important to get them used to it so you can carry out their weekly weight and health checks. Mine didn’t like it at first, but they now associate their carrier with going out into the lawn. Even though at this time of year they aren’t going on the lawn, they still happily jump into the carrier expecting fun...instead they get health checked and I get betrayed little eyes glaring at me!

I can imagine those eyes.

Thanks for the advice! They do come into the carrier for floor time (I need to take them out to clean the cage--I read about using a carrier on the forum, and it really helped a lot).
Now it's just a matter of convincing them to let me actually handle them, which is probably going to be a bit of a challenge. But as you say, they do need to learn, if only so I can check they're well. I think I'll start bribing them with food, might make things go a bit faster.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I can imagine those eyes.

Thanks for the advice! They do come into the carrier for floor time (I need to take them out to clean the cage--I read about using a carrier on the forum, and it really helped a lot).
Now it's just a matter of convincing them to let me actually handle them, which is probably going to be a bit of a challenge. But as you say, they do need to learn, if only so I can check they're well. I think I'll start bribing them with food, might make things go a bit faster.

One of my boys fusses when first picked up but hes all front and just trying to be manly and scary but actually doesn’t mind cuddles, particularly if some coriander is on offer. The other one screams, wriggles, fusses no matter what I do - he doesn’t even try to be manly about it!

 

[Helen C]

Allow me to introduce you to Eglantine (yesterday, during floor time.)



And Capucine, hiding behind her sister, as usual.



Yup, we're both well aware that our human is trying to take pictures of us.