Alice&Lois

[Halfmoongpiggs]

I have 2 11 week old sisters, Alice&Lois.
I am new to Guinea Pigs and I really love them and I am still learning about them and a friend of mine said to look a Forum for GPigs so this is how i got here xD

One nips and chases( not hard enough to draw blood) the other one around a little bit so I'm thinking they are having a pecking order/dominance issue going on since they are away from the mom and litter mate,
I took the pigloo out of the house pigs that was one of the main reasons i think they were doing it they are doing better than they were though, this morning they were popcorning around together and talking.
The other thing is, one talks all the time and her sister does not ever hardly talk and when ever Lois (the more Dominating one) gets close to her and not even to peck or chase her but maybe to eat the other one (Alice) starts shrieking.

They only have been away from their mom and sibling a week.
I got Alice first on last Sunday and then people said they do better with buddy's so last Wednesday i got Lois, and it had only 3 days since they had been apart and they acted like they have never even knew each other and and got along terribly but they are doing better except for Alice yelling when ever Lois comes to close, i guess she's afraid she might beat her up again..

so any tips would be greatly appreciated =)

[yodelpig]

If you can give them two hideys that would be great; as well as two bowls to eat fresh food out of, ideally spaced well enough apart that the underpiggy can eat in peace.

Guinea pigs are herd animals and always need to establish a hierarchy in a new place or with new herd members. Nipping, head butting, rumbling and mounting, and chasing off is normal dominance behaviour. Wheeking loudly is submission behaviour. I will hopefully die down somewhat over the next week.

Occasionally you may noitce one girl rumbling and mounting the other - she is in season then.

You will alwayas get one bolder/more vocal piggy and one that is more quiet.

[Halfmoongpiggs]

Ok that's what i have been thinking..

I made 2 desperate water and food places and I'm going to make 2 cut out houses/beds for them

[3piggles]

Hello and welcome. I hope you mean separate food and water places, lol. I agree with what Yodelpig said. If you can put them at opposite ends of the cage, it gives each pig a chance to eat and drink and get away from the other one for a moment. As much as they are herd animals, they also like a little breathing room once in a while.

Any major change in environment results in a new dominance dance. They could have lived together for months, but if separated, need to be reintroduced in a neutral space with no scent from the original pig.

For the housing situation, if you only have one house, try a cardboard box with holes cut in it for doors/windows. They can hide in the box, move it around and chew it, all of which are prime piggy games!!!

[Halfmoongpiggs]

Yes *separate lol, thank you very much for the suggestions and help =)

[3piggles]

I forgot to add that your girls are gorgeous, not that I'm partial to piggies, or anything!!!

[Halfmoongpiggs]

Thank you =)

[yodelpig]

How big is your cage? A cardboard box, a tunnel or even a rag pegged to the side of the cage would also do as a second shelter. Piggies like to cuddle up, but not everypig and not all night long.

[lonestarpiggies]

Oooh, what adorable girls, I love them! I sometimes use those cheap plastic step stools as hideys, especially in the summer. They let air flow through, and there are several ways to get in or out. As far as the wheeking, as yodelpig said, you'll find that one of your girls is the voice of the pair and will do most of the talking.

[pickles]

They are too cute!!!