Uh oh! We have bullying going on…
It really is true ‘Mr. Fuzzypants Destroyer of Worlds’ takes after his namesake. It is now really obvious he is the more dominant of the three boys. Sandy being the most placid, he does whatever the other two tell him and follows them like a little lost puppy. However he is the most comfortable being held by all and seems the most confident around people and strangers. He does not care who holds him and thinks it means more cuddles and food.
We have noticed a lot of ‘rumble strutting’ going on between Fuzzy and Cookie these last couple of days. They shake their booties at each other and open their mouths as wide as they can showing their enormous teeth, whilst making a chattering noise. It looks similar to tiny hippos before they attack each other in the wild. The books say they are hitting their teenage years and are fighting for dominance.
When we went to feed them yesterday, we noticed Cookie on the bottom level trembling in the corner. When he approached the top level to get some food Fuzzy would give chase whilst chattering and muttering at him. We were all pretty worried and after a little research, we learnt that this behaviour can sort it’s self out with time and they are learning their place in the hierarchy of their group.
Today we noticed a cut on Cookies back and ear – which is NOT acceptable. We immediately separated him from Fuzzy and Sandy, who seem to be inseparable. Cookie was being pushed out of the sheltered part of the hutch and to the basement level, so we felt it was best to move him to the indoor hutch for some much needed TLC.
Hopefully this will be temporary accommodation until we can decide what to do with him. We may have to try to re-introduce them in a neutral space.
So much for family mattering in the guinea world. Our handy guide to guinea pigs book informs us that once they fall out they NEVER make up – shock!
So now I am back to square one with a guinea cage in my dining room and an unhappy Cookie on his lonesome.
Helloyellowdoor 