GP help - strange behaviour!

[Itsjustanotherday]

Hi,

I posted recently about getting two girl guinea pigs. I've never had gp's before, so I really appreciated all the advice, thank you everyone.
Our gp's are about 12 weeks old, and today one of them is exhibiting REALLY strange behaviour.
She is going around the pen stretching out, and making these weird sounds. It's like a really deep, long growl/purring kind of sound. Only it's too deep to be purring! She's then going round sniffing the other ones bum more than usual, and trying to mount her. Does anyone have any suggestions of what this could be?
Thanks!

[Littlefish]

Are the definitely both girls? Sounds like one or both are in season.

[Itsjustanotherday]

They both look like girls...unless I'm looking at the wrong thing! [Grin]
Do they bleed when they're in season at all? Is it possible for her to be in season this young? Or is 12 weeks not young?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

12 weeks isn't too young, I've had a young guinea-pig from a petshop (years ago) that was pg when I bought her,

They don't bleed but they can get a waxy secretion round their nethers.

There are loads of photos online but by 12 weeks if they were boars they'd have definate testicles by now.

She might be exhibiting Dominance Mounting (boars do to boars and sows to sows)

I have a neutered boar and two sows (we got the girls in July) the girls are about a year old the boar a bit older.

They've started doing weirdy behaviour. He's rumblestrutting . They have marks on their rumps (boar glue we think) and they like to pee up against the wall .

This Too Will Pass (I tell myself. Till next time)

[fridayfreedom]

Sounds like rumblestrutting to me too. Just establishing whose boss!
if they get too noisy and unsettled, take all hidey holes out of the cage and put in tonnes of hay, then leave them to sort it out, they usually settle down again. Any changes in setting will mean they have to sort out hierarchy again so dont keep them apart for too long.

[Itsjustanotherday]

Thank you both :) they have calmed down a bit, so we are now having cuddles, but the noises etc went on for a few hours! Will see how they are tomorrow

[dietcokeandwine]

From what you write OP I'd say she's probably come into season, and the dominance type behaviour will calm down in a day or so.

I have two neutered boar/sow pairings and one of the sows in particular can get very growly and dominant when she's 'on'. Lots of chasing her boy pig companion about, trying to mount him, chasing him in and out of the hidey boxes etc. She is usually the calmest of my four (and as a pair they are calmer than my other two, much more serene and contented) so I find it quite unsettling when she does this. Things always calm down though once the season has passed.

Hope all continues to be calm for your two!