Horomones?

[snowybun]

Hi I have three guinea pigs all brothers one years old. They have started this week to try and mount each other with a chattering noise and bum wiggling are they trying to sort out dominance or is it hormones and spring causing this. They are not fighting but will squeak and get the other off but so far no actual fighting is happening. They live in a large two storey hutch and are now let out in the big run weather permitting I have lots of boxes and other places they can hide.
Is there anything I need to do or do I just leave them to it and keep an eye on them.

Hi snowy you are brave to have 3 boars

It sounds like normal 'banter' TBH to sort things out. They establish their pecking order then one of the little upstarts will try and make a bid for Alpha Pig Status.

They might progress to heads up- facing each other and bickering. Each one raises their heads until one back down.

There's a good website which has lists of non-aggressive and aggressive behaviour (basically what's to worry about and what's not)

Best just keep an eye on them. Make sure they have plenty of space, food, enough gaps between the food dishes and water bowls to ensure there's no cause for squabble.

I don't think my two brothers (2.6 yo) try to mount each other -I've never seen it happen, but I've found BOAR GLUE (don't ask) on his fur on a couple of occasions. Last one on his nose. DD picked it off and it took off the fur where it was stuck Powerful stuff.

Have you got photos on profile?

I'll try and find the website in a while.

Boar humping for dominance is normal. They are trying to work out the pecking order. They will rumblestrutt, do heads up I'm bigger than you and look what big teeth I have! They may even have alittle scrap but as long as no serious injury happens, leave them together to get on with it.

When I had boars litter brothers the little one was top boar. Occasional the big shy one would take over but would be so nervous to be in charge they soon changed back again. Although the power struggle usually meant the little one (Old Boy) got a cut on his nose.

They stopped living together when he big one got cancer and became very grumpy. Old Boy mysteriously suffered a seriouly cut paw there were no witnesses and they had to be separated for good.

Thank you both I will leave them to it and just keep an eye on them then.
They have plenty of hidey holes. I think lightening is alpha pig as he has always been the more confident and vocal one and he is always first to the food bowls etc