Very vocal but not actually fighting.

sarethums · 02-20-2018, 03:40 AM

I have 3 8 week old female russian dwarf winter whites. Ive had them for 2 weeks. Daisy, maisey and lenin. They have been very accommodating to each other up until a few days ago. Now Daisy is being very vocal and turns on to her back as though being attacked but the other 2 are just going about their business not attacking at all. Ive seen it where daisy is sitting there and another will just brush past her and she'll turn as though under attack. Even when i put my hand close to her she acts this way until realising its me and not one of them. When they sleep though they are all snuggled up together. My theory might be that she is pregnant. We have to wait another week to find out, she is slightly larger than the other 2 so I will update this then. I really dont wan to have to separate them. Im sitting by and making sure to "break them up" (even though nothing is actually happening). There is 3 food points, 2 wheels, 2 waters, plenty of tubes, cages is a big enough for a syrian. They are handled every day and get a daily run around a pen too.

Thanks

Pebbles82 · 02-20-2018, 04:14 AM

Good that you are keeping an eye on them. I am no expert on dwarf groups but am wondering, if she might be pregnant, if it might be better to separate her anyway? But will wait for other advice on that. If she did have babies, they could all stay together (and the girls stay with her after they are weaned). Whereas if she had them in current cage, it could get a bit crowded. I think the other two may help out but not sure if that would work or not.

cypher · 02-20-2018, 04:47 AM

It does sound as though Daisy is getting very stressed, often with a group of three one will be dominated by the other two & it can be hard for them even if no fighting actually occurs.
I'd be inclined to separate her from the other two if they're getting on ok then they could stay together & you could give Daisy a cage of her own, I think she'd be a lot better off that way & less stressed, if you think there's a chance she's pregnant then I would definitely give her her own space so she can make a nest & get ready for pups, if she is pregnant & remains stressed then she could lose the pups or even kill them after birth.