No wheeks!

[pigathiuslee]

I've had my pig for almost a month now, she's about 3-4 months old, and she hasn't squealed (wheek wheek noise) once. She does plenty of the "popcorning" and running around the cage, and she does the shudder, rumble noises when i play with her and pet her. When I was a little kid I remember our family's guinea pig would always wheek really loud when she'd hear the food bag rustle or when she knew she was going to get some veggies, but this guinea pig hasn't made any of those loud noises. I'm just wondering if there's something I should be doing, or if I just have a quiet pig...

[NUGSspiderROSIE]

My piggie did not do it either when I first got her. Once we got a friend for her though, she seemed to start squeeking because our new one did. They seem to copy each other now. Once you get her a buddy she will most likely start. Probably isn't anything to worry about.

[Tophica]

I have a quiet pig and she rarely wheeks but when she does she wheeks LOUD !

[ctinaw]

Do you only have one pig? I started with one then added another when I read about pigs needing a friend. The volume level increased 100% when I added another. She is most likely fine - I just think they tend to make more noise in numbers. If you do only have one you really should consider getting her a same-sexed friend. Guinea pigs really need and enjoy the companionship.

[aaronmeister]

They really only need to wheek in order to receive attention for just to be loved or food. If you give it enough love and food there may not be a reason for it to voice itself.

[Wheek Weak]

Our Ruby has always been a quiet little girl. When she had her baby (who talks constantly), she started talking a little more, but she is still a fairly quiet little pig compared to our other three (who all talk, wheek, squeal, whistle, chut, etc. almost non-stop all day).

[Jenni_Feathers]

One of my pigs only wheeks when it is food time, and when he does he is loud! My other piggy wheeks all the time to me, to himself, to the other animals it actually gets annoying.
I second what ctinaw said about getting another piggy, they are herd animals are ushally lonely by them selves here is a link that explains it more: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

[Tulia&Susie]

I think you will find some piggies just wheek loud, not a lot, or any over amount. You may also find that if one does it...the others may follow.

[piggerz]

I have one boy who is very quiet. I've heard a few squeals out of him if I pick him up and he doesn't want to be picked up and that's about it. My theory is that Snowy, his companion, makes more than enough noise for both of them, and being that he is the alpha pig, he lets Snowy talk for him.

[hydrohoki]

Originally Posted by aaronmeister

They really only need to wheek in order to receive attention for just to be loved or food. If you give it enough love and food there may not be a reason for it to voice itself.

This made me laugh. My pigs don't stop talking. They talk about me, they beg for food (even with lettuce already in their little mouths). Yesterday, they were curled up in their beds having pillow talk (too cute).

I think that some pigs talk, some don't. Mine would be a lot quieter if they didn't have each other. Talking to me doesn't seem to be much fun, unless they are mad at me.

[Wheekie]

I have one piggie that hardly ever shuts up, and one who hardly ever makes a sound! But it's the'boss' piggie that always talks,so I guess he's talking for the other guy,too!

[bee1101]

One of our pigs can hardly wheek. You can hear her when you are really close to her and it's just really a wheeze.
There isn't anything wrong with her, she just can't wheek. It doesn't affect her at all.

[Wheek Weak]

Originally Posted by bee1101

One of our pigs can hardly wheek. You can hear her when you are really close to her and it's just really a wheeze.
There isn't anything wrong with her, she just can't wheek. It doesn't affect her at all.

That's exactly what Ruby used to do when she came to live with us (or, I should say...own us).

When she would hear the refrigerator door, she would lift her little head and nothing but a long, whispery, "whoosh" sound would come out. After a few times a loud wheek would finally kick in after the "whoosh"!

Like others have mentioned, it just depends on the pig. When two of ours get quiet...we worry and check on them (because they talk constantly). When Ruby talks...we worry and check on her to make sure she's ok! Rufus is the only one who talks and wheeks only when he has a reason to (food and being petted).

[urockstar]

I wanted to ask about this as well. I have two sows and while they do a lot of talking, I've never heard any wheeks. I've had guinea pigs in the past (quite a few years ago now) that would often make that noise. It did occur to me however that possibly they're not wheeking because they have everything they need. Still, the "wheek" seems such a common noise for them, so I wanted to be assured nothing was going wrong with them for not making the noise. They do make all other noises -- although my one pig is definitely more vocal than the other.

[QuackXP]

You probiably would not talk much if nobody understood you.

[Treacle]

I agree with the people that said they might not week if they have everything they want. Mine week when I take all the toys out of the cage to clean it and I go to clean the trays etc. When I put everything back they popcorn as it saying "it was about time mom!"

[Raisintosser]

My boyfriend laughs at me when I talk to my piggies. I can make the wheeking noise in my throat and they wheek back to me. I guess I just think I'm Dr. Doolittle. Maybe try playing some sound bites on the computer of guinea pigs talking. I know there are some on Guinea pig - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia