Chirping?

[paula.m.moore]

What does it mean? Is it good or bad? Last night one of my pigs went on a chirping rant, on/off for hours, until finally this morning my husband rolled over and yelled in my ear, "Is it okay?!"

I wasn't concerned. When I just had the boys (6) they would all do it from time to time (as a group, rather freaky, actually.) The last time they did it was Christmas morning - not that I'm attaching any significance, it was just a coincidence.

I've searched the net but can't really find anything other than a bunch of videos on YouTube of pigs making the noise so I'm asking you guys.

I think I know which one was doing it - is he sick? Upset some other way? I have recently added girls to the top level - would that have anything to do with it? Like a mating call or something?

Any experience/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[babyboo]

Most of the time they chirp its just feels threatened or some thing scared it. My GP chirps when the other one comes up behind it. Maybe a loud noise scared it. but I can say that your GP is not sick.

[conclay1995]

Mine chirps when she is stressed. The last time or two she has done this, I've wrapped her up in a towel and just held her. It seems to calm her down.

[Haley0489]

One of my boys did it during the car ride home. They were freaked out and nervous. I also had one of their companions sitting in my lap. I imagine it was stress or looking for their pal, or the combination of the two.

[Cherish]

Some people say they do it when they're frightened, and some say it's when they're particularly hormonal; especially in young boars or sows that are pregnant or on heat.

I can't really confirm either.
My chirper only chirps late at night, or the very early hours of the morning when it's quiet, and when he does chirp, the others all just sit very still, so I know he doesn't feel threatened when he does it.

I still think he's calling The Mothership.

[clotho]

I agree with Cherish LOL. I finally discovered my chirper is my boy Crumble. He usually does it in the wee hours of the morning when all is quiet as well and the others do the same as yours - they freeze and listen. He has on occasion done it in the afternoon, but not as often. It's an amazing thing to hear and I think it's so cool!!

Some people confuse the other sounds guinea pigs make with chirping. If you listen to a clip of a piggie chirping, it's quite different from their usual wheeks and noises. I feel lucky to have a chirper!

[paula.m.moore]

Ha - I have a whole freakin' herd of chirping wigglies. I am fairly certain it's always the same pig (Oreo) that starts doing it but then at least two of the other boys join in. They've only done it maybe three-four times in all the time I've had them, and it is always late at night, in the early hours of the morning. Well, at least that's all the times I've heard them doing it. Sometimes I work 5p - 3a so it's entirely possible they've done it at other times when I wasn't home. And they certainly never *seem* threatened or upset in any way when they do it. Spoiled pigs.