guinea pig sounds

[LisaLou]

My boys Nigel and Ringo are 9 weeks old today. And are doing wonderfully. I am so piggy-whipped! I love 'em more than the kids do. I have a question:
The boys are brothers. Everytime they are separated (out of the cage, one at a time or whatever) and then reunited they make like a purring sound. And they also make this sound when they are together and they brush up against eachother. It sounds so cute. I thought it meant that they were happy to see eachother. But now someone else said that they were establishing who was boss. Like they were have "words with eachother". It sure doesn't sound like fighting or anything. Also, while I'm here, when the piggies are being held they seem content, but constantly make a tiny squeeking. Are they looking for eachother (if they are separated), unhappy, or just noisey? Can anybody clarify this for me? Thanks!

[LisaLou]

Awwww, doesn't anybody have any feedback on this?!

[PrayerWarrior]

I'm not sure if the first sound is dominance or other, but even if it is dominance, that's okay too.

My piggies make a squeaky sound, too. It seems like he's either a little bit nervous, and then it changes a bit, and seems to be more he's just talking to us. So, they're probably just telling you they're a little bit nervous. Do they calm down, or do they squeak the whole time you're holding them?

[LisaLou]

Originally Posted by PrayerWarrior

I'm not sure if the first sound is dominance or other, but even if it is dominance, that's okay too.

My piggies make a squeaky sound, too. It seems like he's either a little bit nervous, and then it changes a bit, and seems to be more he's just talking to us. So, they're probably just telling you they're a little bit nervous. Do they calm down, or do they squeak the whole time you're holding them?

Thanks for your input! Yes, they do seem to quiet down a little after a while. But if only one is on a lap and the other is on another lap or in the cage and squeeks, the squeeking will start all over again - kinda like "where are ya?", "I hear ya"! They seem to enjoy the lap time and snuggle up. Ringo loves to have the left side of his head lightly scratched. Nigel likes it when I puff up his fur on his neck and head to make it look like a mohawk. He closes his eyes and gets all relaxed. But they do always seem to be squeeking. I guess they are chatting.

[PIGGYMAMMA495]

There is a website -Im not sure of it offhand but someone will post the link for you Im sure- That you can go onto and it has all the piggy sounds and what they mean. If I ever get confused I bookmarked the website and just compare sounds so if Im confused I can just look it up. When I used it, it was helpful. Hopefully someone will be on thier home computer and will be able to put the website link in.

[LisaLou]

Originally Posted by PIGGYMAMMA495

There is a website -Im not sure of it offhand but someone will post the link for you Im sure- That you can go onto and it has all the piggy sounds and what they mean. If I ever get confused I bookmarked the website and just compare sounds so if Im confused I can just look it up. When I used it, it was helpful. Hopefully someone will be on thier home computer and will be able to put the website link in.

Thanks, Piggymamma! Can't wait! I'll be looking for that website!

[Simonmaal]

My boys make that purring sound when competing for the best spots in the cage (usually after a deep cleanout or after I've washed the cozies). I always interpreted as jockeying for position in the piggie status quo, sorting out who is boss. This is because if it is not resolved quickly, it can progress to nose rearing or even teeth chattering. So it's probably a case of them sorting out who is boss.

I found this page useful:

Guinea Pig Sounds

[Haley0489]

Sometimes I think pigs rumblestrut (the proper name for the purr you're describing) just for the hell of it. Mine will do it just because they're in a mood and the other one will popcorn away like he's just tickled pink about it.

One of my pigs just loves me in his cage, you can't even touch him without him laying flat and chutting to himself as content as he can be. As soon as I take him out of the cage though, he starts his "this makes me nervous, please put me back in my cage" type of sound.

When I first got my pigs, they were just babies. I had taken one out of the cage and he started this very specific squeak/whistle sound that meant he was lonely and looking for his fellow piggies. I find most pig sounds sound so similar I really can't differentiate between the sounds, but there are a few, like the lonely whistle, that are so precise you'll know exactly what they mean.

The site Simon linked you is great for figuring out piggie sounds, and you can google "guinea pig sounds" for more links. I think every pig has their own language and some sounds may mean one thing for your pig and something else to mine. You really just have to give it time and learn their body language, I've been trying to figure out what mine are saying for six months and I'm still lost half the time!

[pigsmakemesmile]

Hi Lisalou,
I see your from Jersey, I relocated to PA from Hackettstown NJ. Just had to mention.
I have 2 boys who are also brothers. Some sounds that are common that the pigs make are teeth chattering....their littles mouth will wiggle as they make this sound. This usually means to "stay away." When you reunite one that was out of the pen for awhile..they may rumblestrut around each other...I believe its acknowledging "I'm back" and whose boss again (dominance).
When your holding your pig and he' s making gentle noises...this is good, it's a sign he's content. Funny...you'll find them teeth chattering at you when you go to take one from it's pen then find a short time later they're making a gentle wheeking sound while holding them.
After a while when the pigs are use to treats and associate crinkling plastic bag sounds to treat giving...they'll start to make a very loud wheek at the sound of the bag.
Squealing..not good..may indicate pain.
I learned this after Chubbs went after Ben and nailed him in his eyelid...Ben squealed so loud that my husband even ran out to the pig room. Ben's little eye lid was bleeding and he was squealing (crying to me) Oh my God my heart sank and I started to cry with him while cleansing his eye.
I permanantly separated Chubbs from ben who turned out to be ok.
If you want to become aquainted with pig noises..Google "Guinea Pig sounds" and a couple sites will pop up just check them out and save for future references.
Guinea pigs are quite communicative via verbal and by body language.

[LisaLou]

[quote=pigsmakemesmile;380031]Hi Lisalou,
I see your from Jersey, I relocated to PA from Hackettstown NJ. Just had to mention.

Hi pigsmakemesmile! I'm a mere 40 minutes from Hackettstown in Lafayette! Small world!

I did go onto the guinea pig sounds site and found out a lot. And also it seems that everyone may interpret their gp's sounds differently.

I thank everyone for your help! I haven't had any teeth chattering yet. Or any injury sounds (lets keep it that way!).