Say What?: I have yet to pinpoint it...chirp, chirp, chirp

[Heady]

While I sit here on the computer, Barney and Santino are continuing their normal conversation. Santino rumbling and Barney making bird sounds. I went to a site awhile back to listen to guinea pig sounds and read what they mean, but this one I can't quite pair up with a sound on that site.

Barney talks when being held, and it was very similar to the sound that person's pig made when it was annoyed. I'm listening to him now, and it's similar to that sound, but not really. It's...like a chirpy sound... A sound a bird would make if you were talking to it about politics...or something.

It's very light...just a quick chirp, chirp, chirp and then nothing. Then he does it again. When I wake up in the morning, he'll make that sound as well as wheeking.

I don't think he's upset because he's just hanging with Santino and they're doing their usual thing. I just can't figure it out!

[akstrohm]

Very few pigs chirp. No one seems entirely sure why they do it; except that it often occurs after one pig dies. It doesn't sound like anything to worry out.

[Heady]

Aw, that's sad that they do it when a pig dies

I *think* (bad memory) that I listened to a clip of a pig chirping and it was kind of like that, but more....squabbley. Like a turkey...kind of.

[fieryone]

Originally Posted by akstrohm

Very few pigs chirp. No one seems entirely sure why they do it; except that it often occurs after one pig dies.

Really? I hadn't heard that. I have a chirper who we have heard twice though we're not sure who it is. We think it might be Lucy. It sounded just like a bird was outside the window.

[blackarrow]

I have a chirper too. Drives one of my dogs nuts because he's sure a bird has gotten in. I've only heard him do it twice but it certainly doesn't sound like something that can possibly be a rodent noise.

[Heady]

Sometimes I think it's a bird, especially when I have the patio door open, but I'm starting to realize it's Barney chatting away. I wish I could record it, because I don't think it's like that "trance" chirping, but more of a conversation...

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Heady

Sometimes I think it's a bird, especially when I have the patio door open, but I'm starting to realize it's Barney chatting away. I wish I could record it, because I don't think it's like that "trance" chirping, but more of a conversation...

You are right, it's more of a general conversational noise and not true chirping. In true chirping, the pig gets very loud with the noise, it's pretty much constant for the time they do it and they will be in a trance like state.

Often people confuse this type of chitter chatter chirping type noise with actual chirping.

[blackarrow]

Yeah, what I was talking about was loud enough for my dog to hear him from a different floor of the opposite side of my house!

[Heady]

Originally Posted by blackarrow

Drives one of my dogs nuts because he's sure a bird has gotten in

I wish I could pretend that it was a bird in the house because, like your dog, Jer would go crazy...but that's because birds scare him Also, your dog comment made me laugh!!!

Ly, that's EXACTLY what it is...just like he's talking to himself about groceries or whatever...he still waddles around and everything, so I know for sure it's not the chirp trance. And it's not very loud. But he makes the same sound when we hold him.

When Angie first brought him to me, she and her hubby would hold him and while they were petting him, he made that turkey-gobble chirpy sort of noise and when they stopped he stopped. He still does it when we hold him, but when I heard the recording and read that the sound meant he was annoyed, I started to question if holding him bothered him. But, again, it's not the exact same sound on the recording. It's the chirpy "oh I have to remember to pick up eggs tonight" kind of babbling...

So I guess it's okay? He's not upset or anything, he's just mumbling...?

Either way, it's freaking adorable

[guineapigmomy]

I have herd the same thing from one of my pigs,it sounded just like a chirp from a bird. What it means is unknown. It could mean that the pig is super scared or super happy. Know one knows.

[Wheek Weak]

I agree with Ly. Chirping is much different than just regular constant chit-chat.

We've had chirpers and chatters. There is definately a big difference!

[Heady]

So now that we all agree that it's him talking, it's okay, right? Doesn't mean he's upset or anything? I'm wondering that because of him doing it while being held and petted...I just want to make sure he's cool with that and not saying, "Hey, knock it off".

[Ly&Pigs]

The "knock it off" noises are more of an annoyed type purr or rumbling like they would do when they are rumblestrutting. Pigs make a variety of sounds for a variety of reasons. It's most likely just chitter chatter and doesn't mean anything other than he's trying to talk to you.

[Heady]

Oh SO good to know!! Thanks Ly! I really do need to read more about sounds and their meanings...I had just listened to that website with the recorded sounds, so I figured that since the sound Barney makes is kind of similar to the annoyed pig, he was telling me to behave. I feel much better about what you said about it. WOOHOO!!! This means piggy cuddle time

I really wish I had someone closer to me (Angie is so far ) that had pigs so I could go over and listen to their pigs so I can have a better understanding of all these purrs and rumbles and what not people talk about. I try to figure them out by textual description, but it's so different actually hearing them...and easier for me to comprehend!