Wednesday, July 29, 2009

About Guinea Pigs..?

Ok, my sister just brought home a male guinea pig named Stevey- anyway I was wondering why he was making his little noises when I was petting him- Is it cuz hes scared or is it like a cat's purring? And I would like to learn a little bit more about these little creatures...
Answers:
Wheek - A loud noise that is essentially onomatopoeic, also known as a Whistle. An expression of general excitement, it may occur in response to the presence of its owner or to feeding. It is sometimes used to find other guinea pigs if they are running. If a guinea pig is lost, it may wheek for assistance.
Bubbling or Purring - This sound is made when the guinea pig is enjoying itself, such as when being petted or held. They may also make this sound when grooming, crawling around to investigate a new place, or when given food.
Rumbling - This sound is normally related to dominance within a group, though it can also come as a response to comfort or contentment. While courting, a male usually purrs deeply, while swaying from side to side and circling the female
Chutting and Whining - These are sounds made in pursuit situations, by the pursuer and pursuee, respectively
Chattering - This sound is made by rapidly gnashing the teeth together, and is generally a sign of warning. Guinea pigs tend to raise their heads when making this sound
Squealing or Shrieking - A high-pitched sound of discontent, in response to pain or danger.
It means that he is happy! It is like a cat's meow. i just love guinea pigs! I was so sad when mine died. they love to be let out so they can run around.
They make it when they are content. Mine makes it when I rub on his nose. They make great pets
don't worry, it means he's happy and content. guinea pigs are so cute!
guinea pigs are very talkative--when they're hungry, scared, or want attention they'll squeal...really loudly. they make a variety of soft noises...some when they;re happy, some when they're scared. if he's running away or trying to hide then he's probably sqeaking in fear...if he looks like he's enjoying it then he's probably not scared... but if you just got him he probably is a little freaked out cause it's a new place and new smells and all. i would suggest leaving him alone for awhile so he can get used to the place.
Guinea pigs make a chirping kind of sound when they are happy. They will squeak LOUDLY when scared. They will also run around in circles when frightened. A gentile hand in the beginning will always bring the best results. They love carrots celery and toilet paper(empty) rolls to chew on. I used to put a makeshift cage around mine and put Mrs. Piggy right in the grass. Keep and eye on them though they are sneaky LOL good luck and enjoy.
oh very good wen he "purrs" that means he loves wen you pet him! my piggy's favorite spot is the shoulder blades. my favorite site 4 info is cavyspirit.com! it has so0o0o00o0o0 much info.
Guinea pigs are some of the most vocal animals I've ever seen. When theyre upset or scared, they'll squeal, very loudly. (I used to be able to hear mine from downstairs, and they were up in my room, with the door shut).
If theyre squeaking softly, that means theyre happy. They make other soft noises that also mean contentment. He enjoys it when you pet him and he's letting you know. :) You should be able to find a site online that'll explain all of their little noises and what they mean. Try doing a search for guinea pig noises.
They also do other litthe things to let you know how they're feeling. I had a guinea pig who hated being pet on its nose.so every time I pet him there, he'd jerk his head forward (trying to butt my hand away I guess). Another guinea pig enjoyed being pet there and would purr and squeak and chipper at me while I was doing it. Guinea pigs are full of body language, it's just a matter of learning what they mean by it..but with some time (and a bit of research) you'll be able to pick up very quickly on what they're saying to you.
if he is holding still for the most part and making a chirpy kind of noise then yes it is like a cat purring, if you want to learn more there is always the internet or books on how to care for them
Guinea pigs love to talk! Try this page for a few examples of talking and the meanings of each http://www.mgpr.org/mgpr/guinea%20pig%20...
Good luck and have fun.
That's what my guinea pig does when i pet him.
He just kinda freezes and starts purring with his mouth open.
Soo cute!
the noises are a sound of appreciation so yes it is the same as kittens. here is some info from the aspca. long but helpful
Background
Larger than hamsters, but smaller than rabbits, guinea pigs can weigh a couple of pounds and generally live for five to seven years. The three most common breeds of guinea pig are the Smooth-Coated, with short, glossy fur; the Abyssinian, whose hair grows in fluffy tufts all over the body, and the Peruvian, with long, silky hair that flows to the ground.
Guinea pigs make wonderful companions. These docile members of the rodent family rarely bite and are known for squeaking with delight when their favorite humans enter the room. Guinea pigs are excellent starter pets for older children who have mastered proper handling techniques.
Cost
When you first get your pet, you’ll need to spend about $35 for a cage. Food runs about $75 a year, plus $25 annually for toys and treats, $50 for an annual veterinary check-up and $400 per year for litter and bedding material. We recommend getting your guinea pig from a responsible breeder or, even better, adopting one from a shelter or small-animal rescue group.
Housing
Guinea pigs are social animals who prefer to live in small groups. If you keep two or more females together, they will become great friends. If you want two males, it’s smart to choose two babies from the same litter. Since guinea pigs, like all rodents, multiply rapidly, keeping males and females together is not recommended.
As a rule of thumb, you’ll need to provide a minimum of four square feet of cage space per guinea pig—but please try to get as large a cage as possible. You’ll need a solid-bottom cage—no wire floors, please, as they can irritate your pets’ feet. Plastic-bottom “tub cages” with wire tops also make great guinea pig homes. Never use a glass aquarium, due to the poor ventilation that it provides.
Always keep the cage indoors away from drafts and extreme temperatures, as guinea pigs are very susceptible to heatstroke. They’ll prefer an environment kept at 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line the bottom of the cage with aspen or hardwood shavings or some other form of safe bedding, such as grass hay. Do not use cedar or pine chips—the oils they contain can be dangerous to your pets. (P.S. Yes, you can train a guinea pig to use a litter box—but please note that this will require lots of time and patience!)
Guinea pigs love to hide when they play, so be sure to place cardboard tubes and/or empty coffee cans with smoothed edges in the enclosure for this purpose. Plastic pipes and flower pots are good, too, and bricks and rocks for climbing will be much appreciated. All guinea pigs need a cave for sleeping and resting, so please provide a medium-sized flower pot or covered sleeping box, readily available at pet supply stores.
Diet
Commercial guinea pig pellets should make up the bulk of your pet’s diet. Nutritionally complete, they’re available at pet supply stores, and are made from plants, seeds and veggies. Feed your guinea pigs twice daily, in the morning and in the evening.
The ASPCA recommends offering small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables to your guinea pigs every day. Try grapes, cucumbers, corn, peas, carrots and pears. Half a handful of veggies and a slice of fresh fruit per pig is plenty. Always make sure to clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils. You’ll also need to make grass hay available to your pets at all times. It’s great for the digestive system, and will also satisfy your pet’s need to gnaw.
Unlike other animals, guinea pigs cannot manufacture Vitamin C, so you’ll need to ensure that your pets get enough of this essential nutrient every day. A quarter of an orange will do, but you can also include some fruits and veggies that are high in C to their daily ration of fresh foods, such as kale, dandelion greens and strawberries.
Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Use an inverted bottle with a drinking tube, and change the water daily.
General Care
Remove soiled bedding, droppings and stale food from the cage daily. Clean the cage completely once a week by replacing dirty bedding and scrubbing the bottom of the cage with warm water. Be sure everything’s dry before adding fresh bedding.
Did you know that guinea pigs’ teeth grow continuously, just like those of other rodents? That’s why it is important that you provide yours with something to gnaw on at all times. Branches and twigs from untreated trees will work, as will any small piece of wood that hasn’t been treated with chemicals.
It’s crucial that you get your pets used to you—and used to being handled. Start by feeding them small treats. When they’re comfortable with that, you can carefully pick up one pig at a time, one hand supporting the bottom, the other over the back.
Once you have hand-tamed your piggies, you should let them run around in a small room or enclosed area to get some additional exercise every day. You will need to carefully check the room for any openings from which the guinea pigs can escape, get lost and possibly end up hurt. These animals must be supervised when they are loose because they will chew on anything in their paths—including electrical wires.
Guinea pigs are very conscientious about grooming themselves, but brushing them on a regular basis will help keep their coat clean and remove any loose hairs. Long-haired guinea pigs should be brushed daily in order to prevent tangles and knots from forming.
Veterinary Care
If you think one of your guinea pigs is sick, don’t delay—seek medical attention immediately. Common signs that something isn’t right include sneezing, coughing, diarrhea and lethargy. Guinea pigs are also susceptible to external parasites such as mites and lice. If you think your pet is infested, head to the vet for treatment.
It sounds like your pig is happy. To learn more about guiena pigs , read guinealynx.info
They make that noise for three reasons:
1) They're content %26 enjoying being petted. This sound accompanies a very relaxed looking piggie.
2) Fright: As you pet the piggie, it may tremble a bit. The body is stiff %26 completely still.
3) Dominance or Mating: The piggie will sway his bum back %26 forth while making this noise.
Here is a good website that will give you a fairly comprehensive smattering of the different noises they make. Piggies are very vocal creatures %26 as you spend more time with your piggie, you will come to understand what they mean or want.
http://www.jackiesguineapiggies.com/guin...
Have fun with your piggie!
He's happy. For him to be warming up to you already is fantastic - he's going to be a very tame little guinea!
check out the behaviour section .over there the guineapig noises are given.you can listen to them and also know what they mean.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/guinea_pig...
hope this helps!
I have seen some inaccurate advice, particularly regarding diet, in some of the above posts. Please take a look at www.guineapigcages.com and www.guinealynx.com for advice on caring for your new pet. Good luck with him :)

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