LunaPig72
Junior Guinea Pig
We have - or rather had - a small herd of four sows living happily together in a large indoor cage. All very contented and chatty - lots of squeaking and interaction and all very responsive to human attention as well. They all recognised the sounds of the fridge door opening / food bowl being placed on kitchen countertop ready for feeding etc and would wheek enthusiastically whenever they heard it.
Sadly, though, we lost one of the four unexpectedly at the weekend, and since then the remaining three have all gone so quiet! They seem fine in many ways - weights have remained stable, they are all eating and drinking and pootling around their hutch and greeting the arrival of any food treats with enthusiasm - but the squeaking seems to have virtually stopped. They come to the bars when it's feeding time but they are all pretty much silent, and far more subdued than they would normally be (we have one older girl who is naturally quite quiet, but the younger two are usually very exuberant and vocal).
Is the non-squeaking a normal part of the grieving process and should they resume their 'chattiness' in time? FWIW I am planning to try and adopt another sow at some point, but I am now not sure if I should try to do that sooner rather than later. It's not as if they are solitary/lonely as the three of them are obviously still together and very well bonded, but they do seem to be struggling a bit at the moment.
Sadly, though, we lost one of the four unexpectedly at the weekend, and since then the remaining three have all gone so quiet! They seem fine in many ways - weights have remained stable, they are all eating and drinking and pootling around their hutch and greeting the arrival of any food treats with enthusiasm - but the squeaking seems to have virtually stopped. They come to the bars when it's feeding time but they are all pretty much silent, and far more subdued than they would normally be (we have one older girl who is naturally quite quiet, but the younger two are usually very exuberant and vocal).
Is the non-squeaking a normal part of the grieving process and should they resume their 'chattiness' in time? FWIW I am planning to try and adopt another sow at some point, but I am now not sure if I should try to do that sooner rather than later. It's not as if they are solitary/lonely as the three of them are obviously still together and very well bonded, but they do seem to be struggling a bit at the moment.
I think they’re just grieving for their lost companion. As you said they’re not on their own so should be ok with time.
