Increased calling for more food. Sign of illness or something else?

JenniferG

JenniferG

Teenage Guinea Pig
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One of my guinea pigs, Rusty, has recently gone on over-drive in calling out for food. They're in the living room with us and it's getting ridiculous.

I don't know if this is a sign that she has stomach ache and thinks she is hungry or is otherwise ill, there are no obvious signs of illness but frequently there isn't.

She has all her usual food and hay, nothing is missing. She's an indoor piggy so shouldn't be feeling colder now and none of the others are repeatedly calling out. She's not eating more of her dry food than usual, so doesn't seem to actually be hungry.

Has anyone experienced the same thing? It's really odd for her to suddenly be this repeatedly vocal. She knows they don't get snacks on demand.
 
JenniferG said:
One of my guinea pigs, Rusty, has recently gone on over-drive in calling out for food. They're in the living room with us and it's getting ridiculous.

I don't know if this is a sign that she has stomach ache and thinks she is hungry or is otherwise ill, there are no obvious signs of illness but frequently there isn't.

She has all her usual food and hay, nothing is missing. She's an indoor piggy so shouldn't be feeling colder now and none of the others are repeatedly calling out. She's not eating more of her dry food than usual, so doesn't seem to actually be hungry.

Has anyone experienced the same thing? It's really odd for her to suddenly be this repeatedly vocal. She knows they don't get snacks on demand.
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Hi!

If you are worried, please switch from the regular weekly weigh-in to a daily one at the same time. Most people are not aware that hay is making over 80% of the daily food intake, which you cannot control by eye. Pellets should actually only make a tablesspoon per piggy per day because they prevent the piggies from eating more hay, which is crucial for dental and gut health, and ultimately for increased longevity.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

It is however simply likely that she is just trying to see how far she can push you. Piggies are very good at manipulating us. Just ignore her if nothing is amiss. Not getting any attention from you (which is her aim) is the best way of dealing with the issue.
 
She’s training you to feed her on command! They are clever little things and as long as she is not losing weight she is using her powers of guinea control over you.

When my lot are in the house I feed them their dinner...if I walk in half an hour later once finished they don’t make a noise..but if my husband walks in they wheek the place down telling him they have not been fed! They know he’ll feed them! He’s got wise to it now and asks me first if they have been fed. They are way more clever than we give them credit :luv:
 
Thank you. On the last shrieking for food, I gave them an extra handful of hay...Rusty gave me such a look, "so what have you put that in here for?!". She ignored it at first but she did then start tentatively eating it while keeping an eye on me.
 
She is a cheeky monkey! It’s lovely that she has a relationship with you, even if it is for a specific reason! When they really start to communicate with you like that, In my mind it means you are building a strong bond.
 
Yes, it's lovely having that. It's amazing how we can read them although their facial expressions don't really change.
 
When mine beg for food when it's not due I give them a handful of hay like you did, it's not what they want but they go quiet. The problem with mine at the moment is they are still on summer time and no protests from me can persuade them it's only 3 o'clock not 4 o'clock - nugget time!
 
Diva Lady Puggle just turned her food dish upside down and bit daddy quite hard because her dinner only had pellets and red peppers in. Even though she's eaten cucumber, carrot, and spinach, rocket and watercress salad already today. And peppers are usually her favourite. Naughty piggies do try it on a bit, my lot especially trick extra food out of piggy daddy because he's just too kind to outwit their piggy psychology games!
 
I've doing the same with Rusty, she's a rescue piggy and although we've had her for nearly 3 years, she is still quite scared (except for when it comes to food) but she will let me stroke her if she thinks food might come...only for a little while then darts off.
 
PigglePuggle said:
Diva Lady Puggle just turned her food dish upside down and bit daddy quite hard because her dinner only had pellets and red peppers in. Even though she's eaten cucumber, carrot, and spinach, rocket and watercress salad already today. And peppers are usually her favourite. Naughty piggies do try it on a bit, my lot especially trick extra food out of piggy daddy because he's just too kind to outwit their piggy psychology games!
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Naughty Puggle!
 
Thought I'd give an update :) Rusty continues to call out for food...heaven knows what the electrician thought the other day, I let him in and Rusty went into full squeal - "help me! They're not feeding me treats every 5 minutes!"

This morning, I was up before my partner and Rusty started to squeak for their morning cucumber...I didn't want her to wake him (the others we're making noises too but not as loud) and as my partner likes to give them their cucumber at the weekends, I decided to give them their "after school snack time" treat (they cottoned on to my daughter having fruit at that time) so I gave them a baby plum tomato each - well that confused them!

Rusty even refused to accept it and I had to keep offering it to her before she would take it! Normally she almost takes my fingers with her but she was expecting her morning cucumber and tomato is not the same. Then, when my partner was up and he went over to talk to them before getting their cucumber, she turned her back on him in disgust! For our most timid piggie, she is a real prima donna.
 
Hi! I see that Rusty is well on her way to 'piggy training' her slave! Please do not give in - the wheeking will only get worse if your piggies get what they want. The best thing is to be hard and ignore it, as any finger you give your piggies will do their best to get the full hand.

Rusty may be timid but she knows what she wants and she is now settled and confident enough to go for it. :tu:
If it is very disruptive, please use our piggy whispering tips in that order: Assure her that she is a welcome member of your group, that you love her but that she is misbehaving. then tell her some more that you love her and want her to be here.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

In a group you always have a wheeking choir leader. This is often the youngest and newest member; the others will chime in behind the lead wheeker. ;)
 
My pigs went through a phase where they'd wheek so loudly for food a few years ago. I used to give in, which led to me waking up earlier and earlier to feed them. It was so stressful.

To get them to stop, I would ignore them, though they could go on for a long time, and only give veggies once they were quiet. I would also just stick my empty hand in for them to sniff. They'd get all excited, then see that I had nothing and walk away. When I did give them veggies, I would walk to the other side of the cage from where they were gathered. They momentarily stop wheeking to gallop to the other side of the cage, and actually made an association between not wheeking too much and food.
 
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