• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Mixed messages from my new guinea pigs!

  • Thread starter Thread starter NocturnalRapport
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

NocturnalRapport

Since bringing my babies home (well, they're about 12-16 weeks old) I have read up on GP behaviour to ensure mine are happy.

But I seem to be getting mixed messages from one of mine!

He seems really grumpy, walks slowly around the cage doing a 'growl' type noise, his body is all strained and rigid as if he's tense. Then all of a sudden he'll burst into a fit of popcorning!

He hates being picked up, starts teeth chattering, does the growl thing yet will happily run up the the bars of the cage to take food from me.

The other GP is totally different. He seems constantly excited with popcorning and little squeaky noises.

I understand they all have their own personalities but can someone please assure me that my "grumpy" pig is normal? is he happy? unhappy or a mixture of the two?
 
I might be mistaken, but your "grumpy" guy might just be doing the dominant display thing occasionally to reassure himself that he's in charge. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but my two girls are the same. I was worried about it until I realized that she's quite happy, just busy making sure that Dite always knows that Caramel is in charge.
 
i agree that your guinea pig is probably trying to assert its dominance. this doesn't mean that he isnt happy so dont worry.
 
As we know popcorning is piggie heaven. If you rpiggie was unhappy at all she would not be doing this. It sounds as though it is dominance as mentioned above. Dont worry you are obviously providing a good piggy home.
 
Some of my own piggies also rumblestrut (growl while walking slowly and wiggling their bum) followed immediately by popcorning. Rumblestrutting is generally a dominance or hormonal behaviour, but in this case I'm not entirely sure if it is either of those two, since they rumble to themselves and then go off into a fit of happiness!

The rumbling and teeth chattering when picked up may be a sign that it's a bit sore when he's picked up. Have the boys been treated for skin problems? Mites and/or fungal infection are fairly common and are a frequent cause of a pig who is uncomfortable when handled.
 
Haha Laura Pudsey does the rumble then popcorn and then Eccles joins in! Mentalists! :)) Yep its just dominance! Boars can always rumble from time to time its just showing everyone who is boss! :))
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top