Purring or rumbling?

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mrs.dotcotton

Hi

Firstly, let me say how much I am learning from this forum - it's fantastic!

My question of the moment (being a new piggie owner I seem to have them hourly!) is this ....

My two pigs seem to either purr or rumble at each other (I don't know the difference yet) while closely circling and rubbing into each other. One has her head on the others back while they are doing this. Then they'll take a break ... run around happily and then do it again.

What is this? Are they happy or what?

They are about 4 months old and supposedly both female.

Thanks!!
 
hmmm i would definantly get them both sexed by a piggy vet,take a look at this site it should help.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm
what your describing sounds most likely to be displays of dominance behaviour which is completely normal,if the is any lunging/excessive teeth chattering or blood drawn then you have a problem,if that does happen make sure you seperate them to avoid major fights x
 
That is a female contest for dominance - the last girl rumbling gets the top spot!

Wild guinea pigs live in groups with the sows forming a hierarchy. Top sow has first choice of everything she wants and basically runs the group. The sows share one male between them (a very coveted position, until another one can win the favour of the top ladies!) Younger males drift to the edge of the group. The younger females will sneak out to the bachelors to mate with one of them in order to avoid too much inbreeding. An ambitious girl and a bachelor might also decide to break off and start their own group.

If it was a male, he'd be trying to mount his companion and chase her a lot of the time at first. He'd also rather rumble in front of her, so she can see what a strpping lad he is. And you'd be able to SMELL it! Your girls are rather measuring size and wherewithal, but it looks a fairly even contest so far, so it might run some time yet, until one stands down eventually... The other will rumble on for a bit, just to make sure of her position.

But it never hurts to make sure that they are the right sex at your vets or a close by rescue. Mistakes have happened!
 
What a lot of information you've given me! Thanks so much. Guinea pigs are such interesting creatures ... I am becoming obsessed with them!
 
Thats a good question, i also have been wondering what on earth they have been doing!

Mine kinda stands there like a statue but moving very slowly (contradiction but didn't know how else to describe as she moves so slow lol)

mrs.dotcotton What a lot of information you've given me! Thanks so much. Guinea pigs are such interesting creatures ... I am becoming obsessed with them!
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I'm also becomming obsessed lol Theres so many things they do that without having them as a pet you wouldn't know or even imagine!
 
I find that it is easier to explain some behaviour when you have an idea about how things are wired into them. I find group dynamics absolutely fascinating!

This explains, for instance, that you can have two boys living happily together as "bachelors", but the moment you introduce a lady (and be it only by smell), they become rivals competing to be the ladies' man... Not even neutering will change that! It also explains why you can have one neutered male with a fairly big group of girls.
 
Vickyt said:
That is a female contest for dominance - the last girl rumbling gets the top spot!

Wild guinea pigs live in groups with the sows forming a hierarchy. Top sow has first choice of everything she wants and basically runs the group. The sows share one male between them (a very coveted position, until another one can win the favour of the top ladies!) Younger males drift to the edge of the group. The younger females will sneak out to the bachelors to mate with one of them in order to avoid too much inbreeding. An ambitious girl and a bachelor might also decide to break off and start their own group.

If it was a male, he'd be trying to mount his companion and chase her a lot of the time at first. He'd also rather rumble in front of her, so she can see what a strpping lad he is. And you'd be able to SMELL it! Your girls are rather measuring size and wherewithal, but it looks a fairly even contest so far, so it might run some time yet, until one stands down eventually... The other will rumble on for a bit, just to make sure of her position.

But it never hurts to make sure that they are the right sex at your vets or a close by rescue. Mistakes have happened!
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I agree, my male makes that sound when I have my girls cage next to his, but when my girls do it to each other I find Clover the older of the two is ususally the one doing it. I've also seen that when clover goes into heat that she does it more often. Lila doesn't normally do it.
 
this is what i actully loged on today to ask you all because my pggies are doing the same, Bella my bigger girl is making the noise and most of the head rubbing but Lola the smaller girl aways runs away then str8 back and then she sniff her bottom then they will run around chasing each other smelling each others bottom them make that purring noise? xxashxx
 
Looks like Bella is going to win the dominance contest. the loser tends to run off.

When girls come into season they can display the rumbling, sniffing etc. and even mounting the companion. So don't panic - you haven't accidentially got a boy! If it is only about every two weeks it's a girl in season. Boys would do the mounting daily and constantly at first... and you can DEFINITIVELY smell it!
 
there both definatly girls the woman from Inverclyed Rescue said she has knowen then scince they were four weeks old and there definatly sisiters. thank you soo much you have all put me and my biyfriends minds to rest about this, my boyfriend was getting qouit freaked out saying i think bella trying to hump lola side ways lol x
 
Any boy or girl in full fling isn't too picky about which way round, main thing - up! Brain has gone on stand-by...
 
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