What Do These Behaviours Mean?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Drezella

Drezella

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Messages
1,311
Reaction score
2,603
Points
885
Location
Lancashire, UK
Hi everyone,

Can anyone shed some light on what these different behaviours mean please?

1 - After a disagreement and power battle I saw Paddy & Rohan rubbing noses with each other yesterday, then they were literally rolling over one after the other and talking to each other. What does that mean?

2 - When I hold the boys, especially Paddy, they make little noises, it's not purring or teeth chattering (although they do teeth chatter after a few minutes to let me know when they've had enough), it's like the talking noises that they'd make to each other, but they do it when they are alone with me. What does that mean, are they trying to tell me something?

3 - What does it mean if you guinea pig puffs up their fur? Both boys are eating, drinking, behaving and pooing normally. I've just noticed that sometimes they are a bit puffy looking, what does that mean? Do they feel cold?

Thanks in advance
 
Drezella said:
Hi everyone,

Can anyone shed some light on what these different behaviours mean please?

1 - After a disagreement and power battle I saw Paddy & Rohan rubbing noses with each other yesterday, then they were literally rolling over one after the other and talking to each other. What does that mean?

2 - When I hold the boys, especially Paddy, they make little noises, it's not purring or teeth chattering (although they do teeth chatter after a few minutes to let me know when they've had enough), it's like the talking noises that they'd make to each other, but they do it when they are alone with me. What does that mean, are they trying to tell me something?

3 - What does it mean if you guinea pig puffs up their fur? Both boys are eating, drinking, behaving and pooing normally. I've just noticed that sometimes they are a bit puffy looking, what does that mean? Do they feel cold?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

1. It sounds like Paddy and Rohan may have been making up and reassuring each other that the whole caboodle was just about who comes top but that they still want to be friends.
2. Guinea pigs - especially young ones - keep up a constant chatter when on the move/being away from the group; the more vulnerable they are, the louder. This allows the group a chance to stay in contact and to know that they are all OK. Guinea pigs have evolved to live in grasslands where the group can't all see each other when out and about, which is the reason why they are so vocal.
3. Fur puffing can be both a sign of pain or a dominance behaviour (making themselves bigger than they are). it very much depends on the context and the body language, as so much in terms of guinea pig sounds and behaviours, which is why there is no ultimate guide.
 
Drezella said:
Fab, thanks @Wiebke. I'll keep an eye on the fur puffing thing just in case there are any signs of pain.
Click to expand...

You usually see other signs as well when it is pain, like hunching up. In your case it is much more likely connected to working out/establishing the dominance/warning the other piggy off.
 
Yeah, they don't seem to be hunched as such, so could just be another power battle LOL, as soon as it gets above a certain temperature that it it's dominance battles all round. At least they don't fight, it's just a lot of rumblestrutting and bickering. They love each other really, big softies. XD
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top