Constant squeaking/chirping?

[khay]

Hey there...I've had 5 brother degus for the last couple of days ---- They are around 12 wks old, and we've been getting to know each other quite well........

'Scuse me if chirping is not the right word, but that's what it sounds like to me

However about an hour ago one of them (Zephyr) starting chirping incessantly.

I checked on him and he was just sitting there chirping, then he ran to the wheel chirping, then went and sat on a log...still chirping.

I thought maybe he wanted to come out, so I put my hand in, which he climbed on, but still continued to chirp....Sat with him in my lap and he would sniff around, chirp, sniff around, chirp, etc. Until he finally stopped.......

I put him back in their cage (Which is suitably sized but only a temporary one, they have food, fresh water, hammock, cardboard, tubes, logs, boxes, wheel etc. along with walls that can be climbed so I don't see how Zephyr would be chirping out of boredom....)

Once I put him back in he started chirping again, then stopped.
Just a few min. ago (Which is why I decided to ask) He's doing it again....Still only Zeph.

Anyone know what this chirping is all about??

[may]

i dont know but mine do an awful lot of chirping...
and since mid-day today marly has been giving out lots of very loud squeaks

[khay]

lol O.O Maybe just quirks then?
As long as it's not something that I have to worry about, I don't absolutely need to know
Thanks

The rabbits are gonna have to get used to it thoug lol
It's funny....Zeph starts chirping.....And my rabbits start thumping

[diet otaku]

your rabbits may be recognizing zeph's "alarm call" and responding with their own. unfortunately for the rest of us, an alarm call and a mating call are the same noise, but for different amounts of time. a mating call almost sounds like the degu has hiccups, in its rhythm and how long it lasts. when a degu is in the middle of a mating call, nothing can stop the squeaking - not food, water, cuddles, nothing. it'll continue for maybe 10-15 minutes at a time. an alarm call, on the other hand, is more irregular, and doesn't usually last as long. mine will start up if something startles them.

[khay]

Intresting diet, I didn't know they would do mating calls when there are no females around.

My rabbits tend to thump at any thing unusual, though

[diet otaku]

the mating call isn't so much a courtship of a female as it is an announcement of successful copulation. of course, as with people, degus are capable of "copulating" themselves, if you catch my drift.

[ra]

Perhaps Zephyr is calling to someone he used to identify with. Did you buy them from a private home? A breeder or pet shop? Even though he is with 4 of his brothers he may be missing one of his parents and is calling for them. Maybe Zephyr is feeling the anxiety of changing environments. I don't think there is anything physically wrong but he may be emotionally out of sorts right now. How do his cage mates react to him? Does he join in the Degu pile ups when they nap?

[Sunshinemeg]

dietotaku said:

the mating call isn't so much a courtship of a female as it is an announcement of successful copulation. of course, as with people, degus are capable of "copulating" themselves, if you catch my drift.

HAHAHA i love the way you phrase that! and it explains why, in some cases people hear that when they KNOW they are all one sex! When I first heard it from Gromit years ago, it confused the hell out of me!!

[khay]

lol...Interesting O.O

and ra, they came from a private home as a free-ad, they weren't with the parents, cages were on opposite sides of the room.

It's possible he's missing the two siblings that left them and, I think, ended up in the pet store, if he is missing something/someone I hope he will be alright in time?

And yes, they are all very inclusive, everyone cuddles, everyone plays, everyone grooms each other, I've been making sure of that.

[ra]

Then, yes I think he'll settle and be more secure given a little time.