Whistling Noises?

[racingdegu]

This is really a behavioral question. My female degu is a happy little thing and bounces around in her wheel daily. I`ve heard her making whistling sounds and it`s much like a wild finch you might hear outside? She rests on her leap and ledge and whistles away! It`s quite funny actually, but I wonder what this whistling means?

Sadly, her partner Cheech was put to sleep two weeks ago with a badly ulcerated abscess that grew into his front arm, rendering his arm useless. The vet tried to remove it but said she would have to remove the entire leg to get it out, so we both decided this was`nt an option and he was put to sleep on the operating table. Prinny is doing really well on her own however and being fussed over regularly. I just wondered why she whistles? Can anyone shed any light on this?

[Aimeelou]

I think the main reason for the whistle is that she is looking for Cheech? Degus often whistle at each other as a sign of comunication, she is probably waiting for a response.

[flibble]

Hey,

I think aimeelou is right about the whistling noise, mine make that noise to each other. I call it their alien noise as it sounds so strange! Really sorry to hear about Cheech

Naomi x

[racingdegu]

Thanks for the replies. Prinny is fine in herself and going about her daily business! She is`nt whistling today for a change but she done it a few times again during the night. The sound is remarkably like a bird song and if you did`nt see her, you would think it was a finch whistle.

She has always been something of a busybody with an independent nature and her partner Cheech relied more on her, than she did of him fortunately. Had Prinny been the one that had to be put to sleep, I jusy know Cheech would have pined his heart out because I did try seperating them once and he just would`nt settle at all. Wherease prinny was more content to get on with things. being on her own now, her character is shining through now, but we both miss Cheech because he was a darling with a sweet nature and is sorely missed.

Thankyou for you input guys. prinny is much loved and is with me every day, so she has my undevided attention and gets treats while sitting on the drawbridge door of her cage! She`s nosey you see, so I have to keep the cage door open for her!

[annelise]

I find my degus whistle like a finch when they are calm and content, after a grooming session for instance. I do not think they use it to communicate with each other- often one of them whistles when the others are asleep and it doen't seem to wake them up, and when I had my first degu he had always lived alone and still whistled. For me it seems more of a 'happy' kind of noise, when then call each other they seem to squeak more. In that case, it sure would mean that Prinny is alright!