However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. But, can guinea pigs eat them? By their second week, you wont be able to miss how much your baby guinea pigs have grown already. If that happens in captivity, thats extremely rare. No. A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? Guinea pigs love to communicate. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. Significantly, this is the age when pups will start to reach sexual maturity. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. Feed the guinea pig pups for the first 5 days around the clock every 4 to 5 hours. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. There is a chance that your sow will only partially eat her offspring, particularly if she killed them by accident. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. (n.d.). But, when a pet parent has makes an intentional choice to breed, its really not worth the risk in most cases. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. Its just as important that your baby guinea pig also spends most of their time with other guinea pigs. Getting guinea pigs used to handling from an early age is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets. This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. Between then and reaching their full adult weight several months later, you might hear them being described as juniors. By giving them enough time with their mother, you reduce the risk that she will reject them. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. These small pets need a lot of food and nutrition. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. Guinea pigs diet rests on grasses, herbs, hay, and raw fruits and vegetables. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. When female guinea pigs eat their babies, they can do so because they are excessively hungry and because they are under a lot of stress that they cannot handle. Where can I find baby guinea pigs for sale? The best items to put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage are absorbent,, Read More 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know)Continue, Pet parents who consider housing their guinea pigs outside often wonder whether or not their pet guinea pigs can hibernate. Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. Their paws and head are comically outsized in proportion to their body, and they already have a full coat of fur. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. This is an essential process as it helps to ensure that the young guinea pigs can develop properly. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. All rights reserved. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! While it is certainly possible that guinea pigs may experience separation anxiety after their babies have been taken away, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that this is the case. How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com and other affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. Baby guinea pigs for adoption are usually a little cheaper than guinea pigs for sale, and often come with a clean bill of health from a vet. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If it has not happened within the first 24 hours, it is very unlikely she will attempt to do it later on. (2020, May 5). View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Most species clean their offspring with their tongue and so do your little friends. Aggression between two newly introduced guinea pigs is very common and If your guinea pig is finding it hard to deal with the change of a new cage mate, try engaging him in more interaction with you than ever before. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. the babies are doing so well and are so healthy.#guineapig #babies #cuteSong: Sapphe. Hey there, I'm Angela. and Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? This can lead to health problems. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. Talk to him with a soft voice and pet his head. (Benefits, Risks, Servings & FAQs), Baytril For Guinea Pigs (Side Effects, Efficacy, Dosage & FAQs), Signs Your Guinea Pig Hates You (Top 7 & And How to Fix It). This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? Some say that they do not form the same type of attachment as other animals, while others believe that they do experience a certain level of sadness after their young have been weaned. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. It is also quite normal for baby guinea pigs to whine when approached by a much bigger and older guinea pig. When I'm not writing, I enjoy kickboxing and work as an animal trainer. Other genetic diseases include vaulting disease, stroke, and seizures. (700 to 1,100 grams), according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. 9. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! When the pregnant guinea pig is about to give birth, the male guinea pig must be separated from her because, within 12 hours after giving birth, she can become pregnant again. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. If this happens, you should immediately remove the dead babies and dispose of them appropriately. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. "Wheek" City. Most experts believe that guinea pigs are relatively emotionally resilient creatures and are unlikely to suffer significant emotional distress due to being separated from their young. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, Why do animals sometimes kill their babies? Although guinea pigs occasionally sneeze, frequent sneezing is a sign of pneumonia, especially in response to climate change. The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. In situations where one of your guinea pigs crosses the rainbow bridge leaving one behind, the guinea pig left behind might not be so receptive to a new cage mate. I'm currently a pet groomer, and I love it. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. In general, most female guinea pigs who survives birth and delivery will and raise her litter without any issues. New guinea pig breeds are formalised by the American Cavy Breeders Association, who also oversee breed standards and competitions in the United States. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. To pick up your guinea pig move slowly and gently pick him up with two hands. And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. Lets explain why guinea pigs may eat their babies. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. How long does it take for guinea pigs to be born? Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. While carrying babies, the guinea pig mother needs extra energy. Guinea Pig Lifespan How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. 4. However, you should err on the side of caution. The earlier and more regularly you handle them, the more likely they are to accept you. (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? You just have to note that bringing mature guinea pigs together can sometimes be difficult, even if it is done in a slow and measured manner. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta.

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