The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. Guinea pigs love to communicate. Unlike many other animals in the animal kingdom, guinea pigs are not self-sufficient. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies if You Touch Them? You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. Raising an orphaned guinea pig is not very difficult because mothers feed guinea pig pups only a few times per day and then leave them alone. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. One of which is probably: Will your guinea pig eat her babies? Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. Guinea pigs should be kept indoors. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. Walter or Bob These guinea pigs sound like they should be wearing business suits on Wall Street. That way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of more pregnancies. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. 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. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. Newborn Guinea Pigs - What You Should Avoid - Guinea Pig Site Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Babies - Midnight Pets Newborn Guinea Pigs Pups Care, Feeding, Vaccines, and More - The Big Zoo Merck Veterinary Manual. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. Guinea pigs are social animals and do best when kept in pairs or groups. This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Feed the guinea pig pups for the first 5 days around the clock every 4 to 5 hours. For instance, a guinea pig that was captured individually needs at least one other guinea pig as a cage mate. Check out these most popular guinea pig products on the market: Last update on 2023-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Owning Guinea Pigs | VCA Animal Hospital Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Owners?: 10 Tips You Need Now The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around. I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. Can the male guinea pig stay with the mother and babies? Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. Put him back with his mother if he becomes vocal or squirmy. If The Male Doesn't Believe the Babies Are His. If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. So your guinea pig is pregnant. In this article weve answered some frequently asked questions about newborn baby guinea pigs like: Whether you have a surprise guinea pig pregnancy or a planned one, there are a few things you will want to prepare in advance to make sure you are ready when your newborn baby guinea pigs arrive. 25 Sweet & Silly Guinea Pig Names - wideopenspaces.com Guinea pig pups are essentially born ready to go: their eyes are open, they have hair and a full set of teeth, and they can run around on their own. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. Thats what they do while also making your life a much brighter place. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Baby guinea pigs are able to digest solid food soon after birth; however, the majority of their required nutrients will come from their mothers milk. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Guinea pigs have a good sense of hearing, so they will potentially even be able to hear you coming from down the hall. How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? You have to remember that these babies are coming out of the womb ready to run around the cage and have fun very quickly. 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. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. Here are some reasons why animals eat their offspring. We read that the bedding needs to be changed daily. A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. The name pup calls to mind baby dogs, but guinea pigs actually belong to a family of rodent species called cavies. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. This little interaction will enable him warm to the introduction of a new cage mate better. How To Stop Guinea Pigs Chewing On Cage Bars, Baby Chicken What To Expect From Egg To 8 Weeks Old, Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, The effect of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea pig placenta, Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry. It is famously difficult to sex baby rodents, so the easiest way to be sure which of your pups are girls and which are boys is to ask a more experienced mentor, or a vet, to help you. First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. Spaying a female guinea pig can be a risky procedure that not all veterinarians are willing to attempt. Their compact, cylindrical bodies range from 8 to 10 inches . If you have a pregnant guinea pig, consider giving the her cage an upgrade, so she can take care of her pups comfortably. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. (Find Out Now). Guinea pig pregnancy seems short to us, but in fact it lasts a remarkably long time for their size. Most guinea pigs cages are designed for adult guinea pigs with a one inch space between the bars. 11811 Shaker Blvd, #204, PMB 289Cleveland, Ohio 44120(216) 912-6291. This is especially true if pet parents have not given their pregnant sow enough food. The first twenty four hours are when the babies are at greatest risk for being eaten, so remain close during this period. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. Your guinea pig wont eat its babies if you touch them. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. In this article, we will focus on some important aspects of caring for guinea pig babies. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. (n.d.). At three weeks of age it was still hard for us to tell the difference between the males and females. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. Just like big farmyard pigs! Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. If a baby guinea pig is orphaned, it is essential to find a surrogate mom as soon as possible. Female guinea pigs dont intentionally eat their babies nor do they kill them to eat them. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. Where can I find baby guinea pigs for sale? Hey there, I'm Angela. So, pet parents should be cautious and prepared when dealing with pregnant sows. Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape the enclosure? To do this, we learned it is best to wean the males by removing them from their mom and sisters cage at three weeks and moving them to a separate cage. (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? When we discovered that our guinea pig was pregnant we had so many questions about newborn baby guinea pigs and what to expect once they were born. Theyre filled with Vitamin C and other essential nutrients that guinea pigs need. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. Your Baby Guinea Pig - What To Expect And How To Look After Them This is why you should do everything in your power to make your female piggy feel at ease. When you touch them be soft and gentle. The body temperature of a guinea pig is between 101104 F (3840 C), so its ideal ambient air temperature is similar to that of humans, approximately 6575 F (1824 C). On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. (2014, March 28). When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. While guinea pigs are usually docile, friendly and social creatures, adult males should not be around the babies under any circumstances. If you are considering getting a guinea pig, ensure you can provide them with the social interaction they need. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". Just keep your little friend with other females only. The sow eating her pups may be starving. And if you push very gently, the penis might appear. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . The Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat is the recommended size (minimum of 8 square feet) and has deep sides around the edges that make it difficult for the baby guinea pigs to crawl out of. (Find Out Now), https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, https://lakeshorepethospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Guinea_Pig_Pregnancy.pdf, Removing the male guinea pig(s) will also. Guinea pig babies are born very quickly. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. New Plymouth Vet Group. Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. You can certainly handle a little, because it wont make their mother reject them. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. The average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. 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. Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. Female cavies are called sows and males are called boars. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. The advantage of choosing the Midwest Habitat Plus is that it offers up to 8 square feet of space, its very affordable, and you can transfer your male guinea pig to a different section early. But, only serve them as an occasional treat, because the high sugar and water content can cause health problems like obesity and diarrhea. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. So as long as the enclosure is secure and the bars are tight, you should be fine. Guinea pigs dont hibernate, but they will slow down their metabolism and activity in order to stay warm, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! To understand why a guinea pig mother killing and gobbling up her offspring is so rare and why its still a possibility (although it is a long shot), you need to know a little bit about the dynamics of. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. They use them to form social bonds and initiate mating, attract the attention of herd members over great distances, communicate sadness, and sound the alarm. On the other hand, if it turns out that they don't form any attachment to their young, then we can . Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. Other factors that make eating (or killing) the pups less likely include: piggies are natural herbivores and they have good maternal instincts (for rodents, anyway). How many babies do guinea pigs have in their first litter? If this is the case, you obviously dont need to take these steps. If that happens in captivity, thats extremely rare. That is a common myth and is not true. This is a question that has long been debated when it comes to guinea pigs. If you bring home your baby guinea pig at seven weeks old, youll find all the information you need to raise them in our guide to guinea pigs as pets. If you carefully run a finger over the area, you should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. Baby guinea pigs are called pups just like baby dogs. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? Well chart the milestones of their first days and weeks, and find out what to expect if you discover your female guinea pig is expecting. When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. If your guinea pig becomes acquainted with someone they don't trust, they may become quiet or hide when that person is nearby. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. (Find Out Now). It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. Do mother guinea pigs miss their babies when they are given away? Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] Its unwise to create more. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Spinach Or Is It Bad For Them? This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances.

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