The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. On the other hand, if it turns out that they dont form any attachment to their young, then we can rest assured knowing that there isnt anything we need to worry about. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! Since their gestation lasts just 59-73 days, a female guinea pig is capable in theory of bearing five or even six litters a year. 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. How Many Babies Do Guinea Pigs Have? - Guinea Pig Hub Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesnt recognize them as his own offspring. (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. The mother may eat her babies if one or more of her litter dies, or she is under a lot of stress. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. If you have an affectionate male guinea pig, you can introduce the babies when they are in the same cage. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . 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. The above is important because it allows the mother to continue feeding and grooming her young. Keep the male guinea pig separate from his female partner to keep her safe and reduce the stress. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. But, if one or more of her litter is stillborn, she may eat it. Newborn Guinea Pig Babies 10 Minutes Old! - YouTube However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. How To Prevent a New Mother from Eating Her Babies? There are several major ideas about why would a guinea pig eat the babies: When they are small and weak, its much easier to keep baby guinea pigs away from male guinea pigs. Almost the only reason why a female guinea pig can kill her babies is that she is so stressed that her mind cannot handle the strain. Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. 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. Read More Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? In order to have a peaceful pregnancy and birth, there are some things that you can do: Many people underestimate how much space a guinea pig needs, along with other types of rodents. This is an essential process as it helps to ensure that the young guinea pigs can develop properly. If your guinea pig becomes restless or starts to squeak loudly it is a sign that he is ready to go back to his cage. A human can serve as a surrogate mom if there are no other guinea pigs available, but it is best if the baby can be raised by its kind. This way they can easily confuse their predator and a group of guinea pigs doing this is known as a stampede.. This process includes eating the placenta and, while she does this, there is a chance that she will mistake one of her babies for the placenta. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. The act of cannibalism in guinea pigs is usually the mother trying to protect the rest of her litter from predators. Any guinea pig lover would approve. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. Briscoe, T.A., et al, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2004. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made by my readers, but it doesn't cost you anything at all. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. (Find Out Now)Continue. This is why you should do everything in your power to make your female piggy feel at ease. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. Just being near their most preferred people can give guinea pigs a lot of comfort. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. Medical Disclaimer. Genetic abnormalities have been reported in guinea pigs, similar to those found in other breeds of animals (such as hip dysplasia in dogs). The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. (Such as blood and remaining body parts). Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Continue to give milk to puppies for 21 days even when they start eating solid food. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. 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. Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. After giving birth, the mother guinea pig is likely to eat the placenta but can end up eating her babies by mistake. Increase the protein content in your pregnant guinea pigs diet. As mentioned already, increased stress will make it much more likely that your guinea pig will eat her offspring. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. Many people believe that male guinea pigs eat their babies as well. Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? (Find Out Now), Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? How long does it take for a baby guinea pig to walk? 9. Guinea pigs can eat their babies if they lack nutrition. As you find a toy for your little fur baby, you might be asking, do guinea pigs like stuffed animals? She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. 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. (n.d.). You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. Other causes of hair loss due to underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts may occur as a result of hormonal distress. Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. Cage size Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape? As noted above; Guinea Pigs are highly vocal and use their voice to express their personality. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Guinea pigs form close bonds with their families and can be very attached to their parents. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. Guinea pigs make the best mothers and give puppies the best chance of survival. Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. 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. Never again hear the dreaded sounds of your guinea pigs angry squeaks because you forgot to clean out their cage or feed them on timefor the fourth day in a row. No matter how cute baby guinea pigs are, one litter at a time should be plenty for most people to think about. It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. You might also notice they squeak in distress when you take them away from their mom. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? Why Do Guinea Pigs Lick You or Other Guinea Pigs? Breeding and Reproduction of Guinea Pigs - All Other Pets - Merck Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. How Old Are Guinea Pigs Before Leaving Their Mother? - Oddly Cute Pets However, you should err on the side of caution. It will also well as putting her at risk for developing diseases like toxaemia. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesn't recognize them as his own offspring. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. Female guinea pigs dont intentionally eat their babies nor do they kill them to eat them. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. If the mother is experiencing starvation , she may eat her offspring as an ultimate last resort. (Find Out Now). These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. But do all animals miss their babies as much as we do? Wiki User 2008-10-08 02:35:56 This. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. 11. And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. 11811 Shaker Blvd, #204, PMB 289Cleveland, Ohio 44120(216) 912-6291. It is also quite normal for baby guinea pigs to whine when approached by a much bigger and older guinea pig. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. If you push gently on their lower abdomen the penis may appear. A particular substance comes from the eyes of a guinea pig; they rub it on their hair when they are grooming. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. (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). Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. In a pet situation, the male may be in the same guinea pig cage as the female and her newborns, and there is no way for the mother to move the pups away from . Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. Do Guinea Pigs Acknowledge Their Identify? (Easy methods to Train Them) The Best Pet Health & Care Advice from Real Vets | PetMD. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. They also live for several years, longer than most other rodents, so you can enjoy them longer than other pet rodents. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? What Makes Them Do That And How To This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. Here are some things we had to think about when we found out our guinea pig was pregnant: We adhered to the following recommended feeding guidelines for pregnant guinea pigs: RELATED: CLICK HERE to read about our unexpected guinea pig pregnancy and how to tell if your guinea pig is pregnant.