Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. 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. Equally, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their babies because they dont eat meat. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. Your guinea pig wont eat its babies if you touch them. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. GuineaPigDen.com is a participant in theAmazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. On the other hand, if it turns out that they don't form any attachment to their young, then we can . (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? (And How? And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. The pups will learn a lot from how to form social bonds, to which foods are safe to eat from the adults they live with. If you push gently on their lower abdomen the penis may appear. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, 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. Paying lots of brief visits to your litter with mother, and getting them used to gentle handling without worrying them are going to be a vital foundation of good socialization. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. If possible, you should be present during the birth to provide support and comfort to the mother. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. Be prepared to assess them quickly, because they wont like to be held in that position for long! 11. They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. New Plymouth Vet Group. Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! Simon or George More classic goodies. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? 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. Pets. If your sow is in a very small enclosure, this could cause her unnecessary stress. Whats your experience with newborn baby guinea pigs? Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. Other causes of hair loss due to underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts may occur as a result of hormonal distress. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. Once all the serious aspects of baby guinea pig care are in hand, you can turn your mind to more fun tasks, like picking their names. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. The surprising truth is that it happens more often than youd think. Your guinea pig will be frustrated if their youngsters are upset or stressed. Guinea pigs eating babies is a rare but possible occurrence. Yet, sometimes, guinea pigs can eat their babies. Guinea pigs diet rests on grasses, herbs, hay, and raw fruits and vegetables. And if you push very gently, the penis might appear. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? If her diet doesnt contain enough vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving enough calories to maintain her body weight. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. Every few hours for the first few days, you should hand-feed the baby guinea pig: mesh pellets or supplement powder, and if you have grown guinea pigs, also add a fecal . More research must be conducted to determine whether or not guinea pigs truly miss their babies when they are apart. 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. 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. This usually happens when pups are stillborn, or born to ill to survive. This is a question that many guinea pig owners have. Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. In general, most female guinea pigs who survives birth and delivery will and raise her litter without any issues. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Regarding animal parents, there is no greater love than that of a mother for her young. Baby guinea pigs feed on their mothers milk but soon they will need lots of alfalfa hay thats rich in calcium. 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. A male guinea pig might seriously injure his babies because he is territorial and feels intimidated. Hamsters and rats are famous for such practice. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. When your guinea pig is pregnant her Vitamin C requirements double to around 20mg per day. Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. 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. If it is found that they experience sadness after their young have been weaned, it would suggest that we take extra care in handling this process. 9. Guinea pigs can recognize their owners and other people they know and trust. You have to remember that these babies are coming out of the womb ready to run around the cage and have fun very quickly. This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. The two main reasons why Guinea pigs may eat their babies is a result of hunger, or insufficient feeding. Calcium is very important for baby piggies as they are growing and developing. Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. (What You Need To Know)Continue. 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. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a865a53297bca918d5b51d234266ee3f");document.getElementById("e1b86b387e").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A mother guinea pig needs to clean the babies and eat the afterbirth to chemically generate the mammary glands to start producing milk. When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. No matter how cute baby guinea pigs are, one litter at a time should be plenty for most people to think about. That is a common myth and is not true. If it has not happened within the first 24 hours, it is very unlikely she will attempt to do it later on. We found the following cage on Amazon that worked really well. Besides, guinea pigs should eat about 1/8 of pellets, and about a cup of a mixture of herbs, vegetables, and fruits, but all in moderate amounts. Individuals will be starting to show their own distinct personalities too. Continue to give milk to puppies for 21 days even when they start eating solid food. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE CLICK HERE to check the price. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. They are cheerful and love to run around, squeak, eat, play, and poop. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. Watch this video to learn more about guinea pig. There's nothing quite like getting away from it all in nature. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a veterinarian to help determine the sex of the pups. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. (Find Out Now)Continue. Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. This is necessary to prevent pregnancy. Place one hand under their tummy and one behind their bottom, and hold the little guy close to you. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Spaying a female guinea pig can be a risky procedure that not all veterinarians are willing to attempt. Guinea pigs are cute and quite intelligent pets. When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. National Geographic. 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 . Do guinea pigs miss their babies? She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they start vocalising from babyhood.