This is why you should do everything in your power to make your female piggy feel at ease. (2014, March 28). Its important to remember that guinea pigs are prey animals and they can get intimidated very easily. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? If a guinea pig mother cannot nurse her babies due to illness or death, keep the orphans with as many pet guinea pigs as possible. 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. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. If this is the case, you obviously dont need to take these steps. This is a question that many guinea pig owners have. If this happens, you should immediately remove the dead babies and dispose of them appropriately. If it has not happened within the first 24 hours, it is very unlikely she will attempt to do it later on. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. Change the water daily. Significantly, this is the age when pups will start to reach sexual maturity. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. 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. Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Ask your vet for advice if this isnt the case. No. However, in captivity that shouldnt happen at all because responsible pet owners keep them separate from pregnant and lactating sows and their babies. So, pet parents should be cautious and prepared when dealing with pregnant sows. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. They can impregnate mom and sisters! It may take some time for him to become comfortable with you. She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. Approach them face-on, so they can see you coming. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. National Geographic. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. Guinea pigs diet rests on grasses, herbs, hay, and raw fruits and vegetables. Read More Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. (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). (Fun Facts). Do mother guinea pigs miss their babies when they are given away? As noted above; Guinea Pigs are highly vocal and use their voice to express their personality. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. Want to know more? Wed love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below! If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. Dont be surprised if your pup lets out a little chirp as a means of asking for food! Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. Also, they should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water all the time. Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. Guinea pigs are social animals and do best when kept in pairs or groups. Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. In almost all species, males are inherently territorial. 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. It is also quite normal for baby guinea pigs to whine when approached by a much bigger and older guinea pig. 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. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? Why would a pet guinea pig eat its own babies? During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: Malnourished - not getting enough to eat of the right kinds of food Back to back pregnancies - due to nutrient deficiencies This was one question that had me really worried. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. If your guinea pig consistently has enough extra food, the chances of her needing to eat her pups drop to near zero. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? (The Surprising Truth) If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. They need supervised time out of their cages each day to run around and exercise. Its easy to achieve in the first two weeks by keeping the whole litter together with their mom, but next week its time to start thinking about separating them. Its just as important that your baby guinea pig also spends most of their time with other guinea pigs. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. Caring for a guinea pig can be challenging if you are unsure whether it is missing its baby. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesnt recognize them as his own offspring. Adult guinea pigs eat timothy hay, orchard hay, or any other hay thats high in fiber. Although pet guinea pigs eating their pups is a very rare incident, it does happen sometimes. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups (as a general rule), so ideally you wouldn't want too many pups born at once. This was the most surprising thing to me! You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. Keep your little friend calm. Your Baby Guinea Pig What To Expect And How To Look How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? In our research, we could not find a definitive age when guinea pigs are declared adults; however, they reach sexual maturity by four weeks of age. A fully grown guinea pig is between 20 and 25 cm long. 11. The name pup calls to mind baby dogs, but guinea pigs actually belong to a family of rodent species called cavies. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Talk to him with a soft voice and pet his head. Firstly, please provide them with plenty of toys and treats to keep them occupied. After birth, Guinea pig sows can become pregnant again within hours. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. The causes are different for each species. This can happen if the guinea pig is not being fed enough timothy hay, pellets, vitamin C supplements, etc. On the other hand, female guinea pigs mature sexually at 2 months of age, so make sure to keep them separated from their brothers and father. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. (Such as blood and remaining body parts). This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. Hi there! I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. Unlike many other animals in the animal kingdom, guinea pigs are not self-sufficient. 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. When you touch them be soft and gentle. Witkowska, A. et al, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science, 2017. Ahhhh, clementines. 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. If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Feed the guinea pig pups for the first 5 days around the clock every 4 to 5 hours. Guinea pigs are fragile animals at any age but especially during their early days of life. 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. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is provide your guinea pig with plenty of love and attention, so it doesnt feel lonely. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! Berryman, J. C., Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Ethology, 1976. 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). Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. You can find a mentor by asking your local cavy club to put you in touch with suitable experienced breeders. Guinea pig babies are born quickly. Guinea pig litters can contain up to eight pups, but two, three or four is more usual. Newborn Guinea Pig Babies 10 Minutes Old! - YouTube So it is not good practice by caring breeders. The size of the pups is often relative to how many pups there are in the litter. Filial cannibalism is when animals eat their own offspring. If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a veterinarian to help determine the sex of the pups. But whether youre raising a litter from birth or buying an older baby guinea pig for sale, getting prepared in advance is the best way to make sure you provide them with the best start in life. Your Baby Guinea Pig - What To Expect And How To Look After Them He may also help to nurse the babies. At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. A mother guinea pig needs to clean the babies and eat the afterbirth to chemically generate the mammary glands to start producing milk. Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig. The good news is that its unlikely for your pregnant pet to eat her offspring. Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. Newborn guinea pigs can open their eyes after they are born. 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. (Find Out Now)Continue. Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Owners?: 10 Tips You Need Now Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. A single guinea pig living by themselves often become gloomy, confused, and spiritless. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. Guinea Pig Facts | Live Science If it does occur, the reasons will probably differ slightly from that of other species, and its important to understand these reasons in order to try to prevent it from happening: Most female guinea pigs will never eat their live young on purpose. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. So, consider getting a cage large enough for them to play around. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. How to Take Care of a Female Guinea Pig With Babies - wikiHow *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. 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. Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. You should increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables given daily and also consider pet-friendly supplements. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. By doing this you can prevent accidental killings, as well as promptly remove any still born pups from the cage. Babies grow fast. Make sure your pig has a lot of food. After your guinea pig has given birth, shell clean up the evidence left behind to stop predators from tracking down their scent. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. Here is how to tell if your baby guinea pig is a boy or girl: RELATED: CLICK HERE for more information on how to determine the sex of a guinea pig. Hey there, I'm Angela. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. Do guinea pigs remember their parents? Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. This may confirm why male guinea pigs eat baby guinea pigs, Guinea pigs are stressed out during placenta feeding and may eat the babies thinking its the postpartum part, They lack food and energy after their babies are born. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. Even if guinea pigs cannot express emotions the way other pets like dogs or cats do, it doesnt mean they dont miss their owners when left alone for long. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Additionally, when her babies are born she may eat them in order to prevent them from taking up the little space she has. Bartesaghi, R., Severi, S., Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Neuroscience, 2004. How Few Is Too Few? Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. They have small bodies and big eyes. (n.d.). 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. And that means that in a mixed litter of boys and girls, its time for the boys to be relocated to a new home, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. From there you can jump straight to the answers you need, or join us for a complete overview of baby guinea pig development, week by week. 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. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? You might even have witnessed them start to join in with social grooming by this point. 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.
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