Other guinea pig owners would like to breed their piggies. Most species clean their offspring with their tongue and so do your little friends. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. 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 many babies do guinea pigs have in their first litter? Although its very uncommon, there is still a possibility that a mother guinea pig will engage in filial cannibalism. You don't have to be a professional breeder . These small pets need a lot of food and nutrition. That way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of more pregnancies. Make sure she always has enough food. Diet What should our pregnant guinea pig eat? The two main reasons why Guinea pigs may eat their babies is a result of hunger, or insufficient feeding. If you have an affectionate male guinea pig, you can introduce the babies when they are in the same cage. There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. Make sure to separate your male guinea pigs from females in their litter too. This is especially true if pet parents have not given their pregnant sow enough food. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. Merck Veterinary Manual. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. Guinea pigs make the best mothers and give puppies the best chance of survival. You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. They have small bodies and big eyes. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. On the other hand, a male guinea pig eats guinea pig babies when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. Guinea pig babies can walk, see, and hear, as soon as they are born, and most start nibbling on solid foods within a few days. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies, guinea pigs can get attached to their owners. A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. This is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. In the next section weve assembled some of the most commonly asked questions our readers have about their baby guinea pigs. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Eat Their Young? However, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their young at all because guinea pigs are herbivores. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. 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. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. Just keep your little friend with other females only. It is fine to carefully handle your new guinea pig pups during their first week, but be sure to allow them plenty of time with their mother as well. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. That is a common myth and is not true. Hi there! What is always important is to provide your pet guinea pigs with the best living conditions for the survival of the mother and the babies. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. You can also give them a comfortable place to sleep, like a bed or hammock. An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. What about baby guinea pigs for adoption? While carrying babies, the guinea pig mother needs extra energy. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Pets. Popcorning is an incredibly descriptive term to describe the frenzied bursts of energetic jumping, bumping and hopping about that guinea pigs engage in. And of course, when you run a finger over the area, you wont feel a penis! The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. Guinea pig babies are born quickly. By six weeks of age baby guinea pigs are self-sufficient and fully weaned. Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. But, give them time to bond with their mother so they can nurse. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. We spent some time coming up with cute guinea pig names for our babies and decided upon the following; Moose, Aspen, Moon and Finn! 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. However, they will continue to feed on their mothers milk as well. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. Do not over-handle the mother or you could cause her stress which will lead . Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. Three weeks marks the earliest point at which pups may stop nursing from their mother. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. (Find Out Now), Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! Yet, the mother guinea pig will take care of them during the first few weeks, so dont separate them from her. Dont be surprised if your pup lets out a little chirp as a means of asking for food! Other genetic diseases include vaulting disease, stroke, and seizures. Hey there, I'm Angela. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. When I'm not writing, I enjoy kickboxing and work as an animal trainer. Read More Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. Garner-Richardson, V., Guinea Pig Nutrition, The Veterinary Nurse, 2013. mypetguineapig.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. If you have a pregnant guinea pig, consider giving the her cage an upgrade, so she can take care of her pups comfortably. All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. Whether you plan on rearing your own litter of baby Abysinnian guinea pigs, or youre making plans to buy a baby Peruvian guinea pig, its valuable to be able to recognise whether theyre growing and developing normally for the species, and their breed. 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. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. Firstly, please provide them with plenty of toys and treats to keep them occupied. Sometimes, male Guinea pigs will eat pups if they were fathered by another cavy. (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. Simon or George More classic goodies. "Wheek" City. Sufficient nutrition, a mixture of alfalfa and timothy grass, keeps female guinea pigs hydrated and can prevent guinea pigs from eating their babies. (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? How long does it take for guinea pigs to be born? If that happens in captivity, thats extremely rare. So your guinea pig is pregnant. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. The same goes for males. 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. 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. This is an essential process as it helps to ensure that the young guinea pigs can develop properly. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Can a Guinea Pig Baby Live Without the Mother? (What You Need To Know)Continue. And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. He may also help to nurse the babies. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. 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. Why Guinea Pigs Are Less Likely To Eat Their Babies? More research must be conducted to determine whether or not guinea pigs truly miss their babies when they are apart. This is a question that many guinea pig owners have. We try to conform to the same standards and expectations when it comes to animal interactions and instincts. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. 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. Want to know more? Walter or Bob These guinea pigs sound like they should be wearing business suits on Wall Street. A guinea pig baby can show mating behaviors at about three to four weeks of age. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. 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. Guinea pigs can recognize their owners and other people they know and trust. Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. So, if youve been wanting to know if guinea pigs usually miss their owners, we hope you have the answer now. The male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies is important because he helps keep them warm and protects them from predators. A mix of alfalfa and timothy hay could keep the mother full and prevent this from happening. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. 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. The answer to this question is not entirely clear. How To Prevent a New Mother from Eating Her Babies? This should reduce their spatial and jealous tendency. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. 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. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide).