I've always been an animal lover, and I've worked in the pet industry. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. This article has been extensively revised for 2019. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. If you want some more information on guinea pig interactions, check out these posts: The Truth About Single Guinea Pigs (Is It Okay To Just Have One?) Although guinea pigs occasionally sneeze, frequent sneezing is a sign of pneumonia, especially in response to climate change. 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. Although its very uncommon, there is still a possibility that a mother guinea pig will engage in filial cannibalism. The male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies is important because he helps keep them warm and protects them from predators. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. Approach them face-on, so they can see you coming. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. Just like with taming older guinea pigs be patient and consistent. The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. This can be startling and upsetting. This is necessary to prevent pregnancy. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. 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. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Provide Your Sow with a Stress-Free Environment, Remain Vigilant During the First Twenty Four Hours, Keep The Babies With Their Mom As Much As Possible, Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? Why Guinea Pigs Are Less Likely To Eat Their Babies? How do you tell if a baby guinea pig is a boy or girl? A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. When your guinea pig is pregnant they need more food than usual, and its surprisingly easy to give them less than what they need. At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . (Find Out Now). By doing this you can prevent accidental killings, as well as promptly remove any still born pups from the cage. (What Owners Need To Know)Continue, If you notice drool on your guinea pigs face it can be a sign that somethings wrong. They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. You might also notice they squeak in distress when you take them away from their mom. Firstly, please provide them with plenty of toys and treats to keep them occupied. Will Your Guinea Pig Eat Her Babies? (What You Need To Know) If The Male Doesn't Believe the Babies Are His. A mother guinea pig can eat her babies if one of the babies is born dead. Baby guinea pigs for adoption are usually a little cheaper than guinea pigs for sale, and often come with a clean bill of health from a vet. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Genetic abnormalities have been reported in guinea pigs, similar to those found in other breeds of animals (such as hip dysplasia in dogs). Its unwise to create more. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. Its natural for you and me to humanize the behavior of animals. MY GUINEA PIG HAD BABIES - YouTube I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. Many people believe that guinea pigs get attached to their owners and that they miss their parents when they are separated. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. Individuals will be starting to show their own distinct personalities too. But recognising the biological reasons why it occurs makes it easier to avoid. 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. Do Guinea Pigs Remember Their Siblings, Names, Owners & More Individual size is generally linked to litter size, so the more siblings there are in a litter, the smaller they are each likely to be. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! Babies grow fast. 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. Also, they should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water all the time. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made by my readers, but it doesn't cost you anything at all. 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. Guinea Pig Animal Facts | Cavia porcellus - AZ Animals Clements, M. and Kelly, J. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. Guinea pigs are cute and quite intelligent pets. While guinea pigs are usually docile, friendly and social creatures, adult males should not be around the babies under any circumstances. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. Your guinea pig wont eat its babies if you touch them. 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. (n.d.). Foreign bodies in the eye of a guinea pig result in tearing, and corneal ulcers, which, in some cases, form a translucent film over the eyes. Many living creatures eat other members of their species when necessary for survival. It was fascinating to watch our new mom clean up after her newborn baby guinea pigs. Weaning age depends on several factors including the pups weight, the mothers milk supply, and the number of siblings. This is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? Want to know more? Other guinea pig owners would like to breed their piggies. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long untilbirth.. 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. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. If this is the case, you obviously dont need to take these steps. The answer to this question is not entirely clear. Do guinea pigs get in heat? Explained by Sharing Culture The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. (Fun Facts). Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. 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. This was the most surprising thing to me! Since males can get any female guinea pig pregnant once they reach maturity - including their mothers - they're weaned and taken from their mother at three weeks old. Wheek: The shrill noise a guinea pig or other small rodent makes. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". Our goal is to make Guinea Pig Den the ultimate resource for learning about your new guinea pig and helpful information before you bring one home as a pet. However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. After three weeks, baby guinea pigs can be separated from their mother and placed with other guinea pigs or their owner. Baby guinea pigs are called pups just like baby dogs. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. Theyve learned all the skills they need for independence, and theyre ready to leave the nest. Let's hear it for the boys. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Common diseases in domestic guinea pigs include respiratory infections, diarrhea, itching, and boils due to infection (often the neck, throat, or external scratches). Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. This can hurt their health and well-being. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). It is important to note that guinea pigs can get attached to their owners and may experience signs of separation anxiety when they are not around. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. (What You Need To Know), Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. 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 mother guinea pigs miss their babies when they are given away? We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! In general, the color of Abyssinian guinea pigs is associated with congenital eye defects and digestive problems. Newborn Guinea Pig Babies 10 Minutes Old! - YouTube You have entered an incorrect email address! Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. Sufficient nutrition, a mixture of alfalfa and timothy grass, keeps female guinea pigs hydrated and can prevent guinea pigs from eating their babies. Guinea pigs make the best mothers and give puppies the best chance of survival. 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 . When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. This is because, in the wild, guinea pigs are usually found in herds, so you should try to create that level of interaction for your domesticated guinea pigs. Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. Its better to have a cage that is much larger than a cage that is too small. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. i've been keeping this a secret for over a week now!! Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. Giving birth is very stressful for guinea pigs and the mortality rate of pregnant guinea pigs is quite high due to complications that occur during the delivery process. If you look after the guinea pig mother regularly, she will allow you to touch her baby guinea pigs. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. Yet, the mother guinea pig will take care of them during the first few weeks, so dont separate them from her. Guinea Pigs do best when living with at least one similar companion, and pets that live without another Guinea pig sometimes become lonely and depressed. male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies, guinea pigs can get attached to their owners. Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. You should increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables given daily and also consider pet-friendly supplements. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. 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. For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. 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. Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Name? (How to Teach Them) Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? What Makes Them Do That And How To On the other hand if youll be helping a sow to raise a litter of pups from birth, theres rather more to think about. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. When can baby guinea pigs be separated from their mother? Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. So, if youve been wanting to know if guinea pigs usually miss their owners, we hope you have the answer now. It can be hard to tell when your pregnant guinea pig is going to deliver her babies because unlike dogs and cats, they do not prepare a nest. Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. Orphans should be fed by an eyedropper or pet nurse within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. Increase the protein content in your pregnant guinea pigs diet. Guinea pigs do not share a similar parent-child bond like that of their siblings with their parents. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). She needs more food and more nutrients to prepare her for the process of giving birth and nursing her babies. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. 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. Guinea pig babies are born quickly. A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. Owning Guinea Pigs | VCA Animal Hospital And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. A fully grown guinea pig is between 20 and 25 cm long. (And How? For instance, most rats eat their babies. 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. Its understandable to feel that way. of 2-4. 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