i am so excited!!! (What You Need To Know)Continue. In the meantime, if you havent seen enough sweet pictures of baby guinea pigs yet, then why not visit our compilation of favorite guinea pig videos. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. Keep the male guinea pig separate from his female partner to keep her safe and reduce the stress. Besides, always separate baby guinea pigs from male guinea pigs. Its also the age of the youngest baby guinea pigs in pet stores. Just like with taming older guinea pigs be patient and consistent. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. A mix of alfalfa and timothy hay could keep the mother full and prevent this from happening. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! In almost all species, males are inherently territorial. However, separate male guinea pig babies from their mothers when they turn about two months old. As noted above; Guinea Pigs are highly vocal and use their voice to express their personality. 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. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. The above is important because it allows the mother to continue feeding and grooming her young. Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. 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. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? We found the following cage on Amazon that worked really well. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. By six weeks of age baby guinea pigs are self-sufficient and fully weaned. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. You have entered an incorrect email address! Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? A mother guinea pig can eat her babies if one of the babies is born dead. Equally, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their babies because they dont eat meat. Their compact, cylindrical bodies range from 8 to 10 inches . Guinea pig pregnancies are dangerous and the mortality rate is high both among guinea pig mothers and babies. 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. It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Do guinea pigs get attached to their babies? The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. When can baby guinea pigs be separated from their mother? Why Guinea Pigs Are Less Likely To Eat Their Babies? Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. She checked each one of them and licked them clean immediately following their birth. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. 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. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. 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. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. Merck Veterinary Manual. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. 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. Its understandable to feel that way. In most cases, guinea pigs won't miss you if you decide to leave them in the home instead of taking them with you for camping. To help you, weve written more about how to tame a guinea pig here. Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. 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. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. Its just as important that your baby guinea pig also spends most of their time with other guinea pigs. If you are unsure if the guinea pig is missing its baby, you may not be able to know if it is ill and needs to see a veterinarian. 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. What Should I Do if My Guinea Pig Eats (Or Kills) Her Babies? 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. 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. This is a question that has long been debated when it comes to guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are fragile animals at any age but especially during their early days of life. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. If your guinea pig consistently has enough extra food, the chances of her needing to eat her pups drop to near zero. We hope youve enjoyed this in depth article about cute baby guinea pigs!Guinea pig pups are quite unlike most other baby animals. This can be startling and upsetting. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. It is famously difficult to sex baby rodents, so the easiest way to be sure which of your pups are girls and which are boys is to ask a more experienced mentor, or a vet, to help you. 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 pigs eating babies is a rare but possible occurrence. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. They have small bodies and big eyes. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. If you have decided youre ready to take the plunge and welcome a new baby guinea pig into your life, take a look at our article Where To Buy Guinea Pigs to start your journey. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. 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. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. Most guinea pigs cages are designed for adult guinea pigs with a one inch space between the bars. If youre going to be away for an extended period, you may also want to consider finding a friend or family member to care for your guinea pig in your absence. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. Walter or Bob These guinea pigs sound like they should be wearing business suits on Wall Street. Guinea pigs can be aggressive towards each other if they are not adequately trained. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). In general, most female guinea pigs who survives birth and delivery will and raise her litter without any issues. 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. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. Coming up with a cute guinea pig name is a lot of fun, but can be tough. Watch this video to learn more about guinea pig. 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. Soak guinea pig pellets in water from the first day of life. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. The answer to this question is not entirely clear. At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. Spaying a female guinea pig can be a risky procedure that not all veterinarians are willing to attempt. Guinea pig babies are born very quickly. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. Now, if you have a dog or even a cat, you are sure it misses you when you have to go to work but do guinea pigs miss their owners? 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. The sow eating her pups may be starving. They will understand. This way they can easily confuse their predator and a group of guinea pigs doing this is known as a stampede.. So the remaining milestones left to look for relate to growth, feeding, behavior and sexual maturity. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. So as long as the enclosure is secure and the bars are tight, you should be fine. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. Simon or George More classic goodies. How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth? Likely she has forgotten all about them, and is instead planning to to escape and start her next litter. (What Owners Need To Know)Continue, If you notice drool on your guinea pigs face it can be a sign that somethings wrong. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. Continue to give milk to puppies for 21 days even when they start eating solid food. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. In captivity, they cannot run away, which increases the stress. Mange worms (Trichocross cavia) are a common cause of hair loss, and other symptoms may include excessive scratching, abnormal aggression when being touched, and, in some cases, seizures. If the mother is experiencing starvation , she may eat her offspring as an ultimate last resort. Its natural for you and me to humanize the behavior of animals. If your guinea pig becomes acquainted with someone they don't trust, they may become quiet or hide when that person is nearby. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. Although pet guinea pigs eating their pups is a very rare incident, it does happen sometimes. We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. Weve already covered the reproductive cycle of guinea pigs and pregnancy and how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant, so you can learn much more about these topics in our articles. Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. Guinea pigs eat their babies not because they want to kill them for food but for other reasons. Baby guinea pigs are called pups just like baby dogs. No. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . When they dont respond to her attention, she tries cleaning them more and more vigorously, until eventually she ends up damaging them. And, when it happens, it is usually an accident, not a rule, and intentional behavior. The reason is that male guinea pigs mature sexually very soon and can impregnate their mother as young as 2-3 months of age or even earlier. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. It may take some time for him to become comfortable with you. As they grow, baby guinea pigs will require extra calcium to help their bones develop properly. It is essential for guinea pigs to have social contact with other guinea pigs. By giving them enough time with their mother, you reduce the risk that she will reject them. But usually, mom will begin to discourage her babies from nursing at about the 3rd week. (And How? Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). The information on this website should not be take as a substitute for professional advice. Medical Disclaimer. (2010, July 22). Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesnt recognize them as his own offspring. Firstly, please provide them with plenty of toys and treats to keep them occupied. If you are a new guinea pig parent or have an unexpected pregnancy like we did, you too may have lots of questions about newborn baby guinea pigs. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). Ahhhh, clementines. (Such as blood and remaining body parts). Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. 9. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. You have to remember that these babies are coming out of the womb ready to run around the cage and have fun very quickly. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. Hamsters and rats are famous for such practice. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). And all the behaviors theyll need to carry out for themselves instead of having performed for them by mom like grooming will be well established. How Can I Prevent Guinea Pigs From Eating Their Babies? Cage size Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape? However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. So, I took some time to do some research on it for you. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. Guinea pigs are docile small animals. You might also notice they squeak in distress when you take them away from their mom. A male guinea pig eats the babies only by a strange occurrence. I'm currently a pet groomer, and I love it. For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. (n.d.). Baby guinea pigs are able to digest solid food soon after birth; however, the majority of their required nutrients will come from their mothers milk. If this happens, you should immediately remove the dead babies and dispose of them appropriately. Explain to them that they have not been replaced or that their babies have replaced your guinea pig. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. You don't have to be a professional breeder . But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. However, they will continue to feed on their mothers milk as well. Guinea pigs are social animals and do best when kept in pairs or groups. But, can guinea pigs eat them? On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Like babies of all species, cute baby guinea pigs are tiny and winsome. From the moment they are born they are unusually mature and capable of looking after themselves. Although its very uncommon, there is still a possibility that a mother guinea pig will engage in filial cannibalism. Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. 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. You can find a mentor by asking your local cavy club to put you in touch with suitable experienced breeders. One under his chest and one under his bottom. Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. Before making this assumption, consider the following possibilities: Unfortunately, the evidence of your sow eating her babies might be obvious. Guinea pigs form close bonds with their families and can be very attached to their parents. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. If a typical guinea pig male suspects that the babies are not his own (whether or not this is the case in reality), he may kill and eat them. This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. It can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female guinea pigs under three weeks of age. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. Well be discussing more about this in todays article. Guinea pig pregnancy seems short to us, but in fact it lasts a remarkably long time for their size. They also live for several years, longer than most other rodents, so you can enjoy them longer than other pet rodents. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. 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. Make sure your pig has a lot of food. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. This is an essential process as it helps to ensure that the young guinea pigs can develop properly. How do you tell if a baby guinea pig is a boy or girl? Do Chickens Get Lonely? The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. Guinea pigs dont hibernate, but they will slow down their metabolism and activity in order to stay warm, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? Guinea pig babies are actually called pups. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. (2020, May 5). 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. Filial cannibalism is when animals eat their own offspring. However, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their young at all because guinea pigs are herbivores. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Hi there! At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. After three weeks, the baby guinea pig can be separated from its mother and placed with other guinea pigs or its owner. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". But do all animals miss their babies as much as we do? (n.d.). If you have an affectionate male guinea pig, you can introduce the babies when they are in the same cage. We used fleece bedding which we spot cleaned throughout the day by removing poop and leftover food. You can certainly handle a little, because it wont make their mother reject them. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. It is important to consider the space between the bars of your guinea pig cage. But, only serve them as an occasional treat, because the high sugar and water content can cause health problems like obesity and diarrhea. However, some people have asked whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies after they have been separated. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. 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. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. 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. Baby guinea pigs are much smaller than their parents, so they can escape from the cage. Once labor is established, all the pups usually arrive within half an hour. When a guinea pig is malnourished, it means that the guinea pig is not getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients that its body needs. 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. i've been keeping this a secret for over a week now!! The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. Make sure to feed your guinea pig hay of high quality. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. The sow needs this time to focus on nursing her living babies, and you need to create an environment that will allow her to do this. Guinea pigs should be kept indoors. 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. of 2-4. Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? How To Prevent a New Mother from Eating Her Babies? Weaning age depends on several factors including the pups weight, the mothers milk supply, and the number of siblings. I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. And if you push very gently, the penis might appear. 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. 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. However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. If you carefully run a finger over the area, you should be able to feel the shaft of their penis under the skin. Guinea Pigs May Lick as a Sign of Affection or Grooming. Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies if You Touch Them? Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. This is pretty rare. 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 . (Fun Facts). Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. (Find Out Now), Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? 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. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Guinea pig pups are essentially born ready to go: their eyes are open, they have hair and a full set of teeth, and they can run around on their own. Its unwise to create more. This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. 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. So, if youve been wanting to know if guinea pigs usually miss their owners, we hope you have the answer now. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. Read More Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. How Few Is Too Few? For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. After your guinea pig has given birth, shell clean up the evidence left behind to stop predators from tracking down their scent. They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. Other causes of hair loss due to underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts may occur as a result of hormonal distress. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. After birth, Guinea pig sows can become pregnant again within hours. These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. If you handle a baby bird in a nest, the mother will often abandon them because she'll sense something isn't right (i.e. 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. Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs.
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