Theyre filled with Vitamin C and other essential nutrients that guinea pigs need. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. While guinea pigs are usually docile, friendly and social creatures, adult males should not be around the babies under any circumstances. 4. Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? That is a common myth and is not true. Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. Approach them face-on, so they can see you coming. 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. But recognising the biological reasons why it occurs makes it easier to avoid. 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. The act of cannibalism in guinea pigs is usually the mother trying to protect the rest of her litter from predators. Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. Guinea pigs are fragile animals at any age but especially during their early days of life. Talk to him with a soft voice and pet his head. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? What Makes Them Do That And How To The mother may eat her babies if one or more of her litter dies, or she is under a lot of stress. 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. Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. Do guinea pigs get attached to their babies? Raising an orphaned guinea pig is not very difficult because mothers feed guinea pig pups only a few times per day and then leave them alone. 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. This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. When your guinea pig is pregnant her Vitamin C requirements double to around 20mg per day. Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Babies - Midnight Pets A mother guinea pig needs to clean the babies and eat the afterbirth to chemically generate the mammary glands to start producing milk. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: This was one question that had me really worried. Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? This Is What You Should Know! Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. Besides, always separate baby guinea pigs from male guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are docile small animals. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. Sometimes it happens accidentally. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. Newborn Guinea Pigs Pups Care, Feeding, Vaccines, and More - The Big Zoo However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. 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. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? Do Chickens Get Lonely? Guinea pig babies are actually called pups. Guinea pigs love to communicate. You have entered an incorrect email address! If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Extreme Stress -. Just keep your little friend with other females only. The body temperature of a guinea pig is between 101104 F (3840 C), so its ideal ambient air temperature is similar to that of humans, approximately 6575 F (1824 C). My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. 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 . Medical Disclaimer. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. Be prepared to assess them quickly, because they wont like to be held in that position for long! An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! Dwyer, C.M., et al, The effect of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea pig placenta, Journal of Developmental Physiology, 1992. It is rare, but it does happen. Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. (Find Out Now)Continue, Choosing the right materials to use a as a cage liner for your guinea pigs cage can seem daunting especially when youre a new pet parent. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. As herbivores, they dont eat meat at all. 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. 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. This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. While it is a hard thing to think about, it can happen. You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. RSPCA Knowledgebase Let Australias most trusted animal welfare charity help you answer the big questions. In order to have a peaceful pregnancy and birth, there are some things that you can do: Many people underestimate how much space a guinea pig needs, along with other types of rodents. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. Guinea Pigs May Lick as a Sign of Affection or Grooming. Do guinea pigs get in heat? Explained by Sharing Culture There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! Newborn guinea pigs should be kept with their mom for at least 3 weeks. You have to remember that these babies are coming out of the womb ready to run around the cage and have fun very quickly. While carrying babies, the guinea pig mother needs extra energy. Within twenty-four hours they can start to eat grass, produce, hay, and pellet feed just like adults. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. Filial cannibalism is when animals eat their own offspring. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] An adult guinea pig will never deliberately harm or eat a newborn guinea pig. Newborn Baby Guinea Pigs: What to expect? (it's not what you think) The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. Berryman, J. C., Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Ethology, 1976. Some guinea pigs even put up great resistance to this. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? 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. If the mother is experiencing starvation , she may eat her offspring as an ultimate last resort. Keep your little friend calm. The Best Pet Health & Care Advice from Real Vets | PetMD. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. National Geographic. If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a veterinarian to help determine the sex of the pups. Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! The answer to this question is not entirely clear. After birth, Guinea pig sows can become pregnant again within hours. Do Guinea Pigs Acknowledge Their Identify? (Easy methods to Train Them) As mentioned already, increased stress will make it much more likely that your guinea pig will eat her offspring. Its unwise to create more. If youre not looking for a specific breed or sex of guinea pig, rescuing one from a shelter is a great way to meet your new pet. For instance, most rats eat their babies. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Eat Their Young? Newborn Guinea Pig Babies 10 Minutes Old! - YouTube Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. Once the pups arrive, monitor them closely to make sure nursing is established within 12 hours. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? (Fun Facts) - Own Your Pet How long does it take for a baby guinea pig to walk? (2014, March 28). If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. Lots of small animals (think rats and rabbits) have reputations for being prolific breeders. Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Guinea pigs are not only kept as family pets, but like dogs, cats and rabbits, they are also bred for show. They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, Why do animals sometimes kill their babies? It can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female guinea pigs under three weeks of age. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? Baby guinea pigs typically stay with their mother for about three weeks, but this can vary depending on the situation. Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. 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. No. How long before you can handle baby guinea pigs? Getting guinea pigs used to handling from an early age is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets. 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. Ive wondered it myself. 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. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. They are basically saying . But do all animals miss their babies as much as we do? Clements, M. and Kelly, J. As they grow, baby guinea pigs will require extra calcium to help their bones develop properly. How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? Increase the protein content in your pregnant guinea pigs diet. This was the most surprising thing to me! 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. Just like big farmyard pigs! Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Kill Their Young? A mix of alfalfa and timothy hay could keep the mother full and prevent this from happening. 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. Do not over-handle the mother or you could cause her stress which will lead . But, only serve them as an occasional treat, because the high sugar and water content can cause health problems like obesity and diarrhea. It was fascinating to watch our new mom clean up after her newborn baby guinea pigs. Newborn Baby Guinea Pig Care - family-medical.net And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. Sometimes it happens accidentally. This little interaction will enable him warm to the introduction of a new cage mate better. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Squeaks and Nibbles is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Squeaks and Nibbles is also a participant in the Amazon 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. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. You can find a mentor by asking your local cavy club to put you in touch with suitable experienced breeders. Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape the enclosure? Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. Piglet Okay, so it's not that clever. Guinea pigs can be aggressive towards each other if they are not adequately trained. Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. How long does it take for guinea pigs to be born? How Old Are Guinea Pigs Before Leaving Their Mother? - Oddly Cute Pets 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. No matter how cute baby guinea pigs are, one litter at a time should be plenty for most people to think about. It is essential for guinea pigs to have social contact with other guinea pigs. 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. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. (n.d.). Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Owners?: 10 Tips You Need Now 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. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? Guinea pig litters can contain up to eight pups, but two, three or four is more usual. A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. The sow eating her pups may be starving. In captivity, they cannot run away, which increases the stress. Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl.