Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies - And How To Prevent It! Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. How Many Babies Do Guinea Pigs Have? - Guinea Pig Hub You cannot do any harm by touching your adult guinea pig or its babies. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. So, what is the answer? Clements, M. and Kelly, J. Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. 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. 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? 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. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. Your guinea pig wont eat its babies if you touch them. Owning Guinea Pigs | VCA Animal Hospital Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies. In captivity, they cannot run away, which increases the stress. You can expect your pup to wander curiously about their world during this time, but their legs are still a bit clumsy and theyre apt to suddenly plop down as they explore their environs. of 2-4. Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. (n.d.). Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. 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. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. (n.d.). When baby guinea pigs grow up the males are called boars and the females are called sows. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. This is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. They need supervised time out of their cages each day to run around and exercise. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! 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. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this is true. 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. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? (Find Out Now). Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. 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 mother may eat her babies if one or more of her litter dies, or she is under a lot of stress. (Fun Facts). Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. 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. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. They have small bodies and big eyes. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! Here you'll find the juicy goods to care for your little friends WITHOUT making your brain short-circuit. A guinea pig baby can show mating behaviors at about three to four weeks of age. 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. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. A great way to get help raising your first litter successfully, and in recognising potential problems quickly, is by enlisting the support of a mentor. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. You have to remember that these babies are coming out of the womb ready to run around the cage and have fun very quickly. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. Just like big farmyard pigs! Yes, guinea pigs do eat their babies. This is a question that many guinea pig owners have. Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. After your guinea pig has given birth, shell clean up the evidence left behind to stop predators from tracking down their scent. The sow eating her pups may be starving. Handling them too much too soon can disrupt the bond they need with their mother in order to nurse from her, and huddle against her for warmth. First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. A male guinea pig eats the babies only by a strange occurrence. This should reduce their spatial and jealous tendency. Six or seven weeks old is the age at which most breeders will let their pups go to their new homes. Why Do Guinea Pigs Lick You or Other Guinea Pigs? They also live for several years, longer than most other rodents, so you can enjoy them longer than other pet rodents. 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. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. You can find a mentor by asking your local cavy club to put you in touch with suitable experienced breeders. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). When your guinea pig is pregnant her Vitamin C requirements double to around 20mg per day. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. We used fleece bedding which we spot cleaned throughout the day by removing poop and leftover food. This can be startling and upsetting. Keeping your guinea pig healthy and happy is an ongoing process that will require lots of dedication and effort from you. Hey there, I'm Angela. Hi there! Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. The guinea pig fathers dont play any role in taking care of the litter, and can do more harm than good (sorry piggie dads!). Even their own children. 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. (Find Out Now)Continue. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. Youre gonna want to read this. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. Do Guinea Pigs Acknowledge Their Identify? (Easy methods to Train Them) The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. Although guinea pigs occasionally sneeze, frequent sneezing is a sign of pneumonia, especially in response to climate change. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. Do Chickens Get Lonely? Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. Sometimes, male Guinea pigs will eat pups if they were fathered by another cavy. Garner-Richardson, V., Guinea Pig Nutrition, The Veterinary Nurse, 2013. When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. Simon or George More classic goodies. Guinea pigs eat their babies not because they want to kill them for food but for other reasons. 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. 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. A mother guinea pig needs to clean the babies and eat the afterbirth to chemically generate the mammary glands to start producing milk. Preview / Show more . Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. Just being near their most preferred people can give guinea pigs a lot of comfort. This is an essential process as it helps to ensure that the young guinea pigs can develop properly. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. This can lead to health problems. They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. Well chart the milestones of their first days and weeks, and find out what to expect if you discover your female guinea pig is expecting.
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