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It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. Your guinea pig wont eat its babies if you touch them. Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. So, what is the answer? Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? Briscoe, T.A., et al, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2004. 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. How long before you can handle baby guinea pigs? Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. 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. In the next section weve assembled some of the most commonly asked questions our readers have about their baby guinea pigs. Although piggies are so cute, you cant always be there to have a staring contest with them. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. Copyright 2021 - 2023 Guinea Pig Den | Jennifer Franklin Media LLCThis site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. 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. Its important to know what signs to look out for so you can keep your piggies happy and healthy. Yet, the mother guinea pig will take care of them during the first few weeks, so dont separate them from her. National Geographic. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. 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 . Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Babies grow fast. Stress can cause guinea pigs to eat their babies, and stress-induced cannibalism is also very common in guinea pigs, and unfortunately, quite unavoidable at times.Do your best to keep them well fed and give them plenty of rest so they can stay calm. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? Keeping your guinea pig healthy and happy is an ongoing process that will require lots of dedication and effort from you. Individuals will be starting to show their own distinct personalities too. Place one hand under their tummy and one behind their bottom, and hold the little guy close to you. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Weaning age depends on several factors including the pups weight, the mothers milk supply, and the number of siblings. It is important to consider the space between the bars of your guinea pig cage. If you push gently on their lower abdomen the penis may appear. 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. I've always been an animal lover, and I've worked in the pet industry. B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978. The size of the pups is often relative to how many pups there are in the litter. Be prepared to assess them quickly, because they wont like to be held in that position for long! Genetic abnormalities have been reported in guinea pigs, similar to those found in other breeds of animals (such as hip dysplasia in dogs). *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. Pet owners know that keeping a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. Between then and reaching their full adult weight several months later, you might hear them being described as juniors. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. Watch this video to learn more about guinea pig. Approach them face-on, so they can see you coming. Yes, guinea pigs do eat their babies. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. Merck Veterinary Manual. For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. Besides, guinea pigs should eat about 1/8 of pellets, and about a cup of a mixture of herbs, vegetables, and fruits, but all in moderate amounts. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! But, only serve them as an occasional treat, because the high sugar and water content can cause health problems like obesity and diarrhea. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Baby guinea pigs typically stay with their mother for about three weeks, but this can vary depending on the situation. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. Can the male guinea pig stay with the mother and babies? 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. We spent some time coming up with cute guinea pig names for our babies and decided upon the following; Moose, Aspen, Moon and Finn! Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? Clements, M. and Kelly, J. While the baby boars can be separated in just three weeks once they are fully weaned, the baby sows can remain with the mother for up to 4 weeks from the time of birth. On the other hand if youll be helping a sow to raise a litter of pups from birth, theres rather more to think about. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. If her diet doesnt contain enough vital vitamins and nutrients, she can still be malnourished whilst receiving enough calories to maintain her body weight. Usually, the mother will eat the baby right after it's born. 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. 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. Simon or George More classic goodies. It can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female guinea pigs under three weeks of age. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. Change the water daily. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. Here you'll find the juicy goods to care for your little friends WITHOUT making your brain short-circuit. Not only that, but they also have a full body of fur, and even their little claws are developed. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. 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. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. This is called precociality. The earlier and more regularly you handle them, the more likely they are to accept you. Diet What should our pregnant guinea pig eat? The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. Any guinea pig lover would approve. After birth, Guinea pig sows can become pregnant again within hours. 11. 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. Guinea pigs are peaceful creatures. So, I took some time to do some research on it for you. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. 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 pig pregnancy seems short to us, but in fact it lasts a remarkably long time for their size. Try to provide your pet with the extra company as much as you can, even if only for a short period of time. Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. Extreme Stress -. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. You might even have witnessed them start to join in with social grooming by this point. To understand why a guinea pig mother killing and gobbling up her offspring is so rare and why its still a possibility (although it is a long shot), you need to know a little bit about the dynamics of. Garner-Richardson, V., Guinea Pig Nutrition, The Veterinary Nurse, 2013. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. All rights reserved. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Once labor is established, all the pups usually arrive within half an hour. Thats what they do while also making your life a much brighter place. Put him back with his mother if he becomes vocal or squirmy. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. Within twenty-four hours they can start to eat grass, produce, hay, and pellet feed just like adults. If you have an affectionate male guinea pig, you can introduce the babies when they are in the same cage. (What Owners Need To Know)Continue, If you notice drool on your guinea pigs face it can be a sign that somethings wrong. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. If this happens, you should immediately remove the dead babies and dispose of them appropriately. You just have to note that bringing mature guinea pigs together can sometimes be difficult, even if it is done in a slow and measured manner. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! Hold your guinea pig securely and gently turn him / her over. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . Just like with taming older guinea pigs be patient and consistent. (n.d.). This way, your guinea pig will not feel the need for extra nutrition. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Ahhhh, clementines. 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. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. The same goes for males. Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. Never again hear the dreaded sounds of your guinea pigs angry squeaks because you forgot to clean out their cage or feed them on timefor the fourth day in a row. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. 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. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). While carrying babies, the guinea pig mother needs extra energy. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? Other factors that make eating (or killing) the pups less likely include: piggies are natural herbivores and they have good maternal instincts (for rodents, anyway). Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Eat Their Young? When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. Cute Guinea Pig Names 200 Unique Names To Choose From, Cow Names Over 400 Amazing Names For Your Cattle, Giving your litter the best start begins before your sow is even pregnant make sure she has a clean bill of health from a vet before she is mated, and buy a. 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. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. Caring for a guinea pig can be challenging if you are unsure whether it is missing its baby. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? (Find Out Now), Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? A baby guinea pig is called a pup. 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. Here is how to tell if your baby guinea pig is a boy or girl: RELATED: CLICK HERE for more information on how to determine the sex of a guinea pig. This usually happens when pups are stillborn, or born to ill to survive. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). Increase the protein content in your pregnant guinea pigs diet. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? Want to know more? Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! Even their own children. Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. Its normal to be upset and sad. You can also give them a comfortable place to sleep, like a bed or hammock. Bartesaghi, R., Severi, S., Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Neuroscience, 2004. This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. You should increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables given daily and also consider pet-friendly supplements. Newborn guinea pigs should be kept with their mom for at least 3 weeks. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! In situations where one of your guinea pigs crosses the rainbow bridge leaving one behind, the guinea pig left behind might not be so receptive to a new cage mate. This blog will give you some helpful tips on how to make this a wonderful experience. Its important to remember that guinea pigs are prey animals and they can get intimidated very easily. This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. 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. Hey there, I'm Angela. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. (And How? And within a few hours nursing should be established. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. After three weeks, baby guinea pigs can be separated from their mother and placed with other guinea pigs or their owner. Do guinea pigs remember their parents? This article has been extensively revised for 2019. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. Your guinea pig will be frustrated if their youngsters are upset or stressed.