The first twenty four hours are when the babies are at greatest risk for being eaten, so remain close during this period. 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). mypetguineapig.com is 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. 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. Make sure to separate your male guinea pigs from females in their litter too. Guinea Pig Animal Facts | Cavia porcellus - AZ Animals I personally dont recommend it and neither do vets and most responsible rescues and shelters.Accidents happen. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. Read Also: How Often to Clean Guinea Pig Cage. By doing this you can prevent accidental killings, as well as promptly remove any still born pups from the cage. Extreme Stress -. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! Sometimes it happens accidentally. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. Guinea pigs are docile small animals. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made by my readers, but it doesn't cost you anything at all. (What You Need To Know)Continue. 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. If the litter is too large, the mama . Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. Place one hand under their tummy and one behind their bottom, and hold the little guy close to you. (2014, March 28). For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. If you bring home your baby guinea pig at seven weeks old, youll find all the information you need to raise them in our guide to guinea pigs as pets. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. Their paws and head are comically outsized in proportion to their body, and they already have a full coat of fur. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. 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. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! I'm here to help you smash the EASY button on pet parenting. This is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. And that means that in a mixed litter of boys and girls, its time for the boys to be relocated to a new home, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Most species clean their offspring with their tongue and so do your little friends. 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. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. Guinea pigs definitely can eat clementines. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. Why Do Guinea Pigs Lick You or Other Guinea Pigs? Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. So, what is the answer? At worst, it can cause her to reject them. Do guinea pigs get in heat? Explained by Sharing Culture We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Guinea Pig Babies Facts - Caring For All Pets This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. We spent some time coming up with cute guinea pig names for our babies and decided upon the following; Moose, Aspen, Moon and Finn! When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. In fact, loneliness reduces the life expectancy of a guinea pig. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. This is why you should do everything in your power to make your female piggy feel at ease. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? If you have a pregnant guinea pig, consider giving the her cage an upgrade, so she can take care of her pups comfortably. i am so excited!!! Owning Guinea Pigs | VCA Animal Hospital Orphans should be fed by an eyedropper or pet nurse within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. Theyre filled with Vitamin C and other essential nutrients that guinea pigs need. 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. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. 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. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. On the other hand, if it turns out that they dont form any attachment to their young, then we can rest assured knowing that there isnt anything we need to worry about. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. (n.d.). By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. Its often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: This was one question that had me really worried. 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. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. Its normal to be upset and sad. Babies grow fast. Bartesaghi, R., Severi, S., Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Neuroscience, 2004. More research must be conducted to determine whether or not guinea pigs truly miss their babies when they are apart. 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. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. As they grow, baby guinea pigs will require extra calcium to help their bones develop properly. Clements, M. and Kelly, J. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. and Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. 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. Pregnant and lactating guinea pigs also need alfalfa hay to sustain their babies. Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. They reach their adult size very quickly. A single guinea pig living by themselves often become gloomy, confused, and spiritless. 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. But do all animals miss their babies as much as we do? We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. Ive wondered it myself. 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. Watch this video to learn more about guinea pig. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. After giving birth, the mother guinea pig is likely to eat the placenta but can end up eating her babies by mistake. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. So, consider getting a cage large enough for them to play around. Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesnt recognize them as his own offspring. Explain to them that they have not been replaced or that their babies have replaced your guinea pig. Female cavies are called sows and males are called boars. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. There are several major ideas about why would a guinea pig eat the babies: When they are small and weak, its much easier to keep baby guinea pigs away from male guinea pigs. They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. And, when it happens, it is usually an accident, not a rule, and intentional behavior. Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are not the best choice to raise other female guinea pigs babies. They need it in unlimited amounts, as it helps them keep their teeth trimmed and ensures the proper functioning of their sensitive digestive system. If separated from their parents, they may become anxious and depressed. 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? Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. Unlike many other animals in the animal kingdom, guinea pigs are not self-sufficient. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Owners?: 10 Tips You Need Now When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. (Fun Facts). It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Do mother guinea pigs miss their babies when they are given away? When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. 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. All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. How do you tell if a baby guinea pig is a boy or girl? If possible, you should be present during the birth to provide support and comfort to the mother. 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. Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. 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. Show some tender feelings towards your guinea pig. 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. 10. Baby guinea pigs are much smaller than their parents, so they can escape from the cage. Your Baby Guinea Pig What To Expect And How To Look How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. While carrying babies, the guinea pig mother needs extra energy. 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. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Guinea pig litters can contain up to eight pups, but two, three or four is more usual. How Can I Prevent Guinea Pigs From Eating Their Babies? Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. 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. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! Guinea pig pregnancies are dangerous and the mortality rate is high both among guinea pig mothers and babies. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Diet What should our pregnant guinea pig eat? Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Whats your experience with newborn baby guinea pigs? (Find Out Now), https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, https://lakeshorepethospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Guinea_Pig_Pregnancy.pdf, Removing the male guinea pig(s) will also. In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. Although pet guinea pigs eating their pups is a very rare incident, it does happen sometimes. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. Why Guinea Pigs Are Less Likely To Eat Their Babies? of 2-4. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. This was the most surprising thing to me! Merck Veterinary Manual. We hope you found this article helpful about what to expect when expecting newborn baby guinea pigs! Make sure she always has enough food. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. This should reduce their spatial and jealous tendency. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Eat Their Young? In general, most female guinea pigs who survives birth and delivery will and raise her litter without any issues. https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, Guinea lynx :: Reproduction. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. Most people find guinea pig babies sweet and beautiful. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Do Guinea Pigs Remember Their Siblings, Names, Owners & More 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. Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. After your guinea pig has given birth, shell clean up the evidence left behind to stop predators from tracking down their scent. Guinea pigs are social animals and may begin to experience depression-like symptoms when alone for too long. Newborn Guinea Pig Babies 10 Minutes Old! - YouTube Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. You don't have to be a professional breeder . Sometimes, male Guinea pigs will eat pups if they were fathered by another cavy. Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. i've been keeping this a secret for over a week now!! Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. When your guinea pig is pregnant they need more food than usual, and its surprisingly easy to give them less than what they need. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? The two main reasons why Guinea pigs may eat their babies is a result of hunger, or insufficient feeding. But, can guinea pigs eat them? To most people, guinea pigs are cute pets, and having just one will suffice. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. Within twenty-four hours they can start to eat grass, produce, hay, and pellet feed just like adults. Guinea pigs are social animals and do best when kept in pairs or groups. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. Guinea pigs love to communicate. As herbivores, they dont eat meat at all. 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. No. If your guinea pig becomes acquainted with someone they don't trust, they may become quiet or hide when that person is nearby. Its better to have a cage that is much larger than a cage that is too small. 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. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. When baby guinea pigs grow up the males are called boars and the females are called sows. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Kill Their Young? 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. A guinea pig baby can show mating behaviors at about three to four weeks of age. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. (What Owners Need To Know)Continue, If you notice drool on your guinea pigs face it can be a sign that somethings wrong. This can lead to health problems. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. Adult guinea pigs eat timothy hay, orchard hay, or any other hay thats high in fiber. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. Want to know more? This is pretty rare. (Fun Facts). These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female and mate with her. B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978. 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. Ahhhh, clementines. This way they can easily confuse their predator and a group of guinea pigs doing this is known as a stampede.. 9. 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. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. RSPCA Knowledgebase Let Australias most trusted animal welfare charity help you answer the big questions. When you pick them up secure one hand beneath the stomach and one under the bottom and hold close to your chest. Just like with taming older guinea pigs be patient and consistent. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. So, if youve been wanting to know if guinea pigs usually miss their owners, we hope you have the answer now. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. It can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female guinea pigs under three weeks of age. If your sow is in a very small enclosure, this could cause her unnecessary stress. What to Do If Your Guinea Pig Had Babies - YouTube My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. Wed love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below! For instance, a guinea pig that was captured individually needs at least one other guinea pig as a cage mate. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. Spaying a female guinea pig can be a risky procedure that not all veterinarians are willing to attempt. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? Newborn Guinea Pigs Pups Care, Feeding, Vaccines, and More - The Big Zoo This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. 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 . (2020, May 5). Why Do Guinea Pigs Whine (Is It Normal, What It Means) A mother guinea pig can eat her babies if one of the babies is born dead. Berryman, J. C., Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Ethology, 1976. CLICK HERE to check the price. This blog will give you some helpful tips on how to make this a wonderful experience. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. 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.