Any sudden movement or noise can scare them. 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. Babies grow fast. (What You Need To Know)Continue. (2020, May 5). Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. But usually, mom will begin to discourage her babies from nursing at about the 3rd week. This is pretty rare. (Fun Facts). This is necessary to prevent pregnancy. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Likely she has forgotten all about them, and is instead planning to to escape and start her next litter. A male guinea pig eats the babies only by a strange occurrence. Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. Let's hear it for the boys. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. Medical Disclaimer. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. The surprising truth is that it happens more often than youd think. 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. Sometimes it happens accidentally. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? 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. Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. 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. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. If you are just considering the idea of owning guinea pigs, ensure that you already have the capacity to take care of them and also provide them with quality interplay. Baby guinea pigs feed on their mothers milk but soon they will need lots of alfalfa hay thats rich in calcium. This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. Three weeks marks the earliest point at which pups may stop nursing from their mother. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Kill Their Young? The above is important because it allows the mother to continue feeding and grooming her young. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. Most people find that, when it comes to guinea pigs at least, babies are the cutest. You need to know if you should reduce the amount of time you spend away from your pet. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). If this is the case, you obviously dont need to take these steps. 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. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. However, they will continue to feed on their mothers milk as well. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. Other causes of hair loss due to underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts may occur as a result of hormonal distress. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. As noted above; Guinea Pigs are highly vocal and use their voice to express their personality. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. They need supervised time out of their cages each day to run around and exercise. And within a few hours nursing should be established. 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. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. The same goes for males. Getting guinea pigs used to handling from an early age is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. GuineaPigDen.com is a participant in theAmazon 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. At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! Guinea Pigs do best when living with at least one similar companion, and pets that live without another Guinea pig sometimes become lonely and depressed. 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. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. Any guinea pig lover would approve. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. If possible, you should be present during the birth to provide support and comfort to the mother. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. Clements, M. and Kelly, J. The size of the pups is often relative to how many pups there are in the litter. This is called precociality. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this is true. A mother guinea pig can eat her babies if one of the babies is born dead. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE Its better to have a cage that is much larger than a cage that is too small. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. Besides, always separate baby guinea pigs from male guinea pigs. They are basically saying . First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. (n.d.). That way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of more pregnancies. Feed the guinea pig pups for the first 5 days around the clock every 4 to 5 hours. They will understand. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. Having a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978. Preview / Show more . mypetguineapig.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. They will nurse every two hours for the first three weeks. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Eat Their Young? By giving them enough time with their mother, you reduce the risk that she will reject them. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Of course, every guinea pig is different, and some individual animals may indeed experience some sadness or loneliness after being separated from their babies if you are concerned that your guinea pig may miss its young, it. It is rare, but it does happen. It may take some time for him to become comfortable with you. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. The two main reasons why Guinea pigs may eat their babies is a result of hunger, or insufficient feeding. Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long untilbirth.. 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. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. This was the most surprising thing to me! [9] They will still need to nurse, though, for three weeks before they are ready to be removed from their mother. 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. Do Guinea Pigs Eat 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. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies if You Touch Them? Common diseases in domestic guinea pigs include respiratory infections, diarrhea, itching, and boils due to infection (often the neck, throat, or external scratches). Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. 10. Guinea pigs are social animals and may begin to experience depression-like symptoms when alone for too long. 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. Guinea pigs can jump over obstacles but these, When they recognize they are in danger, guinea pigs stand in one place for a long time then suddenly run very fast with a darting movement. Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around.