Babies grow fast. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? (The Surprising Truth) As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. They are cheerful and love to run around, squeak, eat, play, and poop. 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. Its understandable to feel that way. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. When the pregnant guinea pig is about to give birth, the male guinea pig must be separated from her because, within 12 hours after giving birth, she can become pregnant again. Even if guinea pigs cannot express emotions the way other pets like dogs or cats do, it doesnt mean they dont miss their owners when left alone for long. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. Why would a pet guinea pig eat its own babies? They also live for several years, longer than most other rodents, so you can enjoy them longer than other pet rodents. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? Male guinea pigs are more likely to harm their babies but they shouldnt eat them. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Babies - Midnight Pets Pets. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. How long does it take for a baby guinea pig to walk? 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. Wed love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below! Keep your little friend calm. 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. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. You can also give them a comfortable place to sleep, like a bed or hammock. Your guinea pig will be frustrated if their youngsters are upset or stressed. Its important to know what signs to look out for so you can keep your piggies happy and healthy. Male guinea pigs have a donut-shaped opening. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. 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. 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. Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? This Is What You Should Know! Pregnancy is very difficult for guinea pigs, with at least 1 out of 5 of the mothers dying during birth. 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. But usually, mom will begin to discourage her babies from nursing at about the 3rd week. https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, Why do animals sometimes kill their babies? 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. Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. So, I took some time to do some research on it for you. Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. 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. We hope youve enjoyed this in depth article about cute baby guinea pigs!Guinea pig pups are quite unlike most other baby animals. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. 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. National Geographic. Guinea pigs dont hibernate, but they will slow down their metabolism and activity in order to stay warm, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? Breeding of guinea pigs is strongly discouraged. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. During pregnancy your sow will need lots of energy and vitamin C, so make sure her hay doesnt run out, and offer a larger helping of fresh fruit and veg every day. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. Pet owners know that keeping a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. This should reduce their spatial and jealous tendency. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. 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. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. (Fun Facts). MY GUINEA PIG HAD BABIES - YouTube 25 Sweet & Silly Guinea Pig Names - wideopenspaces.com Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. Although its very uncommon, there is still a possibility that a mother guinea pig will engage in filial cannibalism. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. 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. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. This is called precociality. It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Unlike many other animals in the animal kingdom, guinea pigs are not self-sufficient. As noted above; Guinea Pigs are highly vocal and use their voice to express their personality. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. This can be startling and upsetting. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. 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. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. This page is stuffed full of information about how to care for your baby guinea pig. Ive wondered it myself. Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Kill Their Young? Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). This is one of the biggest reasons why a sow will engage in filial cannibalism. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? Caring for a guinea pig can be challenging if you are unsure whether it is missing its baby. (Find Out Now). They need it in unlimited amounts, as it helps them keep their teeth trimmed and ensures the proper functioning of their sensitive digestive system. 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. 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. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: Malnourished - not getting enough to eat of the right kinds of food Back to back pregnancies - due to nutrient deficiencies This was one question that had me really worried. 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. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. However, some people have asked whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies after they have been separated. Secondly, even an experienced guinea pig mom might resort to eating her young if she is severely malnourished. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. Now, lets begin at the beginning. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. They reach their adult size very quickly. This is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. When a guinea pig mom is caring for her babies, she teaches them the necessary skills they need to survive in the world. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. The earlier and more regularly you handle them, the more likely they are to accept you. (What Owners Need To Know)Continue, If you notice drool on your guinea pigs face it can be a sign that somethings wrong. 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. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. How Do Guinea Pigs Reproduce? (Breeding, Complications & More) Remember to remove any they leave, as it will spoil quickly. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. Paying lots of brief visits to your litter with mother, and getting them used to gentle handling without worrying them are going to be a vital foundation of good socialization. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives.
do guinea pigs miss their babies