Newest additions (baby guinea pigs)

[Fishguy2727]

These guys were just born this morning. The one on the right has a beautiful chocolate color. The other two have the grey/blue like the mom.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/reptileguy2727/IMG_0604.jpg

[Sharkman]

they look huge for being born this morning! Did you separate them from the mother? I remember my sister had a guinea pig that had babies and the mother ate the babies.

[Demi ^_^]

Oooohhh! They are sooooooo adorable :)))

[Fishguy2727]

They need to nurse for their first three weeks. Guinea pigs are really good parents, and very tolerant of handling. I don't know what it would take to get her to eat them. In general rodents (although I think gpigs are now no longer technically rodents) will eat their babies if they are underfed, underwatered, crowded, stressed, etc. If they don't think they can raise them they will eat them to get the nutrition back.

I keep them all together all the time, the father is in there too. As long as he stays with them he knows they are his and will not bother them. And she will get pregnant immediately if he is in there, so she is probably already pregnant again.

Guinea pigs have a long gestation period, two months. So the babies are much more developed than things like rats, mice, etc. They come out eyes open, fully haired, clawed, with teeth, and walking. They will start eating the solid foods in the next day or two.

[Mvjnz]

Awww so cute:)

I'd love to get a group of them and have them running around the garden. Only prob is it would have to be guinea pig proofed, and also the cats might decide to kill them or they might drown in the pond... Oh well, maybe one day.

[Wild Turkey]

Cute pics. I cant stand the noise they make though personally.

[Lady Hobbs]

I didn't realize they were born all hairy. They look older than newborns but apparently I've never seen newborns. LOL

I had a couple years ago that would screech to high heaven whenever they heard the refrigerator door open. They associated that noise with carrots, lettuce, potatoes, etc.

[Kula]

Cute pics. I cant stand the noise they make though personally.I've never heard the noise they make, but I was told it's obnoxious. I had a boss who took in another employee's guinea pigs and said when her dogs (she bred some annoying little breed) would start barking, the guinea pigs would go nuts and the whole house sounded like a zoo, haha! She also had miniature donkeys...

[dean30bb]

lol there awesome:19: :19: :19: :19:

[Sharon]

They are gorgeous!:19:

[kaybee]

Very interesting!

How many litters can they have in a year and what is the average litter size?

[Fishguy2727]

Average is about 4, record is something like 8 or something. She can get pregnant hours after delivery so she can have the litters back to back, 2 month gestation, that is a max of about 6 litters a year.

[Kula]

Average is about 4, record is something like 8 or something. She can get pregnant hours after delivery so she can have the litters back to back, 2 month gestation, that is a max of about 6 litters a year.Are they able to store sperm? I know my dwarf hamsters are capable of this, but I am not familiar with guinea pigs.

[Fishguy2727]

There is a post-partum estrus. What this means is she ovulates and can get pregnant within hours after birth. If there is no male to do the job at this point she won't be able to get pregnant until after the babies are weaned. Are you sure they store sperm or just have a post-partum estrus?

[Friendly]

I, too, have a Guinea Pig, named Pork Chops. Whenever he's hungry, or needs company, he usually squeals (I think that's why they call them guinea 'pigs', other than that, myabe for they're size?), and the noise gets annoying after a long time. But thay're still good companions.

[Fishguy2727]

Mine are very quiet. They will let you know they want something when you open the fridge, but overall they are almost silent. The most annoying thing about them is the tapping from them drinking from the water bottle at night (they are in my room).

[Kula]

There is a post-partum estrus. What this means is she ovulates and can get pregnant within hours after birth. If there is no male to do the job at this point she won't be able to get pregnant until after the babies are weaned. Are you sure they store sperm or just have a post-partum estrus?The are capable of both, actually.

[Ellen4God]

Well, I haven't been here very often, but I do poke my nose around occasionally. Just thought I'd throw in that I'm getting two female guinea pigs for my classroom on Monday. A parent at the school wanted to "donate" them to the classroom - apparently, she wants them back at the end of the school year! lol They can't have animals where they're living right now, and hopefully they'll be somewhere that will allow for them by the summer months.

I was a big discouraged at first, but I figured it would be a nice "trial period". I may end up getting my own during the summer.

Anyhoo - sorry to be a thread stealer!