Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 06:55 pm
Guinea pigs are interesting and cute, they make our day much more interesting and fun. We keep them and feed them to make them feel nice and cozy in their cage.
But what to do when the guinea pig is pregnant, how to prepare for the moment when the female guinea pig gives birth?
Surely many of us do not know exactly what to do in such a situation and how to prepare for such a moment.
Therefore, in today’s article, we will learn a little more about how to prepare for the moment when the guinea pig is born.
When will the female guinea pig give birth?
It is not possible to determine the exact day when the mother guinea pig will give birth, but in any case, you can know approximately when it will happen.
A mother guinea pig has an average pregnancy of 60 to 70 days.
The best sign that it is time for a female guinea pig to give birth is if you touch her belly a few inches in front of her buttocks and feel the pelvic bones separate.
Then it means that she will give birth soon.
Guinea pig pregnancy
When the moment comes for the guinea pig to give birth, whether it is unexpected or planned, you still need to be ready for such a moment.
There are a few things that you should have ready before the guinea pig is born so that you are ready.
Before the mother guinea pig gives birth, you need to think about these three things:
- Nutrition
- Cage
- Bedding
Nutrition of the pregnant guinea pig
When the mother guinea pig is pregnant, she needs to have adequate food in order to be able to properly feed both herself and the baby guinea pig.
Here’s what you should give her to eat:
- pellets
- unlimited amount of hay
- some fruit
- vegetables
- vitamin C
- water
Cage
Care should be taken with the size of the guinea pigs’ cage so that the baby guinea pigs do not escape.
Most guinea pig cages are made so that adult guinea pigs cannot escape, but they are not secure enough for baby guinea pigs.
Usually, there is about an inch of space between the bars of the cage, which is enough for the babies to escape.
That’s why you have to make sure that the babies don’t escape by getting a cage that has less space between the bars.
Bedding
Baby guinea pig bedding should be fleece. It is necessary to clean and change regularly so that when the new guinea pig is born it will be clean and fresh.
The bedding is important for the baby guinea pig not to get any infection or bacteria, so it should be changed more often.
How long does it take for guinea pigs to give birth?
Guinea pigs give birth very quickly, usually, it takes about 40 minutes.
At the same time, female guinea pigs give birth to several babies at once, usually every 5 minutes.
What is done after the baby guinea pigs are born?
Immediately after giving birth, the female guinea pig cleans the area around her by herself, she cleans by licking her babies.
The mother guinea pig bites the umbilical cord herself, in which place a navel appears.
It can happen if she’s too busy with the baby guinea pigs and doesn’t bite the umbilical cord, but then it dries out on its own and will eventually fall off on its own.
The mother guinea pig eats the placenta from the baby because when they are in the wild, predators will find the mother and the babies because of the placenta.
Is baby dangerous for guinea pigs?
Yes, there is some danger in giving birth to a female guinea pig, although it usually ends well for her.
Female guinea pigs give birth on their own without the need for medical intervention.
However, the danger is present and very rarely it can happen that a guinea pig dies during baby birth.
What do baby guinea pigs look like?
When baby guinea pigs are born, they are small and look like adult guinea pigs. When they are born, they weigh about 100 grams and are about 4 inches long.
The most interesting thing about baby guinea pigs is that they are born with their eyes open and immediately start walking and hearing.
It is very important because it is a great advantage that they can immediately walk and look at the environment, so they will get used to the space more easily and they will learn many things they need faster.
How many babies do mother guinea pigs have?
Female guinea pigs have 2-4 babies on average.
Regarding the size of the babies, it depends on how many pups there are in the litter.
The bigger the litter, the smaller the baby guinea pigs will be.
Do female guinea pigs eat their babies?
Yes, female guinea pigs sometimes kill and eat their babies for several reasons.
The main reason why they eat their babies is if they don’t have enough food for themselves.
Or they eat the babies if they don’t have a proper diet with the nutrients they need.
If a mother guinea pig has enough healthy food she will never eat her babies.
What do baby guinea pigs eat?
Baby guinea pigs are also very interesting in terms of their diet because they can start eating hay very quickly.
in the first few hours after they are born, they can eat right away, but breast milk is best during that period.
Baby guinea pigs need to be nursed every two to three hours for the first 20 days after birth. They can start eating hay after only one day of their birth, as well as vegetables and pellets.
In the beginning, they need more calcium in their diet so that they can grow and develop properly, so give them alfalfa hay, timothy hay, and other foods rich in calcium.
Do baby guinea pigs need to drink water?
Yes, baby guinea pigs need water just like they need food to eat.
Baby guinea pigs need fresh water every day and it’s best to place the water bottle low so they can reach it.
Change the water twice a week to keep it fresh and clean.
When can you hold the guinea pig and pet it?
Baby guinea pigs already after a few days you can take them in your hands and start petting them and holding them completely safe.
The only thing you should pay attention to is his behavior, if he doesn’t like it then you should leave him with his mother.
When you take it in your hands, hold it from above with one hand, and with the other hand from below, so that it is certain that it will not escape or that it will not fall from your hands.
Gently caress him and speak in a soft and quiet voice so as not to scare him, if he starts to cry, take him back to his mother because he is obviously still afraid.
How long should baby guinea pigs stay with their mother?
Generally, baby guinea pigs should be with their mother for about 3-4 weeks.
After 4 weeks they already become reproductively active and can be separated from their mother.
Apparently guinea pigs grow and mature quickly and in a short time, they can be independent and continue to live on their own.
Read more: Why Guinea Pigs Bite and How to Stop It? Let’s Discover
How to separate baby guinea pigs?
When the baby guinea pigs are 20 days old then it is the right time to separate them from their mothers.
It is best to put the male babies in a separate cage, and the female babies in another cage.
Because if you leave them in the same cage, pregnancy can occur.
After 6 weeks of their birth, baby guinea pigs are no longer babies, they become independent and can continue their lives without their parents.
Read more: Why Guinea Pig Drinking A Lot Of Water? (Find Out Now)
