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Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesn't recognize them as his own offspring. (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. This was the most surprising thing to me! B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Wiki User 2008-10-08 02:35:56 This. Preview / Show more . But usually, mom will begin to discourage her babies from nursing at about the 3rd week. Guinea pigs make the best mothers and give puppies the best chance of survival. We kept a close eye on Theo as her due date approached. Extreme Stress -. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. This article has been extensively revised for 2019. and Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. Guinea pig pregnancies are dangerous and the mortality rate is high both among guinea pig mothers and babies. Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. If you want some more information on guinea pig interactions, check out these posts: The Truth About Single Guinea Pigs (Is It Okay To Just Have One?) Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. The sow eating her pups may be starving. Guinea pigs diet rests on grasses, herbs, hay, and raw fruits and vegetables. When your guinea pig is pregnant they need more food than usual, and its surprisingly easy to give them less than what they need. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. But another remarkable thing about baby guinea pigs is just how grown up their appetites are! To help you, weve written more about how to tame a guinea pig here. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. Also, female guinea pigs eat their young if they are overstressed and afraid because they cannot handle the situation. All rights reserved. Its better to have a cage that is much larger than a cage that is too small. Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. At worst, it can cause her to reject them. But, fruit should only be given as an occasional treat. Guinea pig babies are actually called pups. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. You can expect your pup to wander curiously about their world during this time, but their legs are still a bit clumsy and theyre apt to suddenly plop down as they explore their environs. Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. Make sure she always has enough food. This can be startling and upsetting. 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.