Can you touch baby guinea pigs after birth?

Can you touch baby guinea pigs after birth?

Ears and legs bigger than the rest of their body they are precious little ones who should be handled with the greatest care but, yes, they can be handled from the moment they are born if you are not interfering with the birthing process and you are doing so with the utmost care.

When can guinea pigs leave Mom?

The girls should ideally remain alongside their mothers until they’re about 4 weeks in age. When you separate male guinea pigs from their mothers at three weeks, remember to separate them from their female siblings, as well. Just as they can get their mothers pregnant, they can do the same to their sisters.

Do guinea pigs miss their mom?

Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. If you handle a baby bird in a nest, the mother will often abandon them because she’ll sense something isn’t right (i.e. In a pet situation, the male may be in the same guinea pig cage as the female and her newborns, and there is no way for the mother to move the pups away from the father.

How long after a guinea pig gives birth can you interfere?

Twenty four hours can bring about a lot of changes after the birth of a litter of guinea pig pups. Knowing when not to interfere can be the hardest part of witnessing a birth or having a litter of young pups to care for. Pups may be born too quickly and the sow may not get the sacks (membranes) off in time.

Can you touch baby guinea pigs when they are born?

The mother guinea pig giving birth will typically clean up pups both between contractions and immediately following the end of labor. You should not touch the babies during this process. Guinea pig pups are born with their eye open and with all their fur, unlike many other rodents.

What should I do if my female guinea pig is pregnant?

Adult female guinea pigs are typically not very protective of their young. Rather than stepping in to raise the pups on your own, allow the mother to nurse her pups, even if it seems like she doesn’t care for them very much. Monitor the mother guinea pig for pregnancy complications.

Why do guinea pigs have newborns in the same cage?

There are various theories on why this occurs. In the wild, the father would unlikely be present where the newborns and mother are hiding from predators. In a pet situation, the male may be in the same guinea pig cage as the female and her newborns, and there is no way for the mother to move the pups away from the father.