Table of Contents
Do guinea pigs dads eat their babies?
It’s highly uncommon for guinea pig fathers to eat their newborn babies. While it’s important to keep male guinea pigs away from new mothers, cannibalization of their offspring isn’t a big source of concern.
Do guinea pig moms eat their babies?
Yes, guinea pigs eat their baby guinea pigs. However, guinea pigs eating babies is uncommon behavior. Guinea pigs eat their babies mostly by accident. When the mother guinea pig eats the babies, she does so because she is excessively hungry.
How many babies does a mother guinea pig have?
A guinea pig’s pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. Interesting fact – The largest numbers of pups a sow has given birth to was 14!
Is it OK to touch newborn guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs enjoy being handled – but not in all circumstances. If you have a pregnant guinea pig, it’s best not to handle them unnecessarily during the month before they give birth. Baby guinea pigs should not be held at all for at least one week after birth, and must always be handled very gently.
How many babies can a female guinea pig have at once?
Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.
What do guinea pigs look like when they are born?
Guinea pig babies are born looking like mini versions of their mama. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born.
What is a guinea pig baby called?
Guinea pig babies are actually called pups Female cavies are called sows and males are called boars The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly
How old do guinea pigs have to be to breed?
Breeding and Reproduction of Guinea Pigs. Male guinea pigs (boars) mature sexually and can mate as young as 3 months of age. Female guinea pigs (sows) mature sexually as young as 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring.