Baby boy troubles

  • Thread starter Thread starter shelliee23
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

shelliee23

My guinea pig gave birth to two boys 2weeks and 2 days ago and they have just started to try and climb on top of her from behind.Basically it looks like their trying to mate with her. I've read that they should be separated from their mother around the 3 weeks stage but they can start producing sperm from 2-3weeks on.I really don't want her getting pregnant again(didn't know she was about 3 weeks pregnant when i got her at nine weeks old but both mother and babies are prefectly strong,healthy and very happy) especially with her own off-spring because i know it can be dangerous.

I really need some advice on this, i want all of them to be safe and happy!
 
This is only my experience:

We got two female guinea-pigs from a friend, because one of them had given birth to three boars, which she kept.

We told her to separate at 3-weeks, but the RSPCA worker (whom she was going to get the pigs rehomed through), told her not to separate them until 6-weeks because they would be too small (physical size-wise) to mate with the females and they needed to be with their mum for as long as possible. The females are nearly adult in size. However, she separated them at 4.5-weeks and neither of them turned out to be pregnant, even though they were rumbling. At the time, we thought 4.5-weeks was way too late and I am surprised that neither turned out to be pregnant.

Guinea Lynx recommends 3-weeks because the earliest they've heard of a boar getting a female pregnant is at 24-days.

I would separate at 3-weeks, simply because I think they do need to be with mum for this long until they're weaned, but I don't have experience in this area. Could you separate them with wire mesh, so that they can see/smell/hear mum, but can't get to her?
 
Mummy is coming into season right now (15-17 day safter giving birth which expleains the interest), but they are probably a bit too young for it still.

It is usually recommended that boy are separated from mummy and sisters at three weeks mainly to make sure that the boys don't mate with their sisters when they start coming into season from 4 weeks onwards.

However, I would recommend that you do not wait for too long afterwards, as with each season of their mother the chances of another pregnancy are mounting.
 
I have separated at 19 days, they were two strong healthy boys, and very keen to mate with their siblings. The boys were fine. They had been eating dry food and veg from 1 day old, so no concerns about growth. If you separate the two boys now, they will have each other for company. I always feel sorry, if it is just one boy who has to be separated on his own, but there is usually a big boy around for him to pal up with. xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top