Thanks Wiebke, much appreciated. Our babies are very active and eating probably 10 times their weights in hayHi
Baby weights are actually less relevant because birthing weights can vary between 40g-120g, and the differences tend to only get larger throughout life. As long as your babies are active healthy and are eating well (as much hay as possible), they will ultimately both realise their genetically determined optimum size and weight. This can vary massively individually so weight charts are not worth the paper they are printed on. Also keep in mind that piggies don't reach adulthood until 15 months of age. If you overdo the baby feeding, all you will achieve is that your babies will initially grow more quickly but will also stop growing quickly sooner once they have reached a certain percentage of their ideal adult size and switch to growing in spurts at a younger age.
It is worth reading our weight guide, as it looks at all aspects of weight, from how weight changes over a life time to feeling for the piggy BMI (it is usually called the 'heft') to see whether they are fine for what they are, life-long health monitoring, under- and overweight issues and also how to avoid falling into the treat trap. Here is the link: Weight - Monitoring and Management
very happy boys
Thanks Wiebke, much appreciated. Our babies are very active and eating probably 10 times their weights in hay
Thank you. Couldn’t agree more with the commercial companies wanting to push unnecessary products and nutraceuticals; I see it more than ever, particularly in the equine industry.Don't worry - as long as they are normally cared for and on a normal general diet, you give them every chance of having a good and long life, provided there is no unexpected illness or hiccup.
Tegan, the little surprise baby in my avatar on the left, joined the big Tribe group at 4 weeks old together with her mum and shared their normal adult diet. She died in summer 2019 at nearly 8 years of age together with her smaller childhood playmates I adopted as her company and who came from one of the worse backgrounds and Tegan's auntie Ffwlbri - they all passed away within 3 months of each other at 8 years of age. Tegan and her friends were never majorly ill.
It is the hay/grass based diet with only a modicum of pellets that wins the long term race any day. keep in mind that the actual extra amounts are truly minute when you come to guinea pigs. It is more the customer demand to have baby specials for every species than the actual need.
Thank you. Couldn’t agree more with the commercial companies wanting to push unnecessary products and nutraceuticals; I see it more than ever, particularly in the equine industry.
It’s so lovely to hear of your precious babies and the wonderful life they had. You really are an inspiration!
Ah I wish I had signed up to the magazine sooner, I’ve got my subscription now.I have told Tegan's story in Guinea Pig Magazine, issue 53 (Christmas issue 2019) with plenty of pictures. There are not many piggies that can say of themselves that they have influenced aspects of national welfare. She was quite a complex character indeed and had a much more complicated life than you would expect.
My Dryw 'Wren' resembles Tegan Syndod 'Little Beautiful Surprise' in outlook... It's going to be challenge to find her a new companion once now 7 years old Pioden 'Magpie' passes away, who used to be living with Tegan's childhood friends Hedydd 'Skylark' and Heulwen 'Sunshine'.