Hi, I'm new and have a bit of a dilemma

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clanger

Hello.

Just before Christmas we bought two female guinea pigs. I browsed this forum beforehand, and still do, and have picked up lots of useful help - so thank you! Now I need a bit of specific help. We bought them from a reputable pet shop (knowledgeable, clean, generally nice) and were told they were around 8 weeks old.

All fine and dandy until yesterday when I lifted their 'house' for cuddle time, to discover - 4 tiny babies. 4 very cute tiny babies. Truthfully - 4 GORGEOUS tiny babies. We'd noticed one of the piggies was looking a bit plump, and amended diet, and she seemed slimmer. Hmmm. To cap it all, the other piggy suddenlylooks like she has swallowed a basketball, so you can guess what I'm thinking.

As a mother of two, I am somewhat embarrassed that despite many cuddles, I've never twigged they were pregnat, but that aside - help!

They all seem healthy, but we're looking at 6, maybe more piggies. Kids are delighted, but there is no way we can keep them all. Rehoming is not a problem - have good friends, and a local kiddy farm place that will take them - they will NOT be going to the pet shop!

We're hopefully going to keep 2, but it's what to do in the meantime. At the moment they're all in the one, big, cage (indoors). If the other isn't pregnant, can they all stay together until it's time to split them up? IF she does have babies, are we better getting an extra cage and having a family in each? When we do sex and split, can all the girls go into one with a spearate for the boys? And when we're hopefully down to a more manageable 4, should the 2 older ones go back together, with the 2 younger together, or all 4 together?

Sorry for all the questions, but I just want to make sure we do what will be best for them.

Did I mention the babies were cute? :)

Many thanks in advance!
 
As far as I recall when we first got them we did a check, and they both had teats.

If I'm wrong, we've not had them long enough for one to have got pregnant here.

I'm reluctant to go and disturb them just now to have another look - especially don't want to pull her around if she's as pregnant as she looks. I will try later on though.
 
They will be fine all together  - providing the 2 adults are female.  Keep a very close eye on the babies because the boys will need to be separated at 3-4 weeks.
A person I was talking to the other day brought 2 6 week old  sows from a show & they were both pregnant.  One died & the other had to have a c section the be spayed at the same time because she was far too small.  I suppose its a Guinea design fault that they can catch pregnant & impregnate at such an early age.
Just be sure that the other adult is behaving appropriately  - if you've had kids your self you'll know!

Please keep us posted.  Out of interest where are you based? I will poss be looking for a male boy to pair up with my remaining 5 day old boy as the other boys  have all been spoken for...just a thought!.   Oh yeah & just because I love baby pigs - what colour babies did your mummy pig give you?!
 
Can you get pictures up of  the other adults bits?!
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm

Take a look at this - its really good.

The best advice I found is if you gently seperate that area if a Y shape remains its a girl - if you are left with an i  shape its a boy.  If you think you have a boy the dot of the i is where he keeps his penis & if you put gentle pressure either side of this it will come out!

Just be warned that females come back into season abbout 1 hour after giving birth so if the other is a boy you prob have more baby pigs on the way  :-\

H
Ps how long have you had them?
 
Thanks for replies.

Well, have to confess I thought it was only human males who had nipples. But then I am a dunce with anything biological. :-\

I am now faily certain the other is female, and pregnant - will keep you posted. I am going to have a check later - I need to clean them out anyway. Should have done it yesterday but didn't want to traumatise them :), so it's a bit mucky in there. It should be ok to move everyone into a cosy box shouldn't it? As long as I'm gentle?

We got them 17th December, were told they were around 8 weeks, and babies were born yesterday. I need to go and take some photos - have been so restrained so as not to disturb, I can't remember all the colours - will have to go and gaze shortly :)

Assuming new litter born in next day or so, we're getting an extra cage so each family can have their space. Then will be checking sex in couple of weeks, and separating around 3 weeks. Is 3 weeks an ok time to give them to new homes? or isit a bit early? Advice I have is confliciting.

We WILL be rehoming them. We WILL be rehoming them..........

Thanks again.
 
Yet another pet shop blunder...not referring to you Clanger, but the shop itself ::)

If the other sow is indeed pregnant, she should be fine left in with the other sow and babes as long as you have a big enough pen for them?
As said boars will need to be removed at 3 weeks and housed together until they are ready to be re-homed at 8 weeks (this is the youngest and preferred age I let my baby rescue boars go.)
If you have a guinea pig rescue near to you or a general rescue that deals with guineas, someone there should be willing to "sex" the babies for you. Like most things in life it is extremely easy when you know how...sometimes problematic when you don't ;)
it is far to early to re-home at 3 weeks in my opinion, they will still be tiny babes.

If you plan to keep the mums and 2 sow babies, then yes, again, if you have a big enough pen, there should not be major problems.

Finally can I plead with you not to give them to a children's farm....These places are not pet/companion homes and the level care varies enormously, I'd never consider re-homing to one in any shape or form...but of course that is my opinion.

If you let us know where you are, someone might be able to help or point you in the right direction of a good rescue or adopt from you directly :)

Any other questions please ask, one of us will be around to help :)

Barbara
 
Thanks for the advice Barbara. I did think 3 weeks was too young myself, but was advised that if you're separating them from their mother (males) at that time, it's no extra harm to give them a completely new home. I think I'll leave it longer.

We seem to have nice new potential homes for the babies now (hopefully helped by the fact I've been cooing over our piggies to all and sundry for the past 6 weeks :) )

If they don't work out, the farm place I mentioned seems to be a semi-animal rescue place. A lot of ex-pets have ended up there, and whenever we've visited it always seems lovely. However, I will certainly keep your advice in mind, and would go for another visit before making a decision. But hopefully, as I said, we have new homes lined up.

I'm down in North Devon.

THanks again.
 
You are very welcome :)

Good luck and let us know how you get along!

Barbara
 
Well, I can most definitely say they are both female now - we've got 3 new babies, and there might be one more to come :)
 
Well, 4 now, and that seems to be it.

So looks like I've a trip out tomorrow to buy a new cage.

I'm planning on moving them all into the new cage while I clean their current one (it really needs it now, but I'm loathe to disturb the new family so son. Figuring a slightly grotty cage but no trauma is the best option...?) THen moving the 'old' family back into current cage so new lot don't have extra hassle.

Gosh I've confused myself :)

If anyone has any other advice, I'd be grateful - it's been a big help today. THank s again.
 
So you have 4 babies now? wow 200% up on yesterday!
Bet you're still in shock. Are you going to keep the other adult sow in with her still? I think it would be a good idea if you do. With my 2 today when I put them back together since they had babies there was a bit of an eyeing up from the one with the oldest babies. If I could have kept them in together that poss wouldn't have happened. But I'll keep doing it. They are possibly going into a 6ft x 18" shed run at the weekend so I need to know that they will be ok before they go. No squabbling over the heat lamp!
 
Hi Hils, nope - we've got 8! Both sows had 4 each. Shock just about covers it. :)

They all seem healthy, and one of the new ones is a white pink-eye - must be a throwback!

Jane, I think I'd go for that cage option if we were going to keep them, but from 2 to 10 is just too much. Might look at it for when the 'mums' get bigger though. The others will have nice new homes.

But hey, we'll be keeping them for several weeks, so watch this space for advice on the best way to keep 10 piggies. Soft? Moi?
 
oh my goodness from two piggies to ten so quickly. Aww bet they are cute a friend of mine had the same thing happen to her. I took one boar to go with my two sows I fell in love with him as soon eyes I saw him. Good to hear you are finding homes for them.
 
:o oh my good god :o I'm just giggling here, I know I shouldn't but this is soooo typical of pet shops & how they unknowingly add to the population of potential rescue guineas. Thank god they're with you who obviously has the sense to look into the subject. There has been several posts on here a while ago where this has happened - but I think it was a Pets at Home guinea pig who had babies. They approached P@H & said that they wanted the extra food, bedding & accommodation for all the new arrivals - & with a little persuasion they got it. Go to the place you got your girls from & put your foot down. Say you didn't want 10 Guineas that's why you brought 2. I also think that it is illegal to sell a pregnant animal. If they kick up a fuss tell them that you will contact the local council who give them their license. They most probably will offer to take the babies form you (to sell 666)) but if they do say that it was them who got a boy in with the girls in the first place & you don't want history to repeat its self. It could be that where the shop got the piggies from - the breeder - where the girls got preggers, but it is the pet shops responsibility to ensure competent 'suppliers'.
 
Goodness me, eight babies :D Very cute even though as you said if you'd wanted ten pigs you'd have bought ten (good job you didn't as you'd have god knows how many by now ;D) Sorry shouldn't laugh but it has made me giggle.

As to your problem, I agree go back to the petshop and see if you can demand cages off them. Otherwise C&C cage is the way to go (I've pm'd you with a link).

Good luck and keep us posted, can't wait to see pics!

Kathryn x
 
Thanks Kathryn & Hills. I wasn't going to go back to the pet shop today, as typically it's the one furthest away from me. I was just going to go local to get a cage. But you have given me food for thought. Even if I don't go there today, I will definitely go soon and talk to them about the points you've made.

Yes, my mini population explosion is funny from one perspective, but I get what you're saying about irresponsible breeders. I guess the good thing to come out of it is that the various friends who are now keen to have some piggies, will NOT be getting them from a petshop. And this is one lot of pigs who won't end up pregnant just yet.

I'm going to have a go at sexing, but may well end up taking them to the local vet to be absolutely certain.

Sigh.
 
Sexing is actually quite easy, Gemmah and I managed to sex 2 day old babies and got it right. Find some pics on the net, and compare, it helps if you have a mix of boys and girls.
 
Hello, well thought I'd come back with an update.

Went to see the pet shop owner. He politely pointed to his "We do not accept responsibilty if you are sold a pregnant guniea pig etc" sign, but was a bit shamefaced when I explained we had 2 happy families, and agreed to speak to the breeder. He has also lent me a cage. I'd checked with council beforehand and it's not actually illegal to sell pregnant animals unfortunately.

Well, all 8 are thriving, and are currently still all in one cage, as they are very attached to each other, and despite having 2 houses to choose from, they all sleep cuddled up in one, and i haven't had the heart to separate them yet. They get plenty of run around time though - and boy, do they run!

I have a vet appointment this week for sexing. ALthough I could do it myself, I'm happier getting it done by someone with more experience. Even the vet laughed when I explained what had happened.

So at what age is it ok to separate boys from girls? They will only be about 2 1/2 weeks when they're sexed, and I know this is too early. I've been told 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks. Want to err on the side of caution, without taking them from their mums too early.

At the moment we have homes for them all, assuming girl/boy mix works out! The little scruffy white one is so cute, I am sincerely hoping it's a girl, and we have an odd number of girls as I WANT TO KEEP HER!

Ah well.
 
Congrats on the babies!
I hate it how pet shops are so careless of putting males with females...
I got a female from a petshop a month ago and she is pregnant... was kept with two males...
Good luck with the baby piggies!
Cya
 
Congratulations on the new additions to the family.

I seperate my boars from their mum & sisters when they're 4 weeks old. This is the age when they can mate with mum/sisters and are weaned and fully independant of their mum.

Just a note, the best looking ones usually turn out to be boars ;D (in mongrel piggies anyway)

Kat
 
H Clanger I'm glad everything is going ok. I had to seperate my boys the other day a the young age of 2 weeks & a day because one of them had started to rumble around then he mounted his sister :o filth I tell you!
I was a tad gutted to seperate them at this age but they apparantly can impregnate their mum or sisters. I would say keep a very close eye on them & if they start to rumble around full of it seperate them! If they don't take them out at 3 weeks. I've only this experience to go on - others have said that theirs started young too!
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=5166.0
Good luck
 
OK, so we've got 6 boys and 2 girls. No sign of rampant activity ( :)) just yet, so they're back in together for a little while - will be watching them carefully though.

Fortunately the 2 girls are easily identifiable, so no problem to sort them.


Sigh, little scruffy white one is a boy, so we can't keep him. Am making sure he's going to a friend round the corner so I can go a cuddle whenever :)

Thanks for all your advice!
 
I'm curious - do you think you could contact the shop and inform them that the staff member who sexed your piggies is NOT able to sex pigs correctly.....soemthing needs to be said - you ( LUCKILY :D ) seem to be a lovely piggy mummy and caring but goodness knows how many accidents happen have / will happen again form this store - with uncaring or unprepared new families...babies are not always as looked after as yours :-\

Please let us know if you say somehting...

happy mothering ! :D
 
clanger said:
Hello, well thought I'd come back with an update.

Went to see the pet shop owner. He politely pointed to his "We do not accept responsibilty if you are sold a pregnant guniea pig etc" sign, but was a bit shamefaced when I explained we had 2 happy families, and agreed to speak to the breeder. He has also lent me a cage. I'd checked with council beforehand and it's not actually illegal to sell pregnant animals unfortunately.

Well, all 8 are thriving, and are currently still all in one cage, as they are very attached to each other, and despite having 2 houses to choose from, they all sleep cuddled up in one, and i haven't had the heart to separate them yet. They get plenty of run around time though - and boy, do they run!

I have a vet appointment this week for sexing. ALthough I could do it myself, I'm happier getting it done by someone with more experience. Even the vet laughed when I explained what had happened.

So at what age is it ok to separate boys from girls? They will only be about 2 1/2 weeks when they're sexed, and I know this is too early. I've been told 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks. Want to err on the side of caution, without taking them from their mums too early.

At the moment we have homes for them all, assuming girl/boy mix works out! The little scruffy white one is so cute, I am sincerely hoping it's a girl, and we have an odd number of girls as I WANT TO KEEP HER!

Ah well.
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hi i had a simlier problem to you i allready had 2 girl guinea pigs which i got them a breeder a year ago than a few months ago my 2 rabbits died so i decide to get 2 more girl guinea pigs well one of them illy has had 4 babies now we think that she may of got pregant at the pet shop as we are 95% sure the other in with her is a girl as my mum has pressed and pressed and there is no taol coming out so yestday we put her back in with lilly and her babies (as molly was so upset bing on her own) anyways my mum phoned the breeder up where we got the first 2 from and she told my mum wha t to do etc where there come and to take them upto to her when there 5 week old to get sexed there are 10 days old today

and this breeder has been doing it about 20 years and allways sexes them at 5 weeks and has never had any problems so i would keep them toghter till 5 weeks as thats what I'm doing and at 5 weeks i will take lilly and her babies and molly to see who are girls and who are boys
 
Hannah_lg said:
and this breeder has been doing it about 20 years and allways sexes them at 5 weeks and has never had any problems so i would keep them toghter till 5 weeks as thats what I'm doing and at 5 weeks i will take lilly and her babies and molly to see who are girls and who are boys
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Breeders are often the ones who mis-sex and give people dreadful advice regardless of how long they've been keeping guinea pigs. Male cavies can reproduce from 3 weeks (though not all do) so 5 weeks could be far too late and result in inbreeding.
 
Hi Kerry - I did speak to the pet shop manager, and he agreed he would have a talk with the breeder they get their pigs from to ensure they're a bit more careful with the sexing.

I've got to go back in a few weeks to take the borrowed cage back, so I will remind him!
 
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