Loads of Love

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EbonyRaven

Junior Guinea Pig
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... And trouble.

Oh boy, am I in trouble.

First off, let me tell you a small backstory of these guys before I explain why I'm in desperate need of some help.

My mother (And siblings) live two states away from me. I visit during the summer, and every time I'm there I seem to bring a new pet home with me.
This time, it was Guineapigs.

I love animals- I grew up on a farm, and recently moved to a city where you can't exactly have Horses in your back yard- so any pet really is a welcome relief.

When I signed up for this, I figured I'd have two guineapigs- One was Squiggles, the other was Cupcake. Well, turns out my youngest sister wanted to play, and placed the two in the same cage together for whatever reason. . .

On fathers day- (while I was there) Cupcake had three beautiful babies.

We were all shocked, and we promptly removed Squiggles from the cage. However, as soon as we did he stopped eating. He stopped drinking- he was depressed.

I figured that we'd have a 'safe week' or two where the two couldn't breed so close from the birth- and that we could put the two together until I could get back home.

As you know, that's not the case. Cupcake is now pregnant again(Joy) and I plan on keeping all the babies. I know it's my fault and I plan on taking the FULL responsibility for this. She is due within this month, and I need a new cage to accommodate all three girls, plus the new babies (however many that will be! )

I was thinking this one : [ame]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NJ0DQ8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER[/ame] It's eight square feet of 'play room'

However- I found this one which is amazing as well: [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-First-Deluxe-Multi-Level/dp/B000CMHWZC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top[/ame]

They love to tunnel, they love to climb. If I didn't know better, i'd think they were ferrets, haha!

I want them to be as safe, as comfy, as happy as possible and the cages I have now were originally designed for hamsters I use to have.

If you have another suggestion PLEASE tell me!

I've had the typical plastic bottom one level cage and they don't like it...
 
The midwest one would be the best option for you; the second cage looks like a rat/chinchilla cage to me. Guinea pigs need floor-space more than things to climb on and with the midwest you can join two together if needs be.

I love the midwest ones; I just wish we could get them here! :D

I hope all goes well with your pregnant piggy! :)
 
Have you seen C&C cages?
http://www.guineapigcages.com/

The Midwest cage is good, but you might need to expand. 8 sq.ft is a bit tight for 3 pigs.

The other one is not safe at all because pigs could fall from the ramp and the shelves on the top.
 
I have seen CC cages- and I love the idea... But, the babies can slip through the gaps! haha. I have CC Cubes from a trial thing with my rabbit, she didn't like it. So, I figured I'd try it with the guineas. When they get old enough I shall definiatly place them in one, but for now I need to settle with the Midwest . Thank you, though! 8D
 
Hi and welcome!

I think that you will need a lot more space if you want to keep so many piggies; they will grow quite quickly and youngsters can be so boisterous! At least, you should be able to put any boar babies with their dad. You may have to block the grids with some mesh, though, if you have babies until they are too big to get stuck.

Please make sure that mum is getting double the vitamin C (two slices of bell pepper or some broccoli or cilantro/coriander daily) as well as calcium rich alfalfa hay until the end of the pregnancy. After a back-to-back pregnancy, she will need some extra tlc and rest at the end of the nursing period. Please don't feed her extra, as you do not want to cause problems at birth due to oversize babies, especially if it is only one big one.

Especially if she gets aggressive towards her birth, separate her from her girls, so she can concentrate on her new babies.

Make sure that you separate any baby boars at three weeks old. The earliest documented sibling pregnancy is 24 days. A son won't also hesitate to mount mummy.

Here is more about pregnancy, labor and aftercare:
http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, also see links labor and faq
http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/pregnancy.htm

Please take her to the vet if she is suddenly off food, fluffed and apathetic, or salivating. Pregnancy toxaemia can happen in the two weeks before and after birth; it is more frequent in hot weather. If promptly treated it is easily curable. Also see the vet asap if mummy is straining for more than 20 minutes or if she is bleeding more than a teaspoon full in the day after giving birth or if you notice a continuous trickle of fresh blood.
Make sure that you have a vet's numeber as well as an emergency number ready; you do not want to fumble with that when you are in a panic!

Best of luck!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

I think that you will need a lot more space if you want to keep so many piggies; they will grow quite quickly and youngsters can be so boisterous! At least, you should be able to put any boar babies with their dad. You may have to block the grids with some mesh, though, if you have babies until they are too big to get stuck.

Please make sure that mum is getting double the vitamin C (two slices of bell pepper or some broccoli or cilantro/coriander daily) as well as calcium rich alfalfa hay until the end of the pregnancy. After a back-to-back pregnancy, she will need some extra tlc and rest at the end of the nursing period. Please don't feed her extra, as you do not want to cause problems at birth due to oversize babies, especially if it is only one big one.

Especially if she gets aggressive towards her birth, separate her from her girls, so she can concentrate on her new babies.

Make sure that you separate any baby boars at three weeks old. The earliest documented sibling pregnancy is 24 days. A son won't also hesitate to mount mummy.

Here is more about pregnancy, labor and aftercare:
http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, also see links labor and faq
http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/pregnancy.htm

Please take her to the vet if she is suddenly off food, fluffed and apathetic, or salivating. Pregnancy toxaemia can happen in the two weeks before and after birth; it is more frequent in hot weather. If promptly treated it is easily curable. Also see the vet asap if mummy is straining for more than 20 minutes or if she is bleeding more than a teaspoon full in the day after giving birth or if you notice a continuous trickle of fresh blood.
Make sure that you have a vet's numeber as well as an emergency number ready; you do not want to fumble with that when you are in a panic!

Best of luck!
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for all this- it really helped a LOT. I knew some brief things about Vit. C but otherwise I'm clueless, I've only had a couple piggys in the past, and I never really gave them that much attention (I figured they just needed TLC and loads of food, not a balanced diet and what not like I know now, haha. )

I'm trying my best to keep everyone happy and safe- so the more information the better. Thank you again!
 
Sorry but that cage is too small for my liking - looks very nice but there just doesn't seem to be enough space :(
I have 12 piggies living in three groups of two and a herd of six girls - the boys have the lower level, 2x2 6ft, the girls have 7ft with a 3ft upper storey and our married pair have 6ft with a 2ft upper storey. I'm still not happy :x
OH is now out buying plywood to extend it widthways as when all of their paranphanalia is insitu, takes up running room for them.
 
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