We just had unexpected babies!

[sabee]

For Christmas one of our 2 female guinea pigs had a litter of 2 piggies. We think our children took them visiting with a neighbour's pig (unknown to me!) to play (the neighbour's pig is a boar). Now we have four pigs and other than making sure of the sex of our new arrivals by 3 weeks I don't know what extra care they require. Any suggestions?

[thamlet2149]

Hi,

As far as the little piggies, there is nothing you need to do other than make sure the cage is always clean, there is always fresh water, and plenty of food (which you should be doing with out babies in the pen anyways). If you don't know how to sex the babies, all should be removed between 3 1/2 weeks but no later than 4 weeks, and taken to a breeder in your area to sex. I only say breeder as I have found lots of rescues as well as pet stores rely on the sex they were told when they received them, but don't know for sure how to sex them. Once sexed the sows and the boars need to be seperated. On a boar if you press at the top of the pee area, north of the anis, a penis will protuded. Males and females look very similiar at first glance.

And I have a question for you, are you 100% positive that you have two sows?? If you are not, you most likely have a pregnant sow again. Since most guinea pigs left with the boar breed back with in 24 hrs. You will most likely know in 6 weeks, as she will be blotted looking and you should be able to feel the babies moving, and 10 weeks after the first birth you will have more babies.

Here is a great page that shows you how to do it and gives alittle bit about the babies. http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm

Anymore questions please feel free to email me, thamlet2149@aol.com

[Foggycreek]

Thamlet, I don't know which rescues you have been dealing with, but most rescues that I know of are very efficient in being able to sex guinea pigs, including the babies.

Were you aware that this is a rescue oriented board? Are you still breeding?

You mention in another post that you rescue--can you tell me the name and location of your rescue?

[thamlet2149]

Yes I sure can, the rescue I help with is called FATE from the heart located in Beaverton Oregon, http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm. I just received 3 beautiful piggies the day before yesterday and have already placed two in amazing homes. I also run a private rescue in Albany Oregon where I am located, yesterday as well I rescued two handicapped piggie sisters, and Abby Satin boar, and two Dal boars. The Dal boars where placed together on my way home, and the two Handicapped sows will be placed on the 2nd. Any more questions??

[Cavylove]

I agree with Foggycreek. Many of us in rescue are better able to sex than most people.

I also quarantine every single animal who comes in here for 21 days.

And I separate babies at 21 days - no more and no less.

[thamlet2149]

I am glad to hear there are Rescues out there who can, it just has not been my experiece with the rescues I coordinate here with. In fact I just picked up a couple piggies the day before yesterday from a rescue that was over loaded and needed a hand. She brought me what was suppose to be three boars (all housed together for more than three weeks), and two of them were females. So guess what I am now on pregnancy watch before I can find them a home. This has actually happened to me twice this last week, not to count many times before. I thought the name of the game was to prevent unwanted pregnancies. And besides a suggestion is just a suggestion of course there will be rescues out there who can sex a guinea pig (thank god), and there is also rescues out there who obviously can't. Taking them to a rescue is just not a sure thing to get them sexed here in OREGON, might I suggest driving to Washington.

Please if you would list your location in this post so if there is anyone in your neck of the woods wondering, they will know where to go to get this important question answered.

[Josephine]

thamlet2149, I know you're new here, but the locations of most members are visible underneath their screen names. The nice thing that Teresa has set up here is the locator-thingy that calculates distance, so people don't even have to do math to find close rescues and find out how close in miles they actually are from a rescue.

That said, the other members here who have commented have been reputable rescuers for some time and active in the community. I would heed their comments. They know what they're talking about.

I also understand coming from a breeder's standpoint and having the experiences with not-so-savvy rescues why you said what you said, but it is truly not true with the reputable rescues. And they are out there. Thankfully, I am also one of those who can sex a pup before it's dry. It isn't difficult, per se, but it does require a bit of knowledge and practice.

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

It's hard for some people to sex pigs. I wouldn't lump everyone together. There is a handy sexing guide at Index of / . You can probably figure it out yourself. If you're unsure, separate them all at 3 weeks.

[sabee]

Thankyou everyone for your input. We've had our two female guineas for about 6 months before these babies so I'm pretty sure they are both girls. My two children have been told UNDER NO CURCUMSTANCES are they allowed to have the guineas mix with the neighbours boar. I'm just hugely relieved that the mum didn't have any complications and they babies seem to be fine. They are now a week old and I was going to take them to the local vet in another 14 days (I don't know a local breeder - I'm in South Australia). We've also increased their cage size and they were so thrilled with the increased space they went a little nuts, it was fun to hear their squeaks.

[yourWHEEKismycommand]

thamlet and others, just for the record, FATE is not actually a guinea pig rescue, as they take GPs and other small animals if they have space avail. FATE is mostly a cat rescue, I think. so probably not typical of other GP rescuers. BTW just got a very sweet baby girl GP from fate a few weeks ago.