same litter 6 week olds

[lyndsey]

Hi i recently bought 2 baby guinea pigs about 6 weeks old but they seem to be displaying mating behavior but are from the same litter and get distressed when separated. anyone got any advice please as cant get th male castrated till 4-5 months old 
HELP Thank you. Lyndsey xx

[lyndsey]

Hi I bought 2 guinea pigs a couple of days ago from the same litter was told they were about 6 weeks old but when I have sexed them I discovered they were male and female. And they have settled in well but seem to be presenting mating behaviour. I tried to separate them but they became really stressed and stopped eating. I don't know what I can do for Gizmo and chewy to help

[starbrightstella]

If they are indeed male and female, there is a good chance that she is already pregnant. They should be separated and taken to a vet to verify their sexes and possible pregnancy.
Separation can indeed be stressful, but so can pregnancy on a very young pig. I have a pig that was pregnant when we got her at about 4 weeks of age. We didn't know that she was pregnant until a few days before she gave birth. She ended up having a boy that we separated out at 3 weeks of age. It was hard (REALLY hard) but much better than another pregnancy.
I am not nearly as experienced as everyone here. I have gotten wonderful thoughts, opinions, feedback and advice and one of the most important things I have learned is to keep boars and sows apart at ALL times. The only exception is when they have been spayed or neutered. It only takes a brief moment for a female to become pregnant.
Good luck and keep us posted!

[Bean]

I would separate them immediately too - there's a chance the female might not be pregnant yet since she's so young (as Stella found out, it is definitely possible, but often it's the males that become fertile slightly younger), and to save her a pregnancy at such a young age would be a massive kindness. Can you set the cage up so they have a divider to see, hear and smell each other through? I understand it may be stressful for them, but they will still have each other around and it's definitely for their own good.

Getting a vet to verify the sexes is a really good idea, and make sure you contact the shop to let them know they've messed up. A place in charge of selling animals need to be able to do something as basic as sexing and it's a real worry that so many mess it up.

Keep us posted and good luck - I really hope your little one isn't pregnant.

(I've just moved your other post that was in the chatterbox into here - this is the right place for your question and if we have two threads running, people will end up repeating themselves or other people!)

[lyndsey]

Thank you both for your advice I have a 2 tear hutch so I closed the hatch of to separate them but they haven't eaten since I did so and it's been 12 hours they haven't even touched there carrots (there favourite so far) I am getting worried I plan to get the male done when he is old enough so they can be reunited.

[Bean]

I'm glad you're able to separate them. Keep offering them a variety of foods to tempt them with and I'm sure they will cave in eventually - little ones can get easily put out by their environment changing, but they still have each other closeby so I'm sure they will adjust.

[lyndsey]

True I must admit I caved and put them in there play pen together under close observation just so they would eat lol then back to separate cages. X

[shades]

Jan 3, 2016 13:06:26 GMT lyndsey said:

True I must admit I caved and put them in there play pen together under close observation just so they would eat lol then back to separate cages. X

I'm no expert but I remember reading lately - probably on this forum - that it's not a good idea to put them together for a short while then separate them. The reasoning behind it was that it messes with the pigs bond(ing). I'm sure someone will be along in a second to put me straight.

[3piggles]

There is no close supervision close enough to keep them from mating. By the time you can get to them and separate them, the deed is done. You can put them in adjoining cages/play pens, so they can see, smell, talk to and even bump noses with each other, but don't put them in the same cage/hutch until you know if they are the same sex. This is the Guinealynx section of sexing pups, but it works at all ages. It just gets easier to sex them as they get older: www.guinealynx.info/sexing_pups.html

[Bean]

When I was a kid I once briefly put together an intact male guinea pig with a female - just to take a cute picture. My mum had told me not to but I knew it was going to be quick and nothing would come of it. At one point he started climbing on her but I interrupted them right away and thought nothing of it until a month or so later when it became unavoidably obvious she was pregnant...

It really is that quick so don't take any chances!

[lyndsey]

Wow that is quick and true there definitely male female I've had a few people sex them now going to take them for a check up when the vets reopen incase urs already to late. It's just there eating I'm worried about as when there apart they won't eat. They eat in the play pen but there was no mounting at all just some nose rubbing. I was to worried as I believe 12 hours for a guinea pig not yo eat is bad for them. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Bean]

I'd monitor their weight if you're genuinely worried they're not eating - once a day at the same time of day (for example in the morning before you feed them). Often new guinea pigs seemingly won't eat, but they will nibble away at hay and pellets when you're not looking (your presence can make them nervous if they're not used to you - having another pig around can make them much less so which may be why they're eating when together).

Keep offering a variety of veg (which you can soak in water if you're worried they're not drinking) and pick some fresh grass if you can as not many can refuse that! If they're producing poos and wees in the cage then they're probably consuming more than you think. I know it's worrying and I've had new pigs that have not looked like they're eating much at first but as soon as they settle in and relax with you and all your household sounds, sights and smells, they've chomped away like everyone else.

You're seeing your vet soon, so I'm sure (s)he will be able to reassure you they're in good shape, or give you advice if they do seem underweight. I'm assuming they're both active and look well (no crusty eyes, discharge from the nose or hunching/ puffing up in the corners of the cage etc?).

[lyndsey]

Thank you yeah there still well bar the not touching there food they still love attention and come to the front of the cage when i go in for a stroke and to climb on my shoulder Thank you i will monitor there weight its just a shame they have to be apart for a few month till he can get castrated and return fingers crossed the vets can put me at ease im a worrier i care for them like i would a baby lol. Thank you for all your help and support it has helped alot and i will keep yous posted

[shades]

Jan 4, 2016 11:52:02 GMT lyndsey said:

Thank you yeah there still well bar the not touching there food they still love attention and come to the front of the cage when i go in for a stroke and to climb on my shoulder Thank you i will monitor there weight its just a shame they have to be apart for a few month till he can get castrated and return fingers crossed the vets can put me at ease im a worrier i care for them like i would a baby lol. Thank you for all your help and support it has helped alot and i will keep yous posted

Castrated? That sounds a bit severe. Do you mean neutered/sterilised?

[lyndsey]

yeah thats the nicest way to put it lol its just the term the vets were using but ive got a vets that have said they only need to be 12 weeks and they have a good review so going with them x

[shades]

I hope the vet knows what they're doing :eek:

[lyndsey]

yeah i spoke to him i have a heath check + sexing for them on wednesday with him hes a guinea pig enthusiast and owns his own hes letting me take both for the price of one he sounds great. hes even going to do a free ultrasound check if its discovered they are male/ female to make sure for me

[shades]

That sounds like good service. What country do you live in?

[lyndsey]

england yeah there great it helps that i worked in a vets for a while

[3piggles]

England/UK has some of the best guinea pig vets and rodentologists. I regularly check the Cambridge Cavy Trust postings of general information ( www.britishassociationofrodentologists.co.uk/CCT.html ) It's very informative. We don't have anyone like Vedra Standley-Spatcher in the US, and I really wish we did. Guinea pigs just aren't as big as pets in the US as they are in the UK. Same for rabbits.

I think they will eat if they can see/hear/talk to each other, without being in the same cage. Having an over/under hutch makes that a bit difficult, but if it's possible, try to arrange a way for them to know the other is there. They're just bonded to each other, and don't want to be separated. That doesn't mean they can't be, but you have to get through them calling for each other, and let them know that's not going to happen. Then they will eat, because their instincts tell them to survive. Make sure each has a hidey of some sort, so they can feel safe and snug on their own.