lyndsey
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need advice please
Posts: 66
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Post by lyndsey on Feb 9, 2016 23:56:55 GMT
Hi quick question do guinea pigs make a kind of nest like rabbits do for if there expecting or could this just be a comfort thing as I saw a kind of nest in the hay tonight and not sure what to think as she didn't have any signs of pregnancy.
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 10, 2016 14:33:39 GMT
This is our section on pregnancy: wheekers.proboards.com/thread/7303/pregnancy-birthI've never had a pregnant sow, so not at all sure what behavioral changes there may be. I do know some pigs, male and female, make nests because nests are comfortable. In the wild, guinea pigs wouldn't have pigloos or cardboard box houses, so they would find ways to make themselves comfortable, perhaps give them some camouflage or have some food handy so they don't have to work too hard when it's hot. I really don't know for sure.
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lyndsey
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need advice please
Posts: 66
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Post by lyndsey on Feb 10, 2016 23:30:50 GMT
Thank you they have a quiet bed compartment that I'd hidden away and always has hay in for them as they love it there and the food and water are realy close. There indoors so I try to keep the room at a regular ish temperature for them. I will keep am eye on them as I can't see any of the signs of pregnancy was just wondered lol x
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 11, 2016 0:03:06 GMT
Hi quick question do guinea pigs make a kind of nest like rabbits do for if there expecting or could this just be a comfort thing as I saw a kind of nest in the hay tonight and not sure what to think as she didn't have any signs of pregnancy. I wonder if it could be a comfort thing, myself- one of my male guinea pigs will sometimes make himself comfy on a bed of hay that he hasn't eaten yet. I imagine that would be quite convenient; just lie down and nap, and you don't even have to get up to eat!
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 11, 2016 13:46:54 GMT
I've always had private, secure places for them to sleep, but most of my pigs, once they got secure in their surroundings, flopped down out in the open, and went to sleep there, or found a place where they had a good view of the room, and hung out and slept there. When I had a hay box the pigs could walk in, they often slept in there, too. It was soft, and for them, a natural place to sleep.
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lyndsey
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need advice please
Posts: 66
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Post by lyndsey on Apr 13, 2016 8:32:59 GMT
Quick update all I'm stressing like crazy. Gizmo is getting castrated today and I took chewy in for a scan as the managed to sneak onto eachother cages and she is pregnant with at least 2 and the vet can see there spinal cord. There heartbeat is nice and strong.
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 13, 2016 18:47:56 GMT
All digits crossed for her babies to be healthy How old is Gizmo? I'm asking because they can all stay together in one cage, if he's enough older than any sons he might have created, to not be going through puberty at the same time. He would have to be at least 8-10 months old, or he and his son(s) could compete for territory. Also, any sons have to be separated from their mom and sisters by 3 weeks old, so there's no chance of them getting their mom and sisters pregnant. If you have one baby boar to separate from the others, put him in a cage with his dad, until he's old enough to be neutered. Then they can both join the sows without any problems. Pregnancy is just as difficult on sows as it is on human women. Every precaution has to be made to keep any intact boars away from the sows, until you can get the boars neutered. Good luck with the neutering and the babies
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 13, 2016 19:58:51 GMT
Oh baby piggies, that is lovely hun. Good luck from me too.
Hugs JO xx
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lyndsey
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need advice please
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Post by lyndsey on Apr 27, 2016 20:17:44 GMT
Hi thank you both. He's been neutered and I've separated them so there's no more risk of pregnancy. I'm keeping a close eye on her she is doing well thanks there both about 6 months old so I will be gradually introducing and baby boars to there father till there old enough to sell thank you x
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 28, 2016 13:30:22 GMT
The boys are well into puberty, so it's possible they will fight. Being with their father might help, as he will help control them.
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lyndsey
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need advice please
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Post by lyndsey on May 22, 2016 15:17:37 GMT
Hi chewy has gave birth to 3 baby pigs. Though she seems to be a bit confused she is fine 2of the babies are doing great though I'm worried about the runt as she hadn't taken the sack of so I had to do it. It's breathing ok now but seems very weak and she doesn't seem very interested. Giving her an hour to see if she will bond but I'm worried that she is going to reject it. Anyone got any advice on what to do Or how to hand raise the baby if I need to.
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Post by Bean on May 23, 2016 9:22:08 GMT
I'm sorry one of the babies isn't responsive and hope mum has attended to it by now. We don't have a medical forum here, and not many of our members have any experience in this area, so I would strongly suggest you post at Guinea Lynx where there are many active and experienced members who will be able to advise you on when and how to help with keeping the baby warm and feeding it if intervention is needed. Good luck and keep us posted - hope mum and the other two babies are well.
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Post by 3piggles on May 23, 2016 14:28:15 GMT
I'm also sorry about the runt Excellent about the other two, though. I agree with Bean about posting in the forum section on Guinealynx. I found this online, and of all the options, it gets to the point most quickly: animals.mom.me/handraise-baby-guinea-pigs-6520.html Basically, use pellets or something like Critical Care, with one of moms poos blended in, to make a slurry the baby can eat. You'll need a feeding syringe, so which is hard to get in the US because of the drug problems(no needle included, so not at all sure why that would be the case). If you can't find a small enough feeding syringe in the small/furry aisle, try the kitten aisle. Runts can make the best pets, so I really hope he or she makes it
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Post by wyvernsmile on May 23, 2016 19:49:21 GMT
I hope the little one is doing ok today and you found a way to help it out! I agree, runts do make great pets. My little Charcoal is clearly a runt and he sure is a great little guy.
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lyndsey
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need advice please
Posts: 66
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Post by lyndsey on May 24, 2016 9:12:33 GMT
Hey all if I new how I'd share a picture. All 3 babies are doing great now thank you the other 2 little ones stayed with the runt and I liked them all out of her bed compartment as she was just hiding in there away from them so then she finally went to see to them just as I was loosing hope. She's turning out to be a great and protective mam 2 of the babies weigh 84 grams the runt weighs 79. Thank you all so much. X
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Post by 3piggles on May 24, 2016 12:53:51 GMT
I don't know if you've ever had a baby, but it takes just about everything out of the mothers system. New moms need time for their bodies to get back a useful condition. It may just be that she was totally depleted, and needed to rest. I'm glad she's caring for them, and the runt is doing well
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lyndsey
Tin Member
need advice please
Posts: 66
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Post by lyndsey on May 24, 2016 18:18:46 GMT
Thank you yeah she was eating her food so I thought I'd put some near the babies so she would investigate as she's a first time mom and young herself but she ignored that food. Just glad she has bonded with them. I have 2 males and a female baby it appears. So il start introducing them to there father in a week or so. Ready for separating. Is that a good idea?
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Post by Bean on May 25, 2016 9:44:46 GMT
Glad that the baby is okay and mum is looking after them all, that's great news. Separation of the sexes is usually advised at 3 weeks. Until then I'd just leave all the babies in peace with mum and let her look after them properly. It will confuse the adult male to have babies popped in with him and removed repeatedly, and could really damage the introduction process if he has a negative reaction to them. I'd take care with the introductions if you're hoping to have three males living together - make sure you have plenty of space for them (a standard shop bought cage won't be big enough) and can observe them closely. This is a good link for information about introductions. www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm#Introductions Pigs tend to get pretty excited when they're introduced and although the boys are babies now, they will soon be hormonal teenagers, so a good start might make all the difference.
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Post by 3piggles on May 25, 2016 14:43:35 GMT
Bean is right. A successful intro of the baby boars to their dad may go great now, but once they reach puberty (2-3 months old), the brothers may not get along. It's also possible that dad will intervene and make puberty go a bit more smoothly. I've never had a dad and baby brothers, so no first hand experience on that. Pigs can be really weird about their food. Mine won't eat the pellets they spill, if they tip the pellet bowl. I bought a pretty much untippable pellet bowl, and it saved me a lot of money in wasted pellets. So putting the pellets near her doesn't mean she wasn't hungry. It could just mean she didn't like them served that way
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Post by bazookagoof on May 26, 2016 2:26:13 GMT
Pigs can be really weird about their food. Mine won't eat the pellets they spill, if they tip the pellet bowl. I bought a pretty much untippable pellet bowl, and it saved me a lot of money in wasted pellets. So putting the pellets near her doesn't mean she wasn't hungry. It could just mean she didn't like them served that way Theodore's bowl is just right for him; he'll eat without tipping it. He does tip it on occasion, but that's rare. Oscar's bowl is a hand-made ceramic creation my daughter made that is just a little too deep for him, so he tends to tip it over to eat. I keep wondering if I should get him a proper bowl, but he also uses it to stand up and look around, so he's used to it. (You've all seen his dramatic pose- notice he's perched on his bowl when he does that!)
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