BREEDING and PREGNANCY
I am happy to say that my Guinea Pig Nikki has fallen pregnant with my cheeky boar, Magus. At this moment she is expected to give birth between March 3rd and March 14 2004. The gestation period is roughly around 60 - 70 days. This is quiet a long time for rodents, but since guinea pigs are born with fur and developed eyes the extended period is understandable. We have been watching her babies grow in size, guessing to be 2 or 3 pups inside her. Luckily we know her babies will go to a GOOD home, to my friend who recently lost her piggie in the storms. (Adam has gone to Piggie Heaven, we will all miss you!)
These are the pictures of Nikki 2 weeks before the Birth:
Nikki gave birth to 5 healthy babies on the 17 March 2004. Strangely enough the labour was the middle of the day, which is uncommon time for a GP to give birth, they usually give birth when their most active, at dawn or at dusk. The Grandmother and the Great Grandmother adore the babies, purring at the site of them. Both help out with the birth and stimulating the genitals to poo. Unfortunately Luna (Nikki's sister) is Very Jealous of her sisters siblings and sprays urine on them. She was removed as a danger the day later.
These are the 5 little miracles:
After a couple of days Luna has finally grew a liking to the babies, especially the little cream and white one (looking most like herself). Since the birth they have doubled in size. Her pups, like all young ones are independent, eating solids 30mins to 1 hour after being born, they still rely on the mother for milk and on cold nights, warmth.
At 2-3 weeks they are even less dependant on mum, and begin to explore our garden by themselves (our yard has been set up for safety) They will follow the mother around in a single file, travelling to place to place with the other girls at the end of the line.
At 3 weeks the female babies are sexually mature and can become pregnant, at 4 weeks the males will become sexually mature, you will be able to tell by ddddddddddddrrrrrrr sounds through out the hutch and males mounting on the female guinea pigs, this is the time where they must be separated to prevent pregnancy. By looking at trading posts and newspapers, people give there guinea pigs away at 5 - 6 weeks, which is a wise time, as the mother can actually can become pregnant again few hours after birth.
Sexing a Guinea Pig
Personally I check the sex of the babies after 1 week, as by then they may have developed, still check every week because sometimes you think you know the sex, but your always in for surprises, girls become boys and boys become girls, as genitals develop you may think it's a female, then later the penis become more developed, and your surprised its a boy.
To check your guinea pigs sex, lift them up, as if your clipping there nails so you have a clear view of the genital area. The piggy may struggle as its very distressing to them, press your thumb gently at the top of its genitals, you will see a pink dot, this is where the penis will come out from, with a small amount of pressure the penis should come out, if the dot is a closed piece of tissue, it is a female, if its a male either a penis come out or the tissue will be able to move, unlike a female.
Thank you for the pictures, I cannot remember where I took them from, so long ago.