Table of Contents
How long after birth can guinea pigs mate?
The period during which the female is receptive to the male and will allow breeding lasts about 8 hours. Female guinea pigs can come back into heat 15 hours after giving birth. This is called a “postpartum oestrus,” which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time!
Do you have to separate guinea pigs when they have babies?
[Another concern is that the male might get the mother pregnant again immediately, which is dangerous for the mother guinea pig. — Eds.] To play it safe for everyone’s health, it is best to separate out the father from the mother as soon as you know she is pregnant.
When can I put my guinea pigs in the same cage?
When you bring home a new friend for an existing guinea pig, or get guinea pigs from two different sources, keep them in separate rooms with separate cages for 2-3 weeks before trying to put them together.
Can guinea pigs breed with siblings?
It’s important to split male and female guinea pigs up by the time they’re 4 weeks old. If you don’t, mating is just a matter of time. Not only can male siblings mate with their siblings, the males can even do so with their mothers. Aggressive behavior is a possibility in male cavies.
Can I put a baby guinea pig with an old one?
The combination of old and young guinea pigs usually works fine. The older GPs are unlikely to view the youngsters as a threat, so old/young pairs should be a okay. Keep a close eye on them, though, over the first few hours, to make sure they’re getting on.
How long does it take a guinea pig to get pregnant?
A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. They begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 73 days. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.
When do guinea pigs have their first litter?
Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.
When to separate mother guinea pig from her pups?
Part 4 Caring for the Mother Guinea Pig’s Pups. Male pups should be separated from the mother and female pups at three weeks of age (right after nursing). The female pups can stay with the mother until four weeks age, then be moved to their own cage.
How old do guinea pigs have to be to mate?
Male guinea pigs (boars) mature sexually and can mate as young as 3 months of age. Female guinea pigs (sows) mature sexually as young as 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring.