Although complications can occur when breeding guinea pigs, in general cavies usually have no problems in giving birth.
Age of Guinea Pigs When Breeding
Male guinea pigs, known as boars can breed from 4 weeks old, however it is best to wait until they are a minimum of 6 months old so that they are fully developed.
Female guinea pigs, known as sows can breed from only one month old, but breeding this early would be very distressing for the mother. Ideally she should be a minimum of 6 months old before breeding, but she must be under 10 months old. If she has her first litter after this age, it can cause severe birthing problems such as deformed baby cavies, or in the death of the mother or / and baby cavies.
Breeding and Pregnancy
Sows come into season roughly every sixteen days, and her season will last between 24 and 48 hours. If she is in season, then she may try to mount other female guinea pigs, and when being stroked she will flatten herself on the bottom of her cage / hutch and make a humming noise.
Once guinea pigs have mated the boar will insert a wax plug inside the female to stop the sperm from coming out. After 2-3 days this will come out or dissolve. If the sow is pregnant she will eat and drink more, will put on weight, and when she is more heavily pregnant it will be possible to see and feel the babies moving.
Guinea pigs are pregnant for approximately 70 days, and eat and drink their usual diet except in increased quantities. They should be given extra vitamin C. They usually give birth during the night.
Unfortunately complications can occur. Do not breed dalmation guinea pigs with dalmation guinea pigs, or roan guinea pigs to roan guinea pigs, as both of these couplings usually result in deformities or fatalities.
Baby Cavies
Usually a first litter is 1-2 babies, however a sow can have up to 6 babies. Baby cavies are born with hair and teeth, and are completely fully formed (although very small) cavies. They run around within an hour or two of being born. They feed on their mother’s milk and also eat normal guinea pig food too within the first day of being born.
Baby cavies can be picked up after the first 24 hours. This is recommended as it gets the cavies used to being handled. When the baby cavies are roughly 4 weeks old they should be separated into boars and sows, as they will no longer need the mother cavies’ milk.
Babies should be rehomed at the earliest at 6 weeks old, and the new owners should know how to care for guinea pigs.
Although it can be a wonderful thing seeing baby cavies coming into the world, please consider whether they have good, responsible homes.
Readers may also enjoy reading Keeping and Caring for Gerbils and Breeding Rabbits.
Angie Briscoe - I am a 36 year old writer, recently graduated from the Open University in Humanities with Philosophy. I have been writing for ...
