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Breeding Guinea Pigs
There may be numerous reasons why you want to breed guinea pigs. One thing is certain, however. You should not breed guinea pigs in the hopes of getting rich for it. The truth is that there is very little money in breeding guinea pigs, and finding good homes for guinea pigs isn’t always easy.
However, if you have a very good reason for breeding guinea pigs, here are some guidelines to help you out.
Obviously, you need a male, known as a boar, and a female, known as a sow. A sow needs to be at least six months of age, and the boar needs to be at least four months old. It is possible for both sexes to mate before they reach this age, but it isn’t advised, because it has an affect on the health of the litter.
The male and female also need the opportunity to get to know each other properly. You need to put them in the same pen, preferably alone, for at least a month. Do not separate them until you are sure that the female is pregnant.
Don’t expect to see them breeding. You will actually have no way of knowing if mating has occurred. The trick is to watch the female closely. Typically, a pregnant female will begin eating and drinking more than usual. Of course, her stomach will start to get larger as well.
It takes up to 72 days for your sow to give birth, but the gestation period can be as short as 60 days. Actually, the bigger the litter is, the shorter the pregnancy will be. It is important to separate the male and female as soon as you know that the female is pregnant.
Usually, when the sow goes into labor, she will be completely through with the delivery within an hour. In most cases, she will not require your help, and she will eat the afterbirth, so the mess will even be all cleaned up for you. Litters can be as big as four, and as small as one. If there are more than two in the litter, however, you need to make sure that all of the babies are eating, as a sow only has two teats.
It is important that you not put the female back in the same pen with any males, besides males in her litter. She can become pregnant again within hours of giving birth. After the female has given birth, it is important to maintain a calm and quiet environment. If she becomes nervous or upset, she could trample her babies.
Guinea Pigs As Pets
Next Article: Selecting a Guinea Pig
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