Week 5 update!

[newpiggiemommy]

We weighed the piggies again last night and they are getting so big!

Marshmallow is now 14.2 ounces! Cocoa (our boy) is 15.3 ounces! And, Cookie (our big eater) is 15.5 ounces. I can't believe they are almost a pound already!!! 5 1/2 weeks old, by 6 weeks old they will probably hit 1 pound! That really amazes me!

[carolp]

I'm a new guinea pig owner, two males aged about ten weeks but they are so nervous of me and very slippery when I try to catch them to hold, how long does it take for them to get used to new surroundings and hutch? Also when I hold them they don't make any sound but I can feel them vibrating what does that mean? any help would be gratefully received

[newpiggiemommy]

Carolp wrote, "I'm a new guinea pig owner, two males aged about ten weeks but they are so nervous of me and very slippery when I try to catch them to hold, how long does it take for them to get used to new surroundings and hutch? Also when I hold them they don't make any sound but I can feel them vibrating what does that mean? any help would be gratefully received"

How long have you had your boys?

What kind of cage do you have?

Are they indoors or outdoors?

Where did you get your pigs?

I am just trying to gather information before I try to answer your questions!

[carolp]

Hi, thanks for your reply in answer to you questions I bought them last Sun from a private guinea pig breeder, saw round where they were all kept etc. They are brothers born at Christmas and I have an outdoor hutch with ramp to run and have bought a cover which fits completely over the hutch to keep out the wind and rain and it is a sheltered spot. They seem to be feeding but when I appear they shoot back into their bedroom. I ave also bought an indoor cage to bring them in if the weather gets too bad ad when my grand children want to see them.

[newpiggiemommy]

Wow! Okay! I would ditch the outdoor cage altogether! Guinea pigs really are indoor animals. Where do you live? Because guinea pigs cannot take temps. under 65 degrees or over 85 degrees. Which is why I say to ditch the outdoor cage!!!

Guinea pigs are prey animals and are afraid of any sudden movements or new smells. They require daily lap time and floor time. They will always be afraid of you if you do not handle them daily and make them a part of your daily life!

What are you feeding them?

[carolp]

I am giving them plenty of hay and pet shop dry guinea pig feed with added Vit C and all the usual veg and carrots, is there anything else they need? and do you know what I mean about the vibrating guinea pigs? as yet they haven't squeaked or made any sound. The grandchildren have named them Flash and Biscuit, don't quite know why!

[newpiggiemommy]

I have heard a few people talk about their pigs vibrating. I would go to the top of the page and do a search for vibrating pigs and see what comes up. I would recommend a trip to the vet, just to be safe!

[clotho]

As far as I have read in many threads, I also believe that you should only have one neutered male in with females. If you do try more than one neutered male with a group of females, I think the advice is to have the sows greatly outnumber the males and have a HUGE area for them (free range perhaps).

I would never ever try it. Neutering males doesn't make them less dominant or territorial - it just makes them not able to reproduce.

And yes newpiggiemommy, it's 3 weeks after the neuter to keep the male separate to allow all his sperm in his system to die off.

[newpiggiemommy]

WOW! Two of the three babies are over a pound already!!! Cocoa is 1 pound 0.8 ounces, Cookie is 1 pound 0.3 ounces, and our littlest one is Marshmallow is 14.9 ounces.

It is amazing how quickly they grow! They are now 6 weeks old!