Breeding What is the difference? Help please. - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #1 07-10-09, 02:42 pm

Poppy is pregnant!!

Now I know I should get Alfalfa hay to give to her but I was wondering if I could get Alfalfa Sprouts instead and give a little bit of them with her veggies?

Also when the babies come, should I give it to them to? Or just go with the hay??

**Paula** · #2 07-10-09, 02:45 pm

How long have you had her? Is she currently with a male? If she is, you need to separate them.

Alfalfa sprouts and alfalfa hay are not the same thing. The sprouts are actually a lot lower in nutrition content than mature alfalfa. She needs hay and veggies that are higher in protein and calcium, which alfalfa is. You could also try some parsley for her.

Same goes for the pups. Babies can eat solid food from the moment they're born, but they also need their mother's milk for about three weeks.

**Milkingit** · #3 07-10-09, 02:47 pm

The only reason they say alfalfa has is because of the calcium, if you dont want to change the hay specifically, you can add veggies that are high in calcium like parsley I've seen Ly said before.

As for the sprouts. I don't know, because its not on Ly's charts, best for them to answer.

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #4 07-10-09, 03:00 pm

I've had her for about a month and a half. She is with the male, but she doesn't like him very much!

I'm surprised she even let him! Haha! But, yes I am working on a new cage for the male but need to go get a few more cubes.

So is that a yes or no for getting the sprouts? I'll probably get the hay to but should I just for an extra protein/calcium kick?

**Peggysu** · #5 07-10-09, 03:04 pm

The sprouts aren't going to add much to the diet that she needs.

So you breed her on purpose?

**gooberific** · #6 07-10-09, 03:09 pm

I would say no on the sprouts if they're that low on the nutritional charts. Go with parsley, and a bit of kale for supplements, as well as some alfalfa HAY in addition to the grass hay. (for mom and babies, and any piggy under six months)

I don't know why you even considered putting a male in the same cage as a female, let alone decided to do it. Birds & bees basics, whether they "like" each other or not. I think this was an extremely irresponsible choice.

PLEASE separate them before the new babies are born, or NOW if it's only a POSSIBILITY of pregnancy.

How old is Poppy? Please ensure she gets proper veterinary care.

You will also need to babyproof your cage, especially for the 6 week old male already in there. Double grids vs. Kid's grids - Guinea Pig Cage Photos

I'm assuming (and i know I shouldn't assume, but...) you didn't quarantine the new guinea pig. Please also refer to http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html and their forums for additional information on healthcare.

**Paula** · #7 07-10-09, 03:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by anniewntsaG-PIG

She is with the male, but she doesn't like him very much! I'm surprised she even let him! Haha!

This is either one of the most profoundly unintelligent statements I've ever heard or an attempt to minimize the fact that you did this on purpose, which you surely know by now is not going to be condoned or encouraged on this forum. Separate her from the male as soon as you can or you could end up with back to back pregnancies, which could very easily kill Poppy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anniewntsaG-PIG

So is that a yes or no for getting the sprouts? I'll probably get the hay to but should I just for an extra protein/calcium kick?

You can get the sprouts but they are not substitutes for hay or vegetables high in calcium and protein. Sprouts are low in both.

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #8 07-10-09, 03:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggysu

The sprouts aren't going to add much to the diet that she needs.

So you breed her on purpose?

God no I don't breed her on purpose!! We thought Peanut was a girl (I'm never getting another GP on Craigslist because thats where I got him and the lady said it was a girl!) and so we put them together but Poppy never liked him from the beginning. But Poppy just stayed away from him! haha But thats mean to breed GP's! haha

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #9 07-10-09, 03:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by anniewntsaG-PIG

I've had her for about a month and a half. She is with the male, but she doesn't like him very much!

I'm surprised she even let him! Haha! But, yes I am working on a new cage for the male but need to go get a few more cubes.

So is that a yes or no for getting the sprouts? I'll probably get the hay to but should I just for an extra protein/calcium kick?

Wow. Just wow.

Have you read Breeding Guinea Pigs

Why on earth are you breeding your poor pigs? Have you read the messages on this forum at all?

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #10 07-10-09, 03:38 pm

You should always verify the gender of the guinea pigs you get before putting them together.

How long have you known it was a male? Why didn't you separate them already?

If you are housing an unaltered male and female together, you are intentionally breeding. This isn't at all funny since your sow could die.

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #11 07-10-09, 03:40 pm

I would never breed my guinea pigs on purpose!!! I know that's horrible!! And Paula, I didn't know untill a week ago that the male was a male! SO GET OFF MY BACK!!!!! And I already baby-proofed the cage and am going to the vet on Monday for a check-up on Poppy! I'm working on the cage for the male and will out him in there as soon as I can!!!!!!! And FINE! I won't get the sprouts! That's all I needed to know! I didn't need to be publicly harassed for goodness sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**TwilightStar** · #12 07-10-09, 03:43 pm

They sure sound happy about her pregnancy. Do you realize that Poppy and the babies have a good chance of not surviving?

You should always check the sex of the guinea pigs anyways, or have a vet do it, to make sure they are the gender the person said.

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #13 07-10-09, 03:46 pm

I don't breed my guinea pigs!!!!!!!

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #14 07-10-09, 03:49 pm

I DO NOT BREED GUINEA PIGS!!!!!!!! It was a mistake! Can you people chill!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm working on fixing it! You can stop scrutinizing me now!!!!!

**Paula** · #15 07-10-09, 03:56 pm

The problem is there's not really any "fixing it" at this point.

And for a person who didn't breed them intentionally, why are you so excited about it?

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #16 07-10-09, 03:57 pm

You need to separate the male asap. You should have removed him as soon as you found out.

If she isn't pregnant yet or she gives birth and he is still in there, he can backbreed her.

Don't you have any extra grids to make a makeshift C&C?

**gooberific** · #17 07-10-09, 04:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by anniewntsaG-PIG

I DO NOT BREED GUINEA PIGS!!!!!!!! It was a mistake! Can you people chill!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm working on fixing it! You can stop scrutinizing me now!!!!!

We don't "chill" when people say "haha" after finding out they have a pregnant female after missexing a second pig (which should have been quarantined, so you know for the next time you rescue from Craigslist: http://www.guinealynx.info/quarantine.html ). I could go on about who really needs to chill, and by saying just that part of it I'm almost positive we all get the point... and I'm not deleting it.

Now, this is a text forum, not chat... so if you are laughing nervously because you don't know what to do or say, that's one thing... but you should leave it out of the text of your posts, lest it gets misconstrued as it (hopefully) has been. I'm going to try to be positive about your intent of the "haha" because when I first read it, I actually got physically sick to my stomach.

I'm glad you have already babyproofed your cage. It wasn't in the pictures you have available, which is why I mentioned it.

No one is really harassing you, intentionally, at the very least. I think most of us are in agreeance that what happened was irresponsible. But what is done is done and we want you to do what is best for your pigs.

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #18 07-10-09, 04:03 pm

I'm looking at the bright side because there's nothing else I can do at this point but why fight it?!?!?!?!?!?!

I really don't appreciate you right now! Your just making matters worst by sitting their bickering with me when I know I made a mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:|

**anniewntsaG-PIG** · #19 07-10-09, 04:08 pm

I lost my USB cord and can't put any pictures up, at the moment.

**Paula** · #20 07-10-09, 04:08 pm

How old is Poppy and how long has she been with the male pig?

"Thank you, Paula, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
gooberific (07-10-09), rabbitsncavyluv (07-10-09)

"No thank you, anniewntsaG-PIG. We respectfully disagree," say these 6 users:
Froggirl009 (07-20-09), NicholsS10 (07-20-09), Poelitstudent (07-20-09), rabbitsncavyluv (07-10-09), sophistacavy (07-20-09), wigglesgiggles1 (07-11-09)

"Thank you, gooberific, for this useful post," say these 5 members:
NicholsS10 (07-20-09), Peggysu (07-10-09), rabbitsncavyluv (07-10-09), sophistacavy (07-20-09), TwilightStar (07-10-09)

"Thank you, Paula, for this useful post," say these 8 members:
gooberific (07-10-09), NicholsS10 (07-11-09), Peggysu (07-10-09), Poelitstudent (07-20-09), rabbitsncavyluv (07-10-09), SFailed186 (07-22-09), sophistacavy (07-20-09), TwilightStar (07-10-09)

"No thank you, Paula. I respectfully disagree," says:
anniewntsaG-PIG (07-10-09)

"No thank you, anniewntsaG-PIG. I respectfully disagree," says:
sophistacavy (07-20-09)

"Thank you, rabbitsncavyluv, for this useful post," say these 3 members:
Poelitstudent (07-20-09), sophistacavy (07-20-09), wigglesgiggles1 (07-11-09)

"No thank you, rabbitsncavyluv. I respectfully disagree," says:
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"No thank you, anniewntsaG-PIG. We respectfully disagree," say these 10 users:
Froggirl009 (07-20-09), LauraBean (07-14-09), NicholsS10 (07-11-09), Peggysu (07-10-09), PiggyGal (07-10-09), Poelitstudent (07-20-09), rabbitsncavyluv (07-10-09), SnowFlower (07-11-09), sophistacavy (07-20-09), wigglesgiggles1 (07-11-09)

"Thank you, TwilightStar, for this useful post," say these 6 members:
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"No thank you, anniewntsaG-PIG. We respectfully disagree," say these 4 users:
NicholsS10 (07-20-09), Poelitstudent (07-20-09), sophistacavy (07-20-09), wigglesgiggles1 (07-20-09)

"Thank you, gooberific, for this useful post," say these 7 members:
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