Pregnancy

[Quiet Things]

Yes but dogs and cats can live to 20+

[guineagurl]

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Yes but dogs and cats can live to 20+

What does that have to do with anything?
I'm not getting on my high-horse at all but I don't think it matters how long an animals lifespan is, we shouldn't breed it. Putting any additional risk on the animal for purely personal satasfaction is dispiccable.
It's too risky, how would you like to be forced to breed?

[Quiet Things]

I'm not forcing anyone to breed. I started this thread so people could share experiences, I know what its like to have a story to tell but no where to tell it. That was the whole point of this. Not so people could come and say "hey your doing the wrong thing" Just so people could boast, share emotions, boast some more or maybe learn something. Well I've learnt my lesson here. Never open up or you will be likely to get your head bitten off. Thank you everyone for making me feel like an entirely despicable person and for nat even trying to find out the whole story. For everyones information the boar was ill for a while and as a result we are now fairly sure he is sterile. It happens in people I'm fairly sure it happens in animals. We have had him with numerous females back when I was breeding. But nothing, he didn't even try to, well, try. But now I'm sure everyone will come and tell me I must be wrong because it hasn't happened to them or they haven't read about it or someone told them it doesn't happen.
Anyway thankyou for making me feel like a bad person.

[ChadWPB]

Anyway thankyou for making me feel like a bad person.

We don't mean to, but as a group we are sternly anti-breeding here. We just don't take kindly to intentional breeding of guinea pigs.

We definitely do not want to encourage breeding by fluffy stories of cute widdle babies and such. Go to Cavies Galore if you want that.

Right now there's loads of adoptable pigs in many countries. Guinea pigs are being euthed by the thousands simply because that had no home. Don't exacerbate the problem.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Just so people could boast, share emotions, boast some more or maybe learn something.....Anyway thankyou for making me feel like a bad person.

Quiet Things

I stayed off this thread because I could tell rigt away it was going to go bad fast. I knew others would say what I had to say without getting involved...and I was right.

I'm not sure what you were thinking when you started such a topic on a site that does not support breeding. From your above statement you expected to get to boast? Terribly sorry but you are very wrong.

You used to breed but now say you don't. That's all fine and good. However you lost quite a bit of credibility in your new non-breeder status when you let loose that you house an unaltered male and female together. It's risky and you know it. You can argue all you want but the fact remains you are still prepared to breed, put your animals at risk and add to the animal overpopulation problem. You can expect no kudos here.

The baby Pigs and the G.P.s that died young (at about 2 years of age) were caused by your breeding. They are your fault. Just like Chad is at fault for the deaths of the pigs that he bred. The differance is that Chad learned something. He let his mistakes teach him not to take risks with his beloved pets. You seem to have learned very little.

Chad and others have tried to teach you what you have not yet learned. If that makes you feel like a "bad person" you had better point your finger inward. No one can make you feel bad. If you feel bad it is because deep down you know you are doing something wrong.

[Quiet Things]

Okay the baby pigs that died were not a result of breeding. I had four females I bred from and several boars, you know, to mix up the genes so I could get the best from each pig. The babies that were from the mothers that died (the babies that is) were I believe premature or in the case of the large litter, too small and were smothered. There just wasn't enough nutrients getting to all the babies while they were inside so they were fairly weak when they were born I must state that the mother was in amazing shape after giving birth (and carrying) seven babies and was in amazing health. Still is. Did you read my post where I mentioned that my boar, though intact has been checked and I have been told he is almost probably sterile? Oh and another thing, the guinea pigs we lost at young ages, 2 or so years, were not a result from breeding. They were boars we had that we bred from. We did not buy from a breeder but from families that had them. Probably not a good place to get potential breeding stock but we checked and had them checked and they were good and healthy.
Indeed they tried to teach me. But before they had all the facts. No one asked why I was so sure about keeping the sow and boar together, they just assumed. That seems to go on a lot on this forum.
I wanted to give everyone a chance to boast or to share their stories. I did not want to paint a beautiful picture of cute little baby guinea pigs but to give a chance for people to learn and to make their own choices. I don't believe in forcing an opinion on anyone. We are all free to make a choice, life is made up of choices. Yet not too many people are given a chance here, they are all told only what they have to do. I know there are people here who say, "hey instead of doing this you could tryin doing that" but there aren't enough. If you force an opinion on someone you will get their backs up. You won't get all the facts and you will make mistakes.
I wanted to give people a chance to learn. And to share. Thats not a bad thing. If they have a nice story to tell then so be it. They should be allowed to share it without being made to feel they are doing the wrong thing. Remember, you can adopt pregnant guinea pigs. What about the people who want to share those stories? Such as myself and my adoption of a pregnant guinea pig (we were adamatly told she wasn't)
So before you judge please listen and ask questions. I like to believe that is what I do, and so in return I can think of nothing better than for people to give me the same chance.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Okay the baby pigs that died were not a result of breeding. I had four females I bred from and several boars, you know, to mix up the genes so I could get the best from each pig. The babies that were from the mothers that died (the babies that is) were I believe premature or in the case of the large litter, too small and were smothered.

The babies would not have been born if you had not bred them. You are responsible.

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Did you read my post where I mentioned that my boar, though intact has been checked and I have been told he is almost probably sterile?

Yes I did. The key word that keeps coming up is "probably". You aren’t certain. Therefore you are still willing to breed.

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Oh and another thing, the guinea pigs we lost at young ages, 2 or so years, were not a result from breeding. They were boars we had that we bred from. We did not buy from a breeder but from families that had them. Probably not a good place to get potential breeding stock but we checked and had them checked and they were good and healthy.

No, they weren’t "good and healthy" they died young right? Most likely you passed on some horrid genes because their family history and background weren’t important to you.

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Indeed they tried to teach me. But before they had all the facts. No one asked why I was so sure about keeping the sow and boar together, they just assumed.

You supplied us all the facts we need. You were asked if the male/female pair were altered. You said no. You only said that he is(here it is again) probably sterile. No one assumed a thing

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

I did not want to paint a beautiful picture of cute little baby guinea pigs but to give a chance for people to learn and to make their own choices.

Once again you are on an anti-breeding site. For the majority of people here breeding is never going to be a choice. It’s irresponsible.

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

They should be allowed to share it without being made to feel they are doing the wrong thing.

You can share a beautiful story about how your G.P.s live loose in the garden or how much your dog enjoyed eating your Guinea Pig but don’t expect people around here to agree with you.

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Remember, you can adopt pregnant guinea pigs. What about the people who want to share those stories?

Obviously we have a different view on people that are willing to take on the responsibility of someone else causing an irresponsible pregnancy. That’s different then purposely breeding or knowingly taking chances.

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

So before you judge please listen and ask questions. I like to believe that is what I do, and so in return I can think of nothing better than for people to give me the same chance.

We listened to what you had to say. You answered questions asked. Your answers weren’t acceptable to the majority here. Rationalize it to yourself all you want. Around here your actions are considered irresponsible. There is nothing that is going to change our minds.

Do yourself and your pigs a favor. Stop trying to argue your point and instead take the time to think about what is really best for the G.P.s. Are you really willing to risk your senior female getting pregnant? At her age she probably wouldn’t survive the pregnancy. Don’t you think you could find and alternate solution?

[CavyKind]

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

For everyones information the boar was ill for a while and as a result we are now fairly sure he is sterile. It happens in people I'm fairly sure it happens in animals. We have had him with numerous females back when I was breeding. But nothing, he didn't even try to, well, try. But now I'm sure everyone will come and tell me I must be wrong because it hasn't happened to them or they haven't read about it or someone told them it doesn't happen.

Hi,
I was once contacted by a woman who had bought a "sterile" boar from a local breeder and judge (of guineas at shows) who was giving up her "hobby."
The lady buying the boar was told....."He's no good for breeding, been in with lot's of sows, not fertile, blah, blah." So unfortunately the sterile boar was placed with 3 sows and yes.....he wasn't so sterile all. (Please, please remove this boar from your sows enclosure.)

I ended up having to take the unwanted litters and the boar....who was promptly neutered.

I would be interested to know what illness your boar suffered from and why you think that has made him sterile? I can't for the life of me think what it might be?

Barbara

[ChadWPB]

I still don't understand why she wants to share breeding stories on a forum that is run by a rescuer who is clearly against breeding. Quiet Things doesn't realize that stories of successful births may encourage people to consider breeding, only or a substantial portion of them to end up with a horror story.

There is far too much breeding going on. She has completely ignored the fact that thousands upon thousands of pigs are euthed every year due to overpopulation.

I'll make it clear. We don't want to discuss pregnancy stories here. Most of us neuter and spay for a reason! The others keep only one sex and others still carefully separate boars from sows.

[hezzie]

Hi, I really understand the whole thing about talking about pregnancy, but I kind of need some help. I got my guinea pigs from a rescue and was told they were both male. But today when I pulled chewy out of the cage, he didn't look right. He's always been small but his hips were huge. I don't know very much about guinea pigs because these are my first and I've only had them a couple of months. I thought maybe he had a tumor or something because it just didn't look normal. Well, I have a guinea pig book and started looking through it only to find he looked exactly like one of the pictures-of a pregnant sow close to birth. I have no idea if he really is a she and is pregnant, but I have another guinea pig (male) and they live together in a cage. I was wondering if maybe somebody could give me some tips on how to tell for sure if Chewy is pregnant and if so what I need to do to help him (or her, I don't even know right now). Again, I'm really sorry, but this whole thing is freaking me out because I didn't even have a doubt about chewy being male until today, let alone being pregnant. I would really appreciate some advice because I don't want my guinea pig to be hurt or anything. Thank you very very much!

[Poohbear]

Originally Posted by ChadWPB

I still don't understand why she wants to share breeding stories on a forum that is run by a rescuer who is clearly against breeding. Quiet Things doesn't realize that stories of successful births may encourage people to consider breeding, only or a substantial portion of them to end up with a horror story.

There is far too much breeding going on. She has completely ignored the fact that thousands upon thousands of pigs are euthed every year due to overpopulation.

I'll make it clear. We don't want to discuss pregnancy stories here. Most of us neuter and spay for a reason! The others keep only one sex and others still carefully separate boars from sows.

I agree 100% with you Chad.

[Katie]

Did you read my post where I mentioned that my boar, though intact has been checked and I have been told he is almost probably sterile?

You had a semen count done on your boar? Amazing! The only way he can be for sure sterile, is if he is neutered!

You know what I think? I think you are still a breeder that wants to post here without being banned and are trying to cover your butt!

But again... thats just what I think.

[Denise]

Katie, I think maybe you are right. Hello, what was she thinking about posting about that in here?!!!!! Maybe she likes the controversy. I recently fostered two pigs (as you all probably know) who I was told were two males. Well, now I have one possibly pregnant female and one really ticked-off horny male. I am totally freaked out that she may have pups and I may end up with more pigs. My daughters talked to the family and were told they actualy KNEW they were of the opposite sex, but brother and sister, "so she can't get pregnant"!! Ignorant people. I am now going under the assumption that she is pregnant and praying every day that she isn't.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Hi, there's a sexing guide at www.cavyspirit.com. Can you sex all your pigs? And contact the rescue? I'd separate the suspected sow for now.

Originally Posted by hezzie

Hi, I really understand the whole thing about talking about pregnancy, but I kind of need some help. I got my guinea pigs from a rescue and was told they were both male. But today when I pulled chewy out of the cage, he didn't look right. He's always been small but his hips were huge. I don't know very much about guinea pigs because these are my first and I've only had them a couple of months. I thought maybe he had a tumor or something because it just didn't look normal. Well, I have a guinea pig book and started looking through it only to find he looked exactly like one of the pictures-of a pregnant sow close to birth. I have no idea if he really is a she and is pregnant, but I have another guinea pig (male) and they live together in a cage. I was wondering if maybe somebody could give me some tips on how to tell for sure if Chewy is pregnant and if so what I need to do to help him (or her, I don't even know right now). Again, I'm really sorry, but this whole thing is freaking me out because I didn't even have a doubt about chewy being male until today, let alone being pregnant. I would really appreciate some advice because I don't want my guinea pig to be hurt or anything. Thank you very very much!

[hezzie]

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

Hi, there's a sexing guide at www.cavyspirit.com. Can you sex all your pigs? And contact the rescue? I'd separate the suspected sow for now.

thank you very much! Thanks to you I figured out that yes, "male" guniea pig is not only female but also pregnant. Thank you for being nice about it, because I understand I must sound pretty naive to not know what was going on, but I was really worried and this seemed like a website with people who know what they're talking about on it. thanks again!