Advice please

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sparkles2

sparkles2

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Hi,
I have a 2 year old female guinea pig sparkles i got her a few months ago from a neighbour who was moving.
She has always lived alone so now i have her i want to get her a friend.
A lady i know has three 4 week old babys and i am having a female from her.
How is the best way to introduce them sparkle is very friendly and very laid back.
I've brought a new cage for them to go in so is it best to put the baby in the new cage for a bit by herself then put sparkle in or put them both in at the same time?
Also is 4 weeks right to be leaving mum sounds very young.
Thankyou
 
Guinea pigs should never leave their mother until at least six weeks. Please do not take the little one until six weeks old. When you bond guinea pigs you have to do it on neutral ground. Provide an area which is clean from any piggy smells and place some hay and vegetables is an idea as it will distract them from each other. Watch how they get on. You can expect chasing and teeth chattering and only need to intervene if blood is drawn. They need to be getting on well before living together in a clean cage free from the other piggies smells.
 
Thankyou for the quick reply.
I thought 4 weeks sounded very young i will tell them to keep them all another couple of weeks.
Can i introduce them straight away or do i need to keep them apart for a couple of weeks?
Would the new cage be ok to introduce them or should it be somwhere more open like the run or just out on the floor?
 
It is best to introduce them in the run or on the floor. When you first get a new guinea pig you need to place them in quarantine for two weeks to make sure they are well and do not give your one anything.
 
Please wait until 6 weeks old, but make sure that the lady has separated any male babies at 3 weeks old - the earliest documented sibling pregnancy is 24 days! If they are sill all together at over 4 weeks, chances are increasing with every day that mummy or any baby girls can become pregnant.
Here is a link to the biological data from the best medical website for guinea pigs so you can check for yourself: http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html

If the lady hasn't done this, I would rather find a reputable rescue that allows you take Sparkles there for a round of dating, so Sparkles can make her own choice of who she wants to live with under expert supervision (if you are in Britain, we can give recommendations). The last thing you want to deal with a is a potentially pregnant baby/young mother and all the sleepless nights and potential heartbreak that is going to bring!

And here is the best sexing website for guinea pigs of all ages. If in doubt, you can always post pictures of the privates in our pregnancy section for expert advice; the clearer the better! Always check any guinea pigs before putting them together - mistakes can be very costly! http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm

Here are tips for introducing guinea pigs. Neutral ground is the best place; it doesn't matter which piggy is there first as long as the territory is new for both. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562
 
Thankyou.
All the babys are still with there mum 3 boys and a girl. So the baby girl could already be pregnant!
When they got the mum she was already pregnant so don't think they have much guinea knowledge as regards to babys.
I am in the uk in somerset so any recommend rescues would be great love the idea of taking sparkles along to pick a friend!
With a two year old is it best to get a baby or older or won't it matter?
 
Oh dear. I would really not take on this baby as if she is pregnant you will have a nightmare on your hands. :(
 
I agree i don't want a pregnant baby.
I will talk to the lady asap and tell her to remove the boys.
 
Sounds like she is going to need a lot of help. Maybe it is best to advice her to get the support of a rescue.
 
Yes i will do that. She did get them from a rescue maybe not a very good one tho to give her a pregnant one to begin with.
 
oh right guess that could have been the case then. I have spoken to her she is taking the boys out and going to keep an eye on mum and baby girl.
Thankyou for all your advice.
 
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