"ageing" and sexing babies...

[adrah]

hi everyone!

just wondering, how i can tell the age of my baby guinea pigs...
now, usually we get them out all the time but for the last few weeks we hadn't been because we've all been busy with school, and i a new job (there are 7 of us in my house, my parents and the rest of us are teens!)... anyway, my sister went to get her guinea pig out last night, only to discover, there were 2 babies in there! (pics below) so i'm wondering how old they look, as i have no idea, and also, i think the rest of them are pregnant (we had 5 in a cage - only 4 now as we discovered by baby is a boy not a girl!) so will all the mothers and babies be safe in one cage until they are big enough to be sold/given to a good home!

if anyone can give me some advice, that would be great! i have no idea where to start! i have my boy now in a seperate cage until i can afford to buy him a new one thats a little bigger (he's in a dog carry cage at the moment - its all we had!).

thanks in advance,

sarah

 

[adrah]

The babies - Frankenpig & Scrappy^^

My little BOY! Sunny (so far...hehe)^^

 

[piggiesforever]

First off get on freecycle and post a WANTED ad for a hutch or cage second I can't help being concerned by your post, even if you haven't had them out for cuddles surely at least one of the seven of you have been checking them daily if only to provide food and fresh water! as for the babies you must determine sex by 3-4 weeks if one is male you will end up with the mum being back bred and others being pregnant if they aren't already, can't really comment on whether all others are ok in cage without knowing dimensions but I'm sure more people will be along to offer advice. We all have BUSY lives but noone makes us buy pets. If you have them you've got to find time in your day to see to their needs.I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but you are very lucky you found healthy bubs .

 

[milliekitten]

Right i'm sorry but your post has me a little concerned, first 5 piggies in one cage, i really hope its a c&c or its really not going to be big enough. Next how did you not notice the pig was pregnant? i'm the first to admit that i've missed the early signs with Ivy but seriously a full term piggy is a very hard thing to miss. It is likely all your females are pregant and if this boar is their brother you could be in for medical problems. I still cannot understand how you did not notice the babies does noone feed and water twice a day? I'm sorry if this is sounding a bit harsh, i'm normally the most laid back person you could want to meet but i'm just baffled at how 7 of you missed it.
In answer to your question the easiest way to age the minis is to weigh them and compare it to a birth chart on guinealynx as a rough idea my minis are 3 days old and weigh 110g, 110g, 103g

 

[choloe]

i agree with above post, piggies need feeding every day, cleaning, water, handling, cuddling. and 4 to a cage plus babies you would need arouns a 20ft cage to accomodate all these piggies. i know the pregnacies were not planned but i do think closer care and inspection of the piggies everyday is needed. good luck :smitten: