GPcrazy
Teenage Guinea Pig
What is the average weekly weight gain for young piggies meant to be? Young as in around 7 weeks old.
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Average Weekly Weight Gain?
- Thread starter GPcrazy
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About 20g until they are 4-6 months old; but it can be more one week and less the other, so I would not obsess about it. As long as yours are putting on weight weekly (instead of losing any) and are lively and fit, they will do fine at whatever speed they are growing!
If you overfeed, they will grow more quickly, but stop growing fast sooner. On a more measured diet, they will keep growing for longer, but put on less weight each week, so it balances out. The normal weight ranges are so large in guinea pigs that going by charts is moot anyway!
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
GPcrazy
Teenage Guinea Pig
Thanks. I've only had my piggies for 2 weeks and only got decent kitchen scales this past weekend, so I weighed them on Sunday and then again today (Wed) just out of curiosity and to make sure they are gaining. Both have gained: Nia gained 11g and Patches 16g, that's in 3 days, so fits in nicely with the 20-30g range per week 
I just wasn't sure what sort of gain is normal.
However, they only weigh 247g (Nia) and 298g (Patches) and are supposedly 7 weeks old. But ive just read a few posts saying at that age they should weigh around 400g. Do you think they're younger than I was told? (Not necessarily a bad thing as they were housed with 2 boars when I got them, at supposedly 5 weeks old).
They're either Abyssinians or aby cross something else (maybe American?). Thy have the swirls in their hair but I ont think enough crests to be true Abby's, especially nia.
I just wasn't sure what sort of gain is normal.However, they only weigh 247g (Nia) and 298g (Patches) and are supposedly 7 weeks old. But ive just read a few posts saying at that age they should weigh around 400g. Do you think they're younger than I was told? (Not necessarily a bad thing as they were housed with 2 boars when I got them, at supposedly 5 weeks old).
They're either Abyssinians or aby cross something else (maybe American?). Thy have the swirls in their hair but I ont think enough crests to be true Abby's, especially nia.
I am not an expert but our youngest and smallest guinea pig weighed 327 grams when we got her at 8 weeks old, so yours don't sound like they are dramatically small for their current age.
I think it does vary a lot between different pigs and breeds, as well as how many were in the litter.
I think it does vary a lot between different pigs and breeds, as well as how many were in the litter.
GPcrazy
Teenage Guinea Pig
Just weighed my guinea pigs, 1st full week, and the weight gains are as follows:
Nia: 36g (272g)
Patches: 44g (326g)
They're going on 8 weeks old. Does that sound right? Or is it too much? I don't really have anything to compare it to. There is a possibility they're both pregnant (they were housed with 2 boars when I got them at 5 weeks old), but they would only be about 3 weeks in. Would that already affect weight gain?
They get unlimited hay, 40g pellets between them split into 20g morning and 20g night, shop-bought veg in the morning (about 3/4 cup to share), forage in the evening (things like carrot greens, celery greens, fennel greens, chickweed, wood sorrel etc), again about 3/4 cup to share, and then about half a cup of wheat grass to share before I go to bed.
Nia: 36g (272g)
Patches: 44g (326g)
They're going on 8 weeks old. Does that sound right? Or is it too much? I don't really have anything to compare it to. There is a possibility they're both pregnant (they were housed with 2 boars when I got them at 5 weeks old), but they would only be about 3 weeks in. Would that already affect weight gain?
They get unlimited hay, 40g pellets between them split into 20g morning and 20g night, shop-bought veg in the morning (about 3/4 cup to share), forage in the evening (things like carrot greens, celery greens, fennel greens, chickweed, wood sorrel etc), again about 3/4 cup to share, and then about half a cup of wheat grass to share before I go to bed.
What you are looking for is a pattern over time.
Some weeks my lot gain as much as 50 grams, and some weeks nothing at all (or even a small loss on occasion).
Now they are older (7 months) their weight gain has slowed, and is less variable.
While they are still small and growing I think it will vary from week to week, but if they are heading in the right direction and have a good diet (theirs sounds fine) then you are doing a good job.
Some weeks my lot gain as much as 50 grams, and some weeks nothing at all (or even a small loss on occasion).
Now they are older (7 months) their weight gain has slowed, and is less variable.
While they are still small and growing I think it will vary from week to week, but if they are heading in the right direction and have a good diet (theirs sounds fine) then you are doing a good job.
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