Babies + Dad = Thinking They're Girls?

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conker87

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Hey guys, I need some advise.

We have two guinea pigs, a ~3 year old boar (Dom) and a 9 month old sow. When the sow (Pepsi) was old enough, we put them together, she got pregnant and everything went off without a hitch. The pregnancy was perfect, the labour quick and easy. 4 gorgeous pups were born and are now getting to the age where we need to separate them.

However. We're giving the male babies some time with Dom while he's on the sofa with us, but he seems to like "mounting" them, or at least trying to and now we don't want them going with their father because of this behaviour.

Is this normal at all? Is there anyway we can try and help easy them into their fathers life better? Is it not a good idea at all to put them with their father?

Any help is appreciated.
Cheers.
 
Hi there,

How old are the pups now? Do you know their sex? Male guineas can reproduce from the age of 3 weeks and need to be separated from their mothers (and girls from their father's) at this time or you will end up with unwanted pregnancies. You can post pictures on here if you'd like us to sex them for you.

Your best bet is to put the father with a male pup and separate them from the females so as to avoid any other pregnancies.

I want to give you the information you need but you should be aware that we're a rescue friendly forum and the mention of intentional breeding is banned as there are so many unwanted pigs out there in rescues around the UK. You are more than welcome to join us on the forum for advice though.

Alyson
 
Why would you breed them when there are so many guinea pigs in rescues that urgently need a home? Pregnancy is so hard and stressful on guinea pigs.
 
We do know their sex, we were able to determine it quite easily with some help. That said, we'll get some pictures and have your opinions of them (since I'm not a vet, we can't be entirely sure).

What do you mean intentional breeding? We love our pigs and the babies and there is no way we'll be letting them go.

Oh yes, the pups are 19 days old.
 
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piggyfan said:
Why would you breed them when there are so many guinea pigs in rescues that urgently need a home? Pregnancy is so hard and stressful on guinea pigs.
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I've seen tonnes of topics with people having to separate their pigs, surely you'd have to had to have had a pregnancy for that...
 
No! They are separated for various reasons such as falling out. I just think it is so sad that you bred your pig when they are so many in rescues.
 
conker87 said:
We do know their sex, we were able to determine it quite easily with some help. That said, we'll get some pictures and have your opinions of them (since I'm not a vet, we can't be entirely sure).

Oh yes, the pups are 19 days old.
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Hiya,

Yep if you could get some piccies of the little ones then post them up and we can sex them. It's getting to separation time so is definitely a good time to do it. I'm assuming mum and dad are separate now?

Alyson
 
Their are pregnancies on this forum, as people who have been given pregnant piggies from pet shops, or miss sexed piggies come here for advice. Which we are happy to help with.
The information you need will be provided, as its in the best interests of the piggies, however as said, discussion of intentional breeding (ie deliberatly making babies) is not allowed on this forum.
 
Mounting is normal dominance behaviour between boars. Dad is simply making clear who's boss.
Here is more about boar behaviour: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949

Please be aware that boars can reproduce from 3 weeks onwards and sows get pregnant from 4 weeks onwards. The earliest documented sibling pregnancy is 24 days. I hope that you are also aware that about every fifth pregnancy runs into major problems and can cost you a lot in vet cost.

I would also like you to please read the forum rules. You are most welcome on the forum as long as you abide by them. As you may have noticed by now, we are a rescue friendly forum that does not support breeding or talk of intentional breeding. However, we can offer a lot of information on all aspects of guinea pig life.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36529
 
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