Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Pretty sure that the milk bar is open. I thought it was last night as they were going to the right area to suckle. Everyone's been cleaned up. Here they are this morning: 
Engel's Herd
- Thread starter Engel
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 53,429
- Reaction score
- 74,964
- Points
- 3,465
- Location
- East Riding of Yorksire
Congratulations on a safe arrival.
Enjoy the babies and take lots of pictures as they grow up so fast.
Glad mum is doing so well
Enjoy the babies and take lots of pictures as they grow up so fast.
Glad mum is doing so well
Aww, I’m glad they arrived safely!
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Lots of photos taken.Congratulations on a safe arrival.
Enjoy the babies and take lots of pictures as they grow up so fast.
Glad mum is doing so well
1 day old now and fair play, running around trying to munch hay. Still suckling off mum. How do I make sure Oreo is producing milk? They're suckling but idk if they are getting anything?
Oreo is doing so well. Unless you saw the babies in tow you wouldn't know she'd been pregnant. She looks so well.
you’ll know by weighing the pups daily. If they are putting on weight then they are getting enough.
it’s also important to weigh given baby boars need to be separated at 250g or 3 weeks
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Would there be any weight gain after 24hrs though? Both have lost a bit of weight but thought that's normal as digestive system isn't properly working until 2-3 days after birth.
I think the one is a boy but not 100% sure. Will add some photos in a bit.
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Well I've done a little spot clean and I've have found a few teenie tiny poos. They are attempting to eat pellets and hay properly too. Also Oreo is producing milk. While checking her nipples some came out. They don't feel warm or look inflamed either which is good. She seems like the perfect textbook mother. Her instincts kicked in as soon as they were born. Which is a massive relief!
In her cage she has 2 hay piles. One near her sleeping area and a larger one on the other side of the cage. I've removed hay bags and litter box so everything is at ground level to make it easier for the pups. There's a shallow water dish too.
@Wiebke
Quick question regarding pellets. As there's technically 3 pigs now do I need to up pellets to 3tbsp? At the moment I'm giving 1 1/2 tbsp of pellets a day. Split between 2-3 meals. Some softened with warm water and some as they are. Babies are eating soft pellets in small amounts. I don't want to be grossly over feeding hence why I ask. She's still getting her normal veggies in the morning but I'm staying away from cabbages and kale for a few days as to not upset babies tums. Unlimited hay as always and I've upped the alfalfa to 2-3 handfuls. (It doesn't all get eaten, but most of it does)
In her cage she has 2 hay piles. One near her sleeping area and a larger one on the other side of the cage. I've removed hay bags and litter box so everything is at ground level to make it easier for the pups. There's a shallow water dish too.
@Wiebke
Quick question regarding pellets. As there's technically 3 pigs now do I need to up pellets to 3tbsp? At the moment I'm giving 1 1/2 tbsp of pellets a day. Split between 2-3 meals. Some softened with warm water and some as they are. Babies are eating soft pellets in small amounts. I don't want to be grossly over feeding hence why I ask. She's still getting her normal veggies in the morning but I'm staying away from cabbages and kale for a few days as to not upset babies tums. Unlimited hay as always and I've upped the alfalfa to 2-3 handfuls. (It doesn't all get eaten, but most of it does)
Hi, you can give as few pellets as you want because they are the expendable bit of the diet to be honest; especially with feeding extra alfalfa.
Sorry, I am currently taking off-time from the forum due to provate commitments.
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Ah ok then, Sorry, I wasn't aware of that, Hope everything's ok. Take care!
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Right I have managed to take a few pictures and hopefully they're ok. If not I will be charging up my camera so hopefully there will be better photos within the week but this is the best I can do for the time being. As mentioned before I think I've got a boar and a sow, what do you think?
This one I believe is a sow. There is a fleshy arrangement when pressure is applied to the slit.
This one I'm not 100% sure. I think its's a boar. Let me know what you think!
(Please excuse the mess in the back ground; spot cleaning)
This one I believe is a sow. There is a fleshy arrangement when pressure is applied to the slit.
This one I'm not 100% sure. I think its's a boar. Let me know what you think!
(Please excuse the mess in the back ground; spot cleaning)
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Little update everyone is doing well. One of the babies has lost 10g which I'm was a bit concerned about as that's quite a lot for such a tiny thing. I checked the weight again this evening and it's gone up! So fingers crossed.
Eil (Eileithyia-Eris formerly Oreo) is doing well and has gained 70g in weight since babies were born. There's plenty of tiny poos appearing in the cage so mum is doing everything right. (Which is a huge relief)
Dysnomia (Mia for short) the potential baby sow is the one that has lost the weight but is happily munching on hay and a few pellets. Running around like a loony! Also the more adventurous out of the 2.
Apollo, the potential boar pup is doing well and you'll normally find him popcorning and jumping in hay piles. He too has started to gain weight.
Jupiter (formerly Chunk) seems very interested in the babies. Wheeks more than usual now and popcorns when he sees them so hopefully that's a good sign.
Eil (Eileithyia-Eris formerly Oreo) is doing well and has gained 70g in weight since babies were born. There's plenty of tiny poos appearing in the cage so mum is doing everything right. (Which is a huge relief)
Dysnomia (Mia for short) the potential baby sow is the one that has lost the weight but is happily munching on hay and a few pellets. Running around like a loony! Also the more adventurous out of the 2.
Apollo, the potential boar pup is doing well and you'll normally find him popcorning and jumping in hay piles. He too has started to gain weight.
Jupiter (formerly Chunk) seems very interested in the babies. Wheeks more than usual now and popcorns when he sees them so hopefully that's a good sign.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 53,429
- Reaction score
- 74,964
- Points
- 3,465
- Location
- East Riding of Yorksire
Sounds like a very lovely and successful little family.
The babies are so cute
The babies are so cute
Thanks for the tag. Sorry I have been away and only just got home (with car in back of recovery truck!) so not been on forum. I’m afraid the photos aren’t clear enough for me to tell. I know it’s difficult getting good photos (have had to do it myself).
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Oh dear, hope you're ok!
That's fair enough. Any tips for getting a clear photo?
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Update
Everyone is well. Both mum and babies have continued to gain weight and eat well.
I have, however, realised that I've made the cage out of the wrong grids! They're only 30cm wide so my c&cs are 2ft by 4ft so 8sq feet
When I split the potential boar and pair him with Jupiter, would 12sq feet be enough for them?
Also would I be able to have the boys in a cage above the girls? Or will that cause issues?
One last thing. Will it be better to seperate and have cages side by side to begin with or shall I just stack the cage straight away? I know baby boar will cry regardless but would being able to see mum be best or not?
Everyone is well. Both mum and babies have continued to gain weight and eat well.
I have, however, realised that I've made the cage out of the wrong grids! They're only 30cm wide so my c&cs are 2ft by 4ft so 8sq feet
When I split the potential boar and pair him with Jupiter, would 12sq feet be enough for them?
Also would I be able to have the boys in a cage above the girls? Or will that cause issues?
One last thing. Will it be better to seperate and have cages side by side to begin with or shall I just stack the cage straight away? I know baby boar will cry regardless but would being able to see mum be best or not?
Update
Everyone is well. Both mum and babies have continued to gain weight and eat well.
I have, however, realised that I've made the cage out of the wrong grids! They're only 30cm wide so my c&cs are 2ft by 4ft so 8sq feet
When I split the potential boar and pair him with Jupiter, would 12sq feet be enough for them?
Also would I be able to have the boys in a cage above the girls? Or will that cause issues?
One last thing. Will it be better to seperate and have cages side by side to begin with or shall I just stack the cage straight away? I know baby boar will cry regardless but would being able to see mum be best or not?
yes 12 sq ft is perfect for a boar pair - 6ft x 2ft is the recommended cage size.
Stacked cages are fine (with the boars at the top). The reason you have cages side by side is for interaction through the bars but as each baby is able to be paired with an older piggy immediately then they have the interaction and guidance from another so stacking is fine. Ensure you handle the boys first at all times
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
they should be ok while he is a baby. It’ll be once he hits his teens, particularly given Jupiter is also a teen (correct me if I’m wrong). If they do fall out then they will have to be separated. it’s often a case of hope for the best but prepare for the worst - Think about how you would do it, but do remember more boar pairs make it together than not. give the boar guides a read So you know what to look for
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Yes Jupiter would be 4 months in a few weeks so technically a teen.
The way I understand the boar guide is it is about adult pigs so didn't know if babies would be different.
Like I hope nothing goes wrong. Jupiter can see them through the bars but the correx is quite high so I dont know if the pups can interact with him.
There's no signs that Jupiter isn't happy with them next door so hopefully even if they don't mesh in later months they hopefully may be able to live in a split hutch/cage dynamic.
they will be fine together when you need to separate Apollo from mum. He can go with jupiter likely with no problems. character compatibility comes before age, so if they like each other then you won’t see any issues going forward (other than the normal teen behaviours). Having two teens together can work perfectly well (Jupiter will be around 7/8 months when Apollo hits his teens) but it can also make things slightly more tense as they will both be hormonal at the same time - but again, if they want to be together and have a functioning hierarchy, then it’ll be fine!
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Update
All is well. Eileithyias weight is everywhere at the moment. Not surprised really though. Eating really well, nursing as well as running and popcorning. I'm going to need to trim her nails soon, especially the back ones as they're like talons. Hopefully it'll be easy as I've been handling her a lot more now and touching her feet so hopefully it won't be too alien for her.
Babies are fine and have spent more time socialising with Jupiter through the bars. Jupiter seems quite happy about it. Although @Piggies&buns tell me what you think in the video.
Every time Jupiter interacts with the babies he always popcorns
All is well. Eileithyias weight is everywhere at the moment. Not surprised really though. Eating really well, nursing as well as running and popcorning. I'm going to need to trim her nails soon, especially the back ones as they're like talons. Hopefully it'll be easy as I've been handling her a lot more now and touching her feet so hopefully it won't be too alien for her.
Babies are fine and have spent more time socialising with Jupiter through the bars. Jupiter seems quite happy about it. Although @Piggies&buns tell me what you think in the video.
Every time Jupiter interacts with the babies he always popcorns
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
I know that it could be very different when the boys meet properly but hopefully even if they can't live together (thinking if there's a bonding issue through teen months and they have to be split) hopefully they'll be happy living side by side. Yes mum is very relaxedIt’s good if he’s popcorning. But you won’t know until you put them together. Mum is looking very relaxed, nursing while laying down
couple of nights ago I found her lay on her side while munching hay with them nursing in the open. Weren't in a hide on nestled in hay. Middle of cage, without a care. Doesn't even flinch when I need to spot clean. 
I have to go around her. She'll move when she knows I'm adding fresh hay or pellets though. She's like a completely different pig compared to a month ago
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Well Eileithyia and Jupiter have both had nails trimmed. Uneventful if I'm honest. I was expecting to having to turn them into piggy burritos but nope just stood there and allowed me to pick up their feet.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 53,429
- Reaction score
- 74,964
- Points
- 3,465
- Location
- East Riding of Yorksire
Those babies are growing fast.
They are gorgeous.
Glad everything is going well
They are gorgeous.
Glad everything is going well
Engel
Adult Guinea Pig
Ok I'm a little concerned about Eileithyia.
She's lost almost 100 g within the last 4 days. She seems well and herself still eating still drinking toileting and is still very active.
She is still having approximately one-and-a-half tablespoons of pellets one-and-a-half cups of veggies unlimited grass hay as well as approximately 2 handful of alfalfa Hay.
Babies are doing very well they have gained a lot of weight and still continue to do so. You're both over the 150 gram mark now. So unless her weight loss is due to this. I don't know.
This morning I have given her a little bit of a critical care alongside her hay and veggies. I will continue to monitor over the next 24-48 hours and if she continues to lose weight I'll pop her into the vets for a a general check to make sure that there is nothing underlying going on.
Nipples and vulva look fine no sign of inflammation redness or discharge. There is no infection smell. And her teeth look fine.
@Wiebke @VickiA if you have anything to add or suggest please do so.
She's lost almost 100 g within the last 4 days. She seems well and herself still eating still drinking toileting and is still very active.
She is still having approximately one-and-a-half tablespoons of pellets one-and-a-half cups of veggies unlimited grass hay as well as approximately 2 handful of alfalfa Hay.
Babies are doing very well they have gained a lot of weight and still continue to do so. You're both over the 150 gram mark now. So unless her weight loss is due to this. I don't know.
This morning I have given her a little bit of a critical care alongside her hay and veggies. I will continue to monitor over the next 24-48 hours and if she continues to lose weight I'll pop her into the vets for a a general check to make sure that there is nothing underlying going on.
Nipples and vulva look fine no sign of inflammation redness or discharge. There is no infection smell. And her teeth look fine.
@Wiebke @VickiA if you have anything to add or suggest please do so.
I am very sorry about mum. This is not normal. A sow can lose about 50g over the course of the nursing period, especially towards the end of it when she is being sucked dry all the time and living off her own reserves. But this weight loss is going beyond. You are doing the right think in additionally topping her up and in having her vet checked.
(PS: I love you naming your mummy after the Greek goddess of birth!)
Glad that your babies are doing so fine and that dad is so happy seeing them. I am sure that he will be ever so delighted when they come to live with him! You can start giving dad little meetings with his sons on neutral ground; just for as long as mummy won't get upset over them not being there. That will hopefully curb some of the excess mounting that is quite common in baby boar bondings when you move them together for good and will make the move easier on the babies.
You can find a video of my Dylan meeting two of the little boys in my baby days video after their separation to work out which one he was vibing with better. Dylan himself is a not highly sexed ex-single adult boar with some social hiccups because of his situation so the boar bond didn't work out in teenage (no fights) but at least by that time young Llelo was already neutered and promptly picked up by a squabbling sister to claim as her own and move out of her group. They are still happily together, as is Dylan with is his own tiny wife who has got quite a bit to say on everything and can hold her own with him...
The videos are in the baby bonding chapter: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
How things go as a trio once the boys hit teenage is something that you will have to deal with as you go along. If you are very lucky, they will get on - there ARE working trios! Most common is however that either one very dominant one is making war on the other two or two are squabbling over dominance and the third one is caught in between; it all depends on how dominant/submissive the personalities involved are. If that happens, then you can move the odd one out, have him neutered and live with his mother and any female companion of hers; I would recommend to look for a sowfriend for her so you will have that option. If you are very unlucky (which I don't think you'll be, seeing how excited dad is), you can end up with three boars that don't get on with any of the others. Of course we see a somewhat higher percentage of trio problems on here but as it is one of the most frequent issues we are contacted about, the fall-out rate is high, and the higher the more teenagers are in involved.