I could use some help, please 💖

[BabyCeder]

Hello everyone

I rescued 3 piggies from the forest a couple of weeks ago. Two sows (Kokos and Hazel) and one boar (Pecan).

I am pretty certain that Hazel is Kokos her daughter and both of them turned out to be pregnant. I think that Pecan is the father in both pregnanies and he has gotten the snip right after the rescue. It has been 6 weeks and once I get my new big C&C cage he is going to join the herd! So excited for him

The pups were born (6 in total - 3 weeks apart) and I am trying to find out their gender.

Kokos her pups were born first and according to the vet are girls (he applied pressure above the genital area as well and looked at it closely). The vet however was unable to see the gender at 3 weeks because it is all so small and sexed the pups at 4 weeks. I know preferably you would like to know as soon as possible.

Hazel her pups are almost 3 weeks old and I found this forum, so I thought it would not hurt to ask your opinions. Could you please help me?

Pup #1 (Ceder):



Pup #2 (Tijger):



Pup #3 (Amandel):
This one was a little nervous so the photos are a little blurry.



I hope these photos are okay but otherwise let me know and I will do my best to get more

To get a second opinion I would like to share Kokos her pups here too (vet said these are sows). I have not seen any mounting behaviour or anything else so I am not too worried but I figured now that I am creating this post, I might as well ask your opinions too.

Pup 1# (Pistache):



Pup #2 (Cashew):



Pup #3 (Peper):



A whole post of guinea pig bits.. I hope they are not too embarrased I shared these

Thanks everyone for your help

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone

I rescued 3 piggies from the forest a couple of weeks ago. Two sows (Kokos and Hazel) and one boar (Pecan).

I am pretty certain that Hazel is Kokos her daughter and both of them turned out to be pregnant. I think that Pecan is the father in both pregnanies and he has gotten the snip right after the rescue. It has been 6 weeks and once I get my new big C&C cage he is going to join the herd! So excited for him

The pups were born (6 in total - 3 weeks apart) and I am trying to find out their gender.

Kokos her pups were born first and according to the vet are girls (he applied pressure above the genital area as well and looked at it closely). The vet however was unable to see the gender at 3 weeks because it is all so small and sexed the pups at 4 weeks. I know preferably you would like to know as soon as possible.

Hazel her pups are almost 3 weeks old and I found this forum, so I thought it would not hurt to ask your opinions. Could you please help me?

Pup #1 (Ceder):

View attachment 288742View attachment 288743

Pup #2 (Tijger):

View attachment 288744

Pup #3 (Amandel):
This one was a little nervous so the photos are a little blurry.

View attachment 288745View attachment 288746

I hope these photos are okay but otherwise let me know and I will do my best to get more

To get a second opinion I would like to share Kokos her pups here too (vet said these are sows). I have not seen any mounting behaviour or anything else so I am not too worried but I figured now that I am creating this post, I might as well ask your opinions too.

Pup 1# (Pistache):

View attachment 288747

Pup #2 (Cashew):

View attachment 288748

Pup #3 (Peper):

View attachment 288749

A whole post of guinea pig bits.. I hope they are not too embarrased I shared these

Thanks everyone for your help

Hi and welcome

Well done for taking them all in!

As far as I can tell, the first 5 babies are all girls.
I would like to see another picture of Amandel with her genitalia pried gently apart because hers look rather unusual and also for Pistache, just to be on the safe side.

#6 Peper: I would like to see more of the insides of the slit but it could turn out to be yet another girl. However, as things stand I cannot commit. I only have one gender marker and would like to see three to be absolutely sure. Can you please try and take another picture?
Plus one of your whole family with all the pups, please. Just because we love to see cute faces as much as the business end (or probably more).
My Heulwen (Welsh for Sunshine) and her sister Hedydd (Skylark) from what was obviously the following litter were rescued together with their mother from a free roaming 'cat's takeaway' uncontrolled breeding situation. Their mum promptly gave birth to yet another litter of 6 girls in rescue. I adopted the two older sisters together. Amazingly, they both lived to 8 years.

I have also adopted a dumped trio where dad had both impregnated his mother and sister before rescue. I ended up with 3 boar babies and one sow - and with none of the four boars wanting to live with any of the others, so I have ended up with four more cages to clean over the last 4 years. Sadly, I have just lost dad and one of this sons during and after the 5th heatwave.

PS: You can make sure for yourself by feeling just above the knob/button, first with dad (where you should feel a tiny penis shaft, about the size of a rice corn, under the skin, then one of the mothers, where it is soft in that area as she hasn't got a penis. Once you know what to feel for, check all babies. Unfortunately, we cannot do the hands-on test for you.
Here is our reference picture with an arrow for where to feel:


Fingers crossed that you can just have one big group all together. All baby girls should be soft. Any boys should have a tiny basmati sized rice corn under the skin. It is always best if you can check that. It is - like taking pictures - best done with two people.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that you are lucky enough to end up with one big group all together! It's a bit like winning the lottery...

 

[CTWC]

My word well done for doing this, I hope they are all girls or at least 5 are then you could have two herds

 

[BabyCeder]

Hello Wiebke and CTWC

Thank you for your replies and Wiebke for all the information!

How interesting to hear we have similar stories with our piggies but on the other hand, sad to hear that happens so often (should not happen at all). I am really sorry about dad and one of his sons passing during to the heatwave.

My condolences and thank you for taking such good care of them for all these years.

Sending hugs your way

I love the names Heulwen and Hedydd, they sound like such beauties! Wow 8 years that is amazing!

Thank you for sharing your stories.

With your advice I went and took Pecan out of his cage to feel the spot and like you said, I felt a little hard bit under the skin. I then took Hazel out of her cage and with her it was all soft and smooth. With this knowledge I went and took everyone out one by one to check.

To be honest, all of the pups feel soft to me and I did not notice anything under the skin.

I took the opporunity as well to take some more photos of the requested piggies and with some pea snacks (bribing), I was able to convince them to allow me to show their bits on the internet again.

Peper:
She did not want to sit still much even with the bribes..


I took a new photo of Pistache and Cashew, they look so similar I am worried I might have switched the photos in above post around

Pistache:


Cashew:


Amandel:


(If you are thinking "Wow she has so many fingers in some of these photos, she much be an eldrich being" nah my partner is just doing an assist).

And I am happy to share some bonus photos of the nut family!
(yes they are named after nuts, even Tijger and Peper.. they are Dutch, trust me it makes sense).

I just noticed I can only attach 10 files.. they will be underneath this post!

 

[BabyCeder]

Kokos (left), Hazel (in the back), Tijger (on top of the hay), Peper (in front), Ceder (right) and Cashew (hiding on the right).


Hazel (in the house), Tijger (regretting choices), Kokos (front), Peper (next to Kokos) and Cashew (in the back).


Sweet boy, Pecan!


Kokos photo bombing (aka food?), Hazel on the left and Tijger on the right with Peper.


Little Tijger.. this one turned out so good!


Amandel (left), Pistache (on moms bum), Tijger and Hazel (on right).


Food? (Kokos, Hazel and Cashew).


Pistache and Cashew.


Baby Ceder on the SnuggleSafe doing a nap

I hope you like the photos
getting them in a group is so difficult

 

[CTWC]

I adore the photos

 

[Wiebke]

Hello Wiebke and CTWC

Thank you for your replies and Wiebke for all the information!

How interesting to hear we have similar stories with our piggies but on the other hand, sad to hear that happens so often (should not happen at all). I am really sorry about dad and one of his sons passing during to the heatwave.

My condolences and thank you for taking such good care of them for all these years.

Sending hugs your way

I love the names Heulwen and Hedydd, they sound like such beauties! Wow 8 years that is amazing!

Thank you for sharing your stories.

With your advice I went and took Pecan out of his cage to feel the spot and like you said, I felt a little hard bit under the skin. I then took Hazel out of her cage and with her it was all soft and smooth. With this knowledge I went and took everyone out one by one to check.

To be honest, all of the pups feel soft to me and I did not notice anything under the skin.

I took the opporunity as well to take some more photos of the requested piggies and with some pea snacks (bribing), I was able to convince them to allow me to show their bits on the internet again.

Peper:
She did not want to sit still much even with the bribes..
View attachment 288769View attachment 288770

I took a new photo of Pistache and Cashew, they look so similar I am worried I might have switched the photos in above post around

Pistache:
View attachment 288771View attachment 288772View attachment 288773

Cashew:
View attachment 288774View attachment 288775

Amandel:
View attachment 288776View attachment 288777View attachment 288778

(If you are thinking "Wow she has so many fingers in some of these photos, she much be an eldrich being" nah my partner is just doing an assist).

And I am happy to share some bonus photos of the nut family!
(yes they are named after nuts, even Tijger and Peper.. they are Dutch, trust me it makes sense).

I just noticed I can only attach 10 files.. they will be underneath this post!

What beautiful bunch of little sweeties with already very distinct personalities!
Yes, you have definitely all baby girls and can just have one large family cage.
Amandel looks like she has a double set of female genitalia?

Please wait with reuniting dad until 6 weeks post neutering operation and do it outside the cage area so they can get over the initial excitement and can re-establish their hierarchy before you then move them into the freshly done up and rearranged family cage.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours

The little baby in my avatar picture on the left is the unplanned legacy of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar (not one of mine) so I have first-hand proof that it can really happen as late as that because the tubes are not removed.
Her name was officially Tegan Syndod 'Little Beautiful Surprise', or just Tegan 'Little Beauty'. She also lived with to just short of 8 years with her age mates Hedydd and Heulwen.

This was my little Cornish family 4 years ago once Modron ('Mother Goddess', Matron) had her own two boys here. Dad Barcud is second from left, next to his litter sister Millyn (Sweet Violet, only that there is nothing sweet about her!). Brangwyn was the blonde bombshell baby. You can how small the variation in the four babies is when you compare it with your pups. It is an indication of inbreeding that goes likely more than just a couple of generations back. But I am glad that I have got them all at least to the lower end of the average lifespan.

You can find all the piggies I have had (with pictures and a short bio) since I joined the Forum in the link in my signature.
Wiebke's Tribe Photo Gallery

Additionally, I think you may find these guides here interesting and helpful as you follow the development of your babies and want to learn to understand the complex social interactions. I promise, you will be busy with your daily 'piggy soap opera'!
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pig Behaviours in their Context

The Herd, the Group and I: Investigating Guinea Pig Identity and Society

Owners' Comprehensive Helpful and Supportive Information Collection

 

[CTWC]

Yay they can all stay together

 

[weepweeps]

They are stunning. So pleased they are all girls. You’ve got your hands full.

 

[Wiebke]

PS: We are a friendly and supportive community on here which you are welcome to join. You are also welcome to start your own blog thread in Guinea Pig Chat so you can photobomb to your heart's delight and allow us to follow you and your little bag of Sweeties. Since we are a non-breeding forum we cherish all the little pups that come our way.

 

[BabyCeder]

This is exactly what I wished for and I am so happy

How strange that Amandel might have a double set of female genitalia.
Is this something I should be worried about? I do not notice anything strange about her.

The coming week my the new C&C cage should arrive and Pecan will be 8 weeks post neutering
I can't wait until everyone can be in the same cage and live happily ever after.

I appreciate the information you shared Wiebke!
I saw there is a thread for bonding so I might create a post there.

Thank you everyone

 

[Wiebke]

This is exactly what I wished for and I am so happy

How strange that Amandel might have a double set of female genitalia.
Is this something I should be worried about? I do not notice anything strange about her.

The coming week my the new C&C cage should arrive and Pecan will be 8 weeks post neutering
I can't wait until everyone can be in the same cage and live happily ever after.

I appreciate the information you shared Wiebke!
I saw there is a thread for bonding so I might create a post there.

Thank you everyone

Since Amandel seems to have a double set of female genitalia and not of mixed ones, it is not a problem since thanks to you, she will never be at risk of a pregnancy.
Spaying for ovarian cysts could get rather interesting for any exotics vet, I would assume.

Here is our bonding guide link but if you wish for bonding support, then you are welcome to open a thread in the bonding section.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
Guinea Pig Behaviours in their Context

However, as your boy has been with the leading sows and they haven't separated in a fall-out, it is highly likely he will be accepted back but things could get rather lively since the babies are very vocal and very fast - they won't be hurt.

Make sure that there is no furniture in the bonding area. Open baby stools are best or fabric 'tents' just short of touching the ground that are pegged to strings across the cage.

Any seasons could initially be rather dramatic; especially any mega-seasons where the pheromones trigger all sows within reach in their own oestrus cycle. Eventually, you'll end up with two clumps of seasons, one of them larger and a smaller counterpoint in my own experience with several larger groups with a 'husboar'.

 

[Edam]

oh my gosh just came across this thread! how beautiful are all the pups and congrats on the rescue! I cant get over how adorable the pic of Tijger standing up is

My rescue girl had a secret pregnancy and a surprise pup this year as well, coincidentally we called her Hazel and she looks soo similar to your Pecan!

I hope you and all the GPs are doing well?