Pigs weight fluctuation

[trioguineapig3]

I weighed all the pigs today the babies gained 18 and 25 grams from last week, the biggest pig gained 5 grams but the other 3 lost some they’re 6&7 months. The two 7 month olds lost 20 grams she’s now 785 grams and the other 7 month old lost 23 grams over a week she’s now 730 grams the 6 month old lost 12 grams she’s now 689 grams. When do female pigs reach their adult weight. I was told 8 months old?. The one who gained 5 grams is 812 grams so they all seem around the same. The older ones all gained about 70 odd grams this month. Is this normal? And what would a worrying weekly weight loss be? Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

I weighed all the pigs today the babies gained 18 and 25 grams from last week, the biggest pig gained 5 grams but the other 3 lost some they’re 6&7 months. The two 7 month olds lost 20 grams she’s now 785 grams and the other 7 month old lost 23 grams over a week she’s now 730 grams the 6 month old lost 12 grams she’s now 689 grams. When do female pigs reach their adult weight. I was told 8 months old?. The one who gained 5 grams is 812 grams so they all seem around the same. The older ones all gained about 70 odd grams this month. Is this normal? And what would a worrying weekly weight loss be? Thanks!

Hi! Can you please specify how often you are weighing, whether you are always weighing at the same time in the feeding cycle/time of the day and whether your piggies are indoor or outdoors piggies. it would also help us a lot of you please added your country to your details, especially if you are enquiring about issues where climate and local wether can play a role.

By 4-6 months the fast growth phase is over and any further weight gain happens more in spurts. Guinea pigs reach their adult size arounf 12-15 months just before they reach adulthood but are generally heaviest at the peak of their lives at 2-4 years old.
The daily weight fluctuation can be as much as 40g between a full bladder and tummy and an empty one. Just a full bladder is 10g heavier than a just emptied one!
The onset of cold (UK) or very hot weather (Australia) with sudden major temperature humps can also influence the weight negatively. We have members from both countries and in fact all over the world.

With so many variables in play and insufficient information I can't unfortunately not help you any further right now.

Please take the time to read this guide here. It tells you everything you need to know about weight!
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

Since we have members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

 

[trioguineapig3]

Hi! Can you please specify how often you are weighing, whether you are always weighing at the same time in the feeding cycle/time of the day and whether your piggies are indoor or outdoors piggies. it would also help us a lot of you please added your country to your details, especially if you are enquiring about issues where climate and local wether can play a role.

By 4-6 months the fast growth phase is over and any further weight gain happens more in spurts. Guinea pigs reach their adult size arounf 12-15 months just before they reach adulthood but are generally heaviest at the peak of their lives at 2-4 years old.
The daily weight fluctuation can be as much as 40g between a full bladder and tummy and an empty one. Just a full bladder is 10g heavier than a just emptied one!
The onset of cold (UK) or very hot weather (Australia) with sudden major temperature humps can also influence the weight negatively. We have members from both countries and in fact all over the world.

With so many variables in play and insufficient information I can't unfortunately not help you any further right now.

Please take the time to read this guide here. It tells you everything you need to know about weight!
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

Since we have members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

Hi I am based in Ireland in Clare I has been going down to 1 degrees at night and at the most 10 in the day (Celsius) they’re outside in a shed with fleece and they have a heater on during the day and heat pads at night. I noticed yesterday they won’t come out till after a few minutes after I put the heater on. I always weigh them between 2:30-3pm on sundays as sometimes it takes 30 minutes too weigh all 6

 

[Wiebke]

Hi I am based in Ireland in Clare I has been going down to 1 degrees at night and at the most 10 in the day (Celsius) they’re outside in a shed with fleece and they have a heater on during the day and heat pads at night. I noticed yesterday they won’t come out till after a few minutes after I put the heater on. I always weigh them between 2:30-3pm on sundays as sometimes it takes 30 minutes too weigh all 6

Thank you! That helps although it would help even more if you could add your country to your details so we do not have to ask you each time and can tailor our advice straight away. Our default is UK based, and there are differences, like easier access to piggy savvy vets or some branded products in the UK.

I would recommend to additionally provide a couple cardboard boxes that are filled (but not stuffed solid with soft hay) and that they can crawl into, if necessary with a snugglesafe in there. Hay is a great insulator and helps to keep your piggies warm during the day. Otherwise give them another fleece blanket to crawl underneath (with snugglesafes for warmth during cold nights.
Keeping warm during cold spells is costing extra energy, but unless your piggies lose more than 50g in a week (when you switch to weighing daily and see a vet as quickly depending on how they are and how quickly they are losing), I would not worry too much as they are at that stage when they have increasingly more phases where the weight is stable for a while. You can offer a bowl of extra bran or plain porridge oats during cold spells or after frosty nights.

 

[trioguineapig3]

Thank you! That helps although it would help even more if you could add your country to your details so we do not have to ask you each time and can tailor our advice straight away. Our default is UK based, and there are differences, like easier access to piggy savvy vets or some branded products in the UK.

I would recommend to additionally provide a couple cardboard boxes that are filled (but not stuffed solid with soft hay) and that they can crawl into, if necessary with a snugglesafe in there. Hay is a great insulator and helps to keep your piggies warm during the day. Otherwise give them another fleece blanket to crawl underneath (with snugglesafes for warmth during cold nights.
Keeping warm during cold spells is costing extra energy, but unless your piggies lose more than 50g in a week (when you switch to weighing daily and see a vet as quickly depending on how they are and how quickly they are losing), I would not worry too much as they are at that stage when they have increasingly more phases where the weight is stable for a while. You can offer a bowl of extra bran or plain porridge oats during cold spells or after frosty nights.

thank you I don't think they really use the heat pads at night sometimes I had given them hay in their hide's with some heat pads. but I still give them the heat pads anyway.
I did add my country to my account.

 

[Wiebke]

thank you I don't think they really use the heat pads at night sometimes I had given them hay in their hide's with some heat pads. but I still give them the heat pads anyway.
I did add my country to my account.

Thank you! That was a very cold night for you area! (It's been definitely a full frost here...)

 

[trioguineapig3]

Thank you! That was a very cold night for you area! (It's been definitely a full frost here...)

it really was! I decided yesterday to turn the heater on and leave the veg out of the fridge for 30 minutes before feeding them. and they all came out for veg much quicker today with the heating on and the veg not as cold