What is normal weight gain?

[Little Hobbitsis]

Now, I knew that Rouse was a bit of a runt when I bought her, but had no scales to be sure. Maude is noticeably bigger. Well finally managed to get some scales last week and weighed them. Rosie was 407g (so was right she was and is small for a (at the time just over 9 weeks)) anyway, just weighed her less than a week later and she is 444g is this good? Maude has me more worried, she is a bit fatter round the bottom end and weighed 481 when I measured them last week she now weighs 526g about 5 days later. Is this all in the realms of normal? Too much or too little? We didn't used to weigh our piggies (when I had them as a teen etc), so not sure.

Many thanks!

N

 

[Little Hobbitsis]

Durr sorry guys... Just found the weight guide thingy... Lol. You know I looked for it, gave up, posted, then found it! Lol. So it is ok... Possibly a bit too much yummy food? But am relieved Rosie seems to be gaining ok!

 

[Wiebke]

I was just asking you how much you were feeding... Generally, it is more important that your piggies are gaining at a regular pace than how much they weigh in absolute terms. Healthy adult weight (from 12-15 months old) can vary from 800-1800g, although 900-1400g seem to be average.

 

[Little Hobbitsis]

Thanks. Usually lots of hay, mixture of gertie and excel (weaning onto excel) 1 bowl a day. And 1 bowl of veggies/lettuce/ fruit a day.. Plus the occasional treat of some parsley/coriander. They munch away at the hay so 3 handfuls is usually gone by morning. If not before. If they pweep at me I tend to treat with hay rather than other foods. Fresh hay makes them popcorn (is that the right phrase for when they go mad hopping and charging round their cage?). Being handled and put back makes them popcorn too... Not sure how much I should read into that. I fell in love with Rosie partly because she was a bit small. My fave gp when I was younger was a runt (smooth haired) I had needed to hand supplement it and he was incredibly tame (would sit on my shoulder as I did my homework etc) and always came to me, rather than be caught. Unfortunately next door's dog got in our garden into their pen and separate run and because Pinto was so friendly and didn't run away the dog broke his neck. I was so sad and blamed myself because he was so friendly. Rosie looks the same but abbysian. She is also tame, but indoors, so no dogs to worry me!

 

[Wiebke]

Sounds like they have a very good and happy life!

You may find that the average weight gain is about 20 (sometimes 30g) per week during the first 6-9 months of their life, after which the growth rate tends to slow down and you can start to very slowly reduce the amounts of pellets you are giving. Guinea pigs coming to a good home and an ideal diet can suddenly put on up to 50g in one week once they have settled and are happy, as yours are!

Adult guinea pigs need about 1/2 -1 handful of pellets per piggy per day.