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Post by Orlaith on Dec 4, 2012 10:50:17 GMT
As you may know, I got a mother and daughter (Ruby and Maggie) from a rescue three weeks ago. The rescue, however, didn't know the first thing about guinea pigs, and had a young boar (I'm guessing Ruby's son) in with them, even though I would estimate his age to be around 4 weeks. So I took the girls anyway, knowing that pregnancy was a possibility, and I'm now starting to suspect that Ruby is pregnant. Grrr! I'm so mad because you'd think preventing unwanted babies (who will subsequently need homes) would be a priority for a rescue. Anyway, she might not be. Because she's so young it's hard to know if she's just growing into an adult or really getting those little pouches on her sides, so I'm going to take weekly photos so I can see her shape change. Since we have her three weeks, that's the minimum amount she could be gone (which would be too early to see). If it's a back to back pregnancy from the father of her first litter (the rescue couldn't tell me anything about them, so I have no idea how they were housed) then the most she could be gone is about seven weeks (but unless she's only got one in there I would expect to be more confident of whether she is or she isn't). And if it's a pregnancy by her son, then she'd be 4-5 weeks gone. It's all a waiting game. I really hope she isn't pregnant because we haven't the space to keep any babies, and at the same time I'd hate to have to give them away, especially knowing so little about their past. I'm also hoping Maggie isn't pregnant and that she was so young when housed with her brother (around 4 weeks) that she didn't catch - though I know it's possible. So, here are this week's pics. I'll try to weigh her later as well so I have that info as well. Fingers crossed she's not baking anything in there! Edit: babies have arrived!
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Post by Kayleigh on Dec 4, 2012 12:24:08 GMT
It really is difficult to tell from pictures, give her a few weeks and you should able to feel pups.
Its sad the so called rescue didnt know or take the care to seperate the sexes etc
Keep us posted
Kayleigh
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 4, 2012 14:46:35 GMT
Yeah, I'm hoping that week-on-week I'll be able to see a definite progression to pear-shape or not. As it is I can feel small movement in her sides, but nothing so definite I could say it was pups and not just her gut. I don't want to poke her too much because if there are babies in there they're still quite delicate.
Ah, I hate waiting! I don't know how you do it!
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Post by Kayleigh on Dec 4, 2012 17:47:31 GMT
Lol the waiting adds to the excitement, planned or not planned haha.
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Post by lisa21264 on Dec 5, 2012 4:54:48 GMT
I hope Ruby isnt in pig but if she is I hope all goes well for her and the pups.
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 11, 2012 14:14:31 GMT
Here she is this week. It's hard to tell from the photo, but she has giant pouches on her sides now. In a month she has gained almost 400g (she was 750g when she arrived and now she's 1120g), much more than Maggie in the same time period (300g to 540g), and today I felt some definite strong kicks that I'm positive aren't just her gut moving. She's starting to look very much like she has swallowed an orange (her long hair obscures it in photos but it's very obvious in person). So it's just a waiting game now. I hope we have until after Christmas anyway. I want to visit my mum but I don't want to miss out on baby-time either!
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Post by Kayleigh on Dec 11, 2012 16:43:58 GMT
Eeep babies!! Congratulations..... i hope all goes well and keep is posted. Fingers crossed all is well.
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 19, 2012 11:34:24 GMT
Ruby now weighs 1200g. She's still moving about a fair bit and the babies are sitting pretty "high" on her, if you know what I mean, so I'm hoping she'll keep them in there for at least another week.
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 24, 2012 11:43:34 GMT
I'm so mad. I came home to my mum's house for Christmas yesterday, leaving my partner Maria to mind the piggies. I had a good talk with Ruby, telling her to keep those babies baking until I came back, but she went and had them this morning! I only have these pics so far. Ruby's being very protective so Maria hasn't taken them out to weigh or sex them yet. Ah, I'm so mad I missed it! There's one little dark baby, like mum: And two little blondies: Oh, I can't wait to see them in person! I'm going to have to cut my holiday short to go home to them, it's driving me mad! We've also worked out that it's a back-to-back pregnancy, she must have gotten caught straight after her last litter When I get better pics I'll post them Yay, well done Ruby!
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Post by Kayleigh on Dec 24, 2012 12:09:50 GMT
Ohh congratulations! I wouldnt worry too much about the sow, they arent aggressive mums. I always try to check the pups as soon as i can, just to ensure all are ok (no torn cords etc)
I hope the cage is baby proofed!! They will get through the grids!!
Well done to Ruby!! Lots of veggies for added umph!!
Kayleigh
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 24, 2012 14:13:21 GMT
Yep, Maria has baby-proofed the cage now. We had taken the houses out already just in case she gave birth but we really didn't expect them to arrive yet. They've been weighed now. The black and white one is 117g, one of the white ones is 96g and the other is 76g. That's a bit small, do you think? Would she need to supplement that one a little or will he be okay so long as mum feeds him? (don't actually know the sexes yet). Here are some more pics. The black and white one is going to be trouble!
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Post by Kayleigh on Dec 24, 2012 15:25:34 GMT
Theyre gorgeous. Mum should cope with 3 just fine. I wouldnt supplement the littlun yet, its not a bad weight. Just plenty of hay, readi grass and veg for mum.
The pews are gorgeous, i wonder if the will grey up and be himi marked.
Glad they are all ok.
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hiccup
Newborn Piggy
Posts: 10
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Post by hiccup on Dec 24, 2012 16:23:57 GMT
Aaaaaawww gorgeous! I thought she would have them tomorrow!
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 24, 2012 18:07:22 GMT
Hehe, we're still counting them as Christmas babies
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Post by lisa21264 on Dec 25, 2012 1:11:21 GMT
What little cuties! Glad everything went well for mom and pups.
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dee11
Baby Piggy
Posts: 48
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Post by dee11 on Dec 26, 2012 16:36:32 GMT
little cuties xx
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 28, 2012 20:33:08 GMT
I finally got home to see my babies! Yay! They're perfect, I love them so much! Ruby is being a great mum, and I'm pleased to say that Maggie is a great big sister. She's being really careful of the pups and herding them back to their mammy when they wander too far. The pups are gaining weight nicely and we sexed them today. We think we've two boys and a girl. We'll double and triple check as they grow, but that's what we hoped for, so fingers crossed there'll be no gender-switchers! We've decided we're keeping them all. It would be too hard to give them away, especially knowing so little about their background, so all going well, the two boys will live together and the girl will stay with Ruby and Maggie. And here they are individually. This is Snowden (a boy). Here is his twin brother, Casper. And here is their sister, Ivy. The two PEWs seem to have a little grey tint on the edge of their ears so I'll be watching them closely to see if they develop into little himis. That would be a nice surprise!
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Post by Kayleigh on Dec 28, 2012 22:36:52 GMT
They are lovely!! Pups are great. I cant wait to get back home to see how my pups have grown on. Im away for a week so times ticking!
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moly
Senior Piggy
Homeade cages..getting confused! : P
Posts: 217
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Post by moly on Dec 31, 2012 19:15:42 GMT
The pups are gorgeous!
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