|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 20, 2012 6:21:35 GMT
Hi, I'm new here. I am breeding my guinea pig. I need help understanding guinea pig genes and everything. First, my male guinea pig is a Satin guinea pig. I don't know if satin is a recessive gene or a domainant gene. My female guinea pig was adopted by me on July 4th. She is two years old, but thankfully she has had a little before. She was with another male when we got her and her own sons. I know that breeding a sonxmother is bad. She has a great chance of being pregnant from them since she has lived with them for most of her first two years of life. The babies were 3-6 months old and looking very healthy. But they had, I'll say 2 sq. feet size cage but, we met to pick out a piggie and I picked the female. She has been with my boar for 2 weeks straight since yesterday. My boar is quite odd. He mates like crazy every 9-13 days. But the problem, he doesn't ever do that when she is in season and his aim is horrible unless he only is mating like crazy because she's in season. I don't know.... And maybe you could help me with knowledge about breeding, like from your own experiences. Like, how many does a female normally have on a second litter? A lot? A little? If you have a pregnant pig, can you post a picture? I don't know how to post pictures and I don't think it'll let me. I'll try to. I can measure her pelvic bones if you want, but I don't really know how to. She might be pregnant I'm not sure. She is very chubby but I cant feel much. Please help!! Any advice will do!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jul 20, 2012 11:50:57 GMT
Im glad youve decided yo ask questions. Always a good start.
Firstly i would suggest seperating the sow and boar just now. As if she got caught by her son then you dont want to stress her out by housing her with a boar who will try to mate with her.
So id suggest housing her alone for 4 weeks, by then you should be able to tell for sure if shes pregnant.
I will post a picture of two up later of my pregnant sows.
Breeding should never be taken upon lightly and all research should ideally be done before pairing pigs.
Do you know the boars background? How old is he and is he proven?
A picture of both pigs would help and weights of them both.
If you use photobucket you can add the image url to the posts and we should be able to see the pictures.
Any other questions ask away.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using ProBoards
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jul 20, 2012 17:10:12 GMT
Sows usually have between 1 - 6 pups, they are pregnant for around 10 weeks and can become pregnant again within 24 hours of delivering so all adult boars must be removed. Heres a few shots of some pregnant sows of mine, all sows vary in size, some are huge and some are hardly noticeable.    |
|
|
|
Post by madmommy on Jul 20, 2012 23:38:50 GMT
Seeing these pics, I remember how Scout looked before we discovered "he" was a she. Very pear-shaped. I just didn't know any better, and trusted a LPS owner to tell me what sex the pig was. Oh well, all is good now.  |
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 21, 2012 5:45:54 GMT
Ok I will use PhotoBucket in a minute. She just made a hiccuping motion a lot. It scares me cuz I know when they go in labor they will do that. Do you know what that is? I guess I'll separate them. At the moment I am trying to get them a bigger cage.. So I'm kind of busy. Your pictures don't really look like my pig. My boar, Charlie, is 6 months. Kind of still a baby... Anyways, she does drink and eat a lot more than my boar. Now she's walking around again perfectly fine. I don't know what that hiccuping motion was. Btw, she is 2.14 pounds.
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 21, 2012 5:48:35 GMT
Oh ya, I don't know much about the boar. He always comes up to her as if he's scared but we got him with another boar which was really aggressive so he just gave up and let the other boss him around.
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 21, 2012 6:07:33 GMT
  I dont know if that worked. If it did, the first one is my boar and the second is my sow |
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 21, 2012 6:09:02 GMT
Yay, it worked. Shes twitching a lot now and stretching... I don't know what she's doing. Please help!!
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 21, 2012 6:10:15 GMT
Ha, my boar wouldn't stay still... That's why it's blurry.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jul 21, 2012 6:36:53 GMT
Your sow is gorgeous. But doesnt look heavily i.pig. If shes only carrying 1 or 2 it may not be too noticeable.
Not sure what your hiccuping motion could be. Are they being fed a guinea pig food and selection of veggies daily?
Id defo seperate them for their own good just now. As if you arent sure if shes inpig is safer for her.
She doesnt look overly chubby either. Which is good and her weight sounds ok for an adult sow.
Keep an eye on her weight though.
If she was in labour you would know about it. Ill try and find a video of one of my pet rescue sows who i managed to record in labour.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using ProBoards
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 21, 2012 22:22:43 GMT
She barely runs around anymore and I will separate them. They get a salad every day and pellets unlimited. I give them a lot of Timothy hay in their cage and they pick on it for about a week. I have another sow who is tan color, she is way too old to have babies but she weighs 2.4 pounds. But I'm not breeding her, I don't want her to die. I'm weighing her and the other pigs every other day, for comparison. And thank you, I like your piggies too. I also felt little flicks in her belly, since she was twitching and stuff so I held her on a towel in my lap and I felt little kicks. I don't know if it was gas or babies. If she was pregnant, how far along would she be? I can get better pictures.
She does squeak when I pick her up. I support the bum and front side, in case you thought I was picking her up wrong.
Wow, I just took her out of her cage carefully and she squeaked loud but she is way bigger today. I'm going to weigh her now.
I'm back, she weighed 2.155 and yesterday it was 2.14. What's the proper weight gain for a pregnant pig?
She's definitely not acting like herself. She's jumping and twitching more and resting a lot. Only moving to get a drink or eat.
She kicks when I try to touch her belly. She eats EVERYTHING! The towel, other pigs' fur, my beds bars, cardboard, and any treats she's offered.
She's been looking uncomfortable. You know? Do you know how they are supposed to ask?
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 21, 2012 22:38:30 GMT
I checked out your website by the way. It's a great website!! |
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jul 22, 2012 7:17:18 GMT
It sounds like shes inpig, give her a few weeks try not to overhandle her as it is uncomfortable for them hence the wheeking and nibbling at things. I only ever handle sows who are heavily pregnant to clean their bedding or for a quick health check. Otherwise i leave them alone, talk to them and feed them plenty of greens.
As for weight gain it will fluxuate but she should slowly gain. If shes due soon and kicking ect is felt at around week 7 then she could have 2-4 weeks to go.
Keep her stress levels low too, a nice quiet area alone where she can relax.
A way to tell if she is carrying is if you sit her in your lap facing her away from you (offer some fresh frass or aomething to keep her busy) and if you gently place your hands under her sides near her backend and just sit for a couple of minutes you shoul feel kicks and small movements. Dont poke or squish about though. Just gently hold your hands in place.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using ProBoards
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 22, 2012 19:10:46 GMT
Thank you, that helps so much. She's been getting rounder every day though. I think I do handle her a bit too much. Ill stop handling her a lot and just do what you said. Here's a picture of her today.  She is eating her daily salad with my other piggy. |
|
|
|
Post by canadiancomforts on Jul 22, 2012 23:24:27 GMT
Be very careful handling her. I dealt with an accidental litter a few years back and I think I was more stressed than the sow *giggles*. Also make sure you have a cavy savvy vet on hand in case of complications.
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 23, 2012 1:43:10 GMT
Thanks. I'm now being really careful. She's looking round not just overweight, she's like building a pear shape. I'm almost positive she's pregnant. When she lays down, her bottom half is way bigger than her front half. Btw, her name is Sparkle. We got her on the fourth of July so somehow Sparkle relates to July 4th. She's so big. And yes, I held her for a couple minutes while gently covering my hands over her belly and I felt tiny kicks. If she has babies, I'll let you know. Her again:  |
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jul 23, 2012 6:29:33 GMT
She looks lovely and very happy. Defo decrease the handling as even slight mishaps with hands can stess the pups out more so than the sow herself.
Plenty of veggies and hay and dont overdo the pellets(dry food)
If she is inpig id say give her a few weeks to gain. shes not huge but that means nothing.
best of luck and do keep us posted.
Kayleigh
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Jul 23, 2012 19:22:02 GMT
Okay, I know I will. Thanks for the help!!
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Aug 2, 2012 3:03:38 GMT
Alright, it's confirmed. She's really round and quite in the pear shape. I've felt movement, I think. She twitches and things. I can post a picture if you want one. You can tell she is slim and skinny and then it comes to her belly... Hehe. I'm thinking she's most likely pregnant so yeah. I can post a picture of an update again, if you want, and you can tell me what you think!!
Kira
|
|
hiccup
Newborn Piggy
Posts: 10
|
Post by hiccup on Aug 2, 2012 7:42:37 GMT
Pigtures please!  |
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Aug 2, 2012 19:08:53 GMT
Pictures would be lovely!! Also a weight on your sow would be good too!!
Kayleigh
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Aug 2, 2012 23:00:03 GMT
Alright. She weighs 2.310. And I tried to get pictures of her stretching out so you can see the expanded part of her belly.    I got different angles for you. Seeing her for real is way better because you can see her belly is very round but the rest of her body is fine, like a normal pig. I've been checking if she is in her cycle, she hasn't had one for around a month. She is super protective over her belly and hates being picked up and LOVES to eat. If she isn't pregnant, what could she have? |
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Aug 3, 2012 7:54:36 GMT
She definately looks inpig in the bottom photo. Just a waiting game now. Sometimes sows abort or reabsorb their young if stressed. The only other symptoms that produce like pregnancy are bloat Nd ovarian cysts. But if shes eating. Happy and healthy then i doubt its anything bad.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Aug 4, 2012 5:01:26 GMT
Oh, I'm absolutely positive she's pregnant. I give them a salad per day and she eats the fastest out of all my 3 pigs. Before I thought she was pregnant, I put them all together and they sorted out their dominance and everything. No stress caused. She has a HUGE appetite. One of mine will eat half a slice of carrot while she eats 2 slices of carrots. I run my fingers on both sides and she's skinny but then her belly expands and is so huge!! I hate waiting.. Hehe. She's pretty bossy and she hasn't been in season for like a month... I'm not sure though. If she is pregnant, how long until I feel the babies? I think she's pretty big but no strong kicks?? I feel kind of bubbly things inside of her. Of course, I never press.  Here's a picture of her reaching in for another piece of their salad. Her belly just extends so much. It's WAY better seeing it in real life though. The main thing is, I think she's pregnant. |
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Aug 4, 2012 6:45:28 GMT
From 6 weeks you can feel the pups, at 8 weeks you will be able to feel feet, bodies ect very well. As she nears her due date id suggest seperating her from her cage mates. Jus to give her peace and quiet.
Its odd that shes skinny except at her belly area. How long have you had her now, just over 4 weeks? In her previous home was she being fed correctly (if you know)
Is she being housed with 2 females?
Keep up the good feeding and keep an eye on her. she could be about 5 weeks pregnant if you can feel small bulges so you could have a long 5 weeks ahead!
Iv had some females who to a novice owner would think are inpig but are just healthy chunky pigs.
Looking back at the pictures above, the first few she doesnt look like shes inpig, but the latest snap she looks like she could be.
Waiting is the longest part.
Kayleigh
|
|
hiccup
Newborn Piggy
Posts: 10
|
Post by hiccup on Aug 4, 2012 11:48:48 GMT
In the last pic she does look like she could be to me. The waiting takes forever! Lol my pig looks like a ball with a head now!
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Aug 5, 2012 1:05:43 GMT
Haha, that's funny. She's not really skinny. She just has a normal body until her belly. Ya, I have felt bubbly objects in her.
I also feel little popping on her sides. Is that just her digesting? It feels a lot like teeny tiny feet kicking though.
My other pig is really chubby though. Shes not skinny at all from her head to toes!!
But Sparkle (the one I think is pregnant) when I got her she was cramped in with 3 other males. We've had her since July 4th that makes it 1 month being with my male. They had hay and pellets but the woman that was selling them said her daughter didn't care about them anymore. So they might just have never had fruits and veggies before.
I don't think shes just a good eater though. One of my other guinea pigs' belly expanded after he ate his salad. I accidentally gave too much. I'm more careful now though. But now he's fine. Well I mean he's skinny still but now really skinny. Just the normal size.
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Aug 7, 2012 1:23:27 GMT
Is that just her digesting??
Btw, Im not prodding and poking her. I'm gently feeling her sides, not even putting any pressure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Aug 7, 2012 6:04:47 GMT
So when you got her on july 4th you housed her with your boar? To breed? Or is your boar neutered.
Is she still being housed with the boar?
Iv never felt digestion in a pig as such. As they are constantly grazing on something it would be Constant thing.
Without actually seeing/feeling the sow i cant be sure. So i can only suggest waiting to see how she grows ocer the next 3-4 weeks.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by cavylover12 on Aug 7, 2012 15:31:49 GMT
Ya, I was looking for a young healthy female to breed with my male for like a month. I found one on July 4th and put her in with my male. That could have been a bad decision but shes like 2 years old. She's had a litter before though. I feel tiny popping in her sometimes. I've seen her like twitch a little coming from her belly. I'm in a rush right now, but later I can post a picture, it really shows her belly expanding. Gtg. Yes I'm breeding both on purpose!!
|
|
