How to Look After Guinea Pig Babies
What Do Baby Guinea Pigs Need?
Thankfully, baby guinea pigs don’t have any specific needs or requirements that you must see to. They are almost fully independent from their first day in the big wide world! Their only requirement is that they must be kept close to their mother as they will need to nurse from her. Guinea pig milk is full of healthy fats, vitamins, and antibodies to help the babies grow big and strong.
Besides the need for milk, baby guinea pigs have the same needs as adults do. They need access to fresh water and hay every day and can eat a variety of vegetables and pellets. Hides and toys will be a great addition too, as they will learn their play behaviours from the adults in their herd.
While the new piggies are still young, you may want to increase the frequency that their enclosure is cleaned. Baby animals’ immune systems are far less developed than an adult, and they can fall sick much more easily. An increase in cleaning will ensure there are no harmful pathogens around.
How Soon Can You Handle Baby Guinea Pigs?
There is no need to wait when it comes to handling baby guinea pigs! If the babies and mother are willing and open to interacting with you, then you can handle them as much as your heart's content. Holding or touching a baby will not cause their mother to reject them. In fact, a new mother may be thankful that you can babysit her pups while she takes a much-needed rest.
A baby guinea pig relaxing outside
How to Prepare for Baby Guinea Pigs
If you are expecting some baby guinea pigs, then your enclosure may need a few adjustments. While their welfare needs remain the same as an adults’, their home will need to be changed slightly. Some key factors to consider are:
Enclosure size – babies grow awfully fast; you’ll want to ensure their enclosure is big enough to house them through to adulthood.
Easy to reach water – baby guinea pigs will need water and most likely will struggle to reach a typical water bottle. You may want to reposition your existing one lower to the ground, or add a shallow bowl of water for the babies to drink from.
No place to escape – newborn pups are super small, and highly inquisitive. They may be able to fit through gaps in their enclosure that an adult can’t to explore their new home. Make sure to reinforce any gaps in their cages to keep them from wandering too far.
Should Baby Guinea Pigs be Kept Inside?
Guinea pigs can be happily kept inside or outside, as long as all their welfare needs are met, and the same would apply to guinea pig babies. However, it’s important to consider the specific needs of the guinea pig litter. Piggy pups can eat, drink, and move around freely hours after birth but they do have some sensitivities. Babies can’t regulate their temperature as effectively as an adult can which means they need to be housed in an area that can consistently remain around 19 – 22°C.
For the newborn to juvenile guinea pig life stages, it may be best to house them inside as it is much easier to monitor their temperatures this way. Once they are all grown up, you can freely move them outside if you see fit.
