Do female guinea pigs come into season?
Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth.
How old do guinea pigs have to be to get pregnant?
Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old. With all this said, don’t be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still seems young to you.
When do guinea pigs start showing signs of puberty?
If your guinea pigs start showing changes at two months of age, then expect them to settle down once they are 10-12 months old. Some guinea pigs might take an extra month or two before their hormone settles down. Some male guinea pigs might experience a shift in hormone even after they pass the 12 months mark.
When to separate a male guinea pig from a female guinea pig?
They can even eat solid food shortly after birth. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old.
How can you tell if a guinea pig is a male or female?
If your adult female guinea pig gave birth, you can try to determine the sex of the babies soon after they are born. Female guinea pigs will have what looks like a tiny grain of rice in their genital area. Male guinea pigs will have a white ring in this area.
How long is the gestation period for a guinea pig?
The estrous cycle length is 16 days. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common.
When is the best time to breed a guinea pig?
Image Credit: Mateusz Sienkiewicz, Shutterstock If your wish is to breed your guinea pig, the best time to breed is before your female turns 7 months old. Before this age, your female guinea pig still has the ability to widen her pelvis right before birth. After 7 months, this function does not work as well.
How old do guinea pigs have to be to have an estrous cycle?
Female guinea pigs (sows) mature sexually as young as 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. The estrous cycle length is 16 days.
They can even eat solid food shortly after birth. Guinea pigs can especially sexually mature early for animals. Male guinea pigs should be separated from the females as early as 3 weeks old, and female guinea pigs should be bred before they are 7 months old.
The estrous cycle length is 16 days. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 hours, most often during night hours. Female guinea pigs begin a new estrous cycle shortly after giving birth. The guinea pig gestation period is 59 to 72 days.
Why is my female guinea pig mounting my other female?
The mounting is never sexual and should not worry you. It just means that they are trying to mark their territory by showing the weaker one that they are in charge. This behavior in guinea pigs can also mean that the dominant one is showing the dominated companion that they are on top.
