GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT MANUAL - Benson Institute

During the last weeks of gestation the mothers must be well fed so that the babies are at a proper
weight at birth.
BIRTH
At the end of the gestation period the mother gives birth, which requires no assistance and
usually happens at night, lasting between 10 and 30 minutes. The number of newborn guinea
pigs can vary from 1 to 7. The mother consumes the placenta and cleans the guinea pigs, which
are born complete with hair, eyes open, and start to eat forage hours after being born.
The guinea pigs are born very developed because of the long gestation period. They are born
with fully functioning eyes and ears, are covered with hair, move by themselves, and eat forage
shortly after being born.
After birth, the litters of three or more with large guinea pigs should be marked. This way the
best animals for replacement can be chosen.
LACTATION
Lactation is the period in which the mother should nurse her offspring. This period lasts 2 weeks
from the moment of birth until the weaning period (14 days). The young guinea pigs should start
to breast-feed immediately after birth.
FIGURE 17: New born guinea pigs breast-feeding
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