Guinea Pigs, sometimes called Cavies, are rodents that come from the grasslands of South America and were introduced by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century. Sailors kept them as pets, and their name is believed to have come from the fact they were sold for a guinea each.
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Guinea Pigs are not happy living on their own, they should always have the company of another pig of the same sex. Obviously sows can live happily with a neutured boar.
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Guinea pigs should not be bred from after one year old. If they have not had babies before then their pelvic bone fuses and are unable to give birth and will more than likely prove fatal to your sow.
Gestation period is 60 - 65 days.
Baby boars should be taken away from mother and sisters when they are 4 - 5 weeks old, otherwise they will start mating them as this early age.
Litter sizes 2 - 4. Weaning age 3 - 4 weeks.
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If you have a cold your guinea pig can catch it off you, so either stay away or wear a mask when around them.
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Too much lettuce or spinach is not good for your guinea pig, so feed very sparingly.
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Do not use fly spray around guinea pigs, it will kill them.
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