Guinea Pig Breeding
Not all pet owners would want to go into guinea pig breeding. Doing so would require a bigger space and extra time and money to take care of the pups.
First and foremost, determine how many breeders are in your locality. There might not be enough demand for the pups if there are too many of you.
Make sure you are knowledgeable enough to impart the proper way of caring for guinea pigs to your buyers. Be also ready with a list of things that guinea pigs can eat so that there is little chance for the wee things to get unwittingly poisoned.
Each year, thousands of guinea pigs end up dead because of lack of proper care or excessive breeding. As a breeder, it would be prudent for you to know if there are indeed buyers out there for your pups before you breed them, so you can ensure their proper care.
The Mating
The first time a sow gives birth, it would be best if she is already four to six months old.
It is best to give your babies space when they are about to mate. The sow only has a 16-day cycle, and within that cycle, she can only mate between 8-24 hours.
When you start seeing your male guinea pig walk towards the female with a lowered head, you can be sure he has mating on his mind. He will take deliberate steps towards his intended to get her attention.
Other signs that a male is ready to mate is the rumbling sounds that he makes and the wagging of his rear end.
Be ready to witness a mating dance with the male perching their forelegs on something and start swaying and wiggling.
The dance is actually quite entertaining to watch. But remember that this is actually a mating ritual and they are better off left on their own.
When the female is in heat, she will be open to the male’s overtures and will start making squeaking noises. As the male gets closer, her squeaks will also grow louder in anticipation.
If the female is not yet ovulating, she will spurn all of the male’s advances. She may snap at him or even bite him. Or if he still doesn’t get the point, she will even urinate on his face.
If the reverse happens, the female will make overtures to the male by taking the same deliberate steps that the male would have done, with her head down. In addition, she will turn her rear end up.
If he still doesn’t respond, she will try to back into him to give him a clear signal to mount her. She is, after all, just following on her instinct to propagate her specie.
Know that a male guinea pig has the energy to impregnate up to ten females at the same time. So before you put a boar into a cage of sows, determine how many pups you are able to handle.
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