How to Choose a Guinea Pig for Breeding

Breeding guinea pigs is a risky process that requires knowledge and dedication to the subject. If you wish to breed guinea pigs, it's important to research the topic extensively and familiarise yourself with the potential issues of breeding. Because of the high mortality rate of pregnant sows, breeding is not recommended for beginner owners as it requires expertise in the field. Regardless of the challenges you may face ahead, if you devote your time, resources, and commitment to the subject, it can become a rewarding experience. To begin, you will need to know how to choose a suitable sow and boar to breed.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Deciding to Breed

  1. Breeding guinea pigs is a risky process that requires dedication, time, and commitment. Most importantly, breeding requires plenty of expertise, not only on the topic itself, but on the care and maintenance of cavies and their pups. Before you begin breeding, ask yourself why you plan on making this decision. Do you intend on selling the pups? Would you like to keep them as pets? Or perhaps you want to start up a new hobby? It's important that your purpose for breeding is based on good faith.
    • Breeding is not something that should be done for fun. It takes experience and proper knowledge for the pregnancy to be carried out safely.
    • Breeding guinea pigs is not largely profitable due to the high availability of guinea pigs within pet stores and shelters. Do not expect to turn a significant profit. Ensure that there is a high-demand for guinea pigs within your area before you plan on breeding to confirm that your pups will have homes.
  2. Sows have a high mortality rate of 20%. If the chosen sow is insufficient for breeding, you risk a higher chance of fatality and health defects affecting both the mother and her pups.
    • Health issues can arise through the last stages of pregnancy, including toxaemia and stillbirth pups due to the fusing of the pelvic bones.
    • Have a 24 hour vet on hand in case any immediate health issues arise. You should have an adequate emergency savings for veterinary care.
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  3. Breeding is a large financial commitment that requires personal sacrifices and the devotion of time and resources. Construct a financial plan dedicated to means such as equipment, housing, feed, bedding, and veterinary care.
    • Sows can birth up to eight pups at a time which will need to be separated at three weeks of age depending on the sex of the litter. Be mindful that you will need several housing set-ups to separate boars from sows and single out any runts of the litter.
    • After impregnating the sow, the breeding boar will have to be separated halfway through the pregnancy period. Then, any male pups should join him at three weeks of age while the female pups remain with the sow. [1]

    Did you know? : Female guinea pigs are fertile as early as four weeks of age and males are fertile as early as three weeks of age. [2]

  4. If you're new to owning guinea pigs and lack in experience and expertise, breeding is not for you. Pregnant sows and pups require special care before and after birth. Familiarise yourself with the requirements to ensure optimum health and sufficient outcome from your guinea pig's pregnancy.
    • Pregnant sows and pups require a special diet consisting of alfalfa hay and alfalfa hay-based pellets. Alfalfa will provide your guinea pig with the extra nutrients and calcium that's essential for the pup's development and the mother's recovery. [3]
    • Adjustments to the cage may be necessary. Guinea pig pups are small and can easily escape through any large holes of C & C grids. You will also need to adjust their water bottle and food bowls to a lower level. Baby guinea pigs begin to eat solids as early as a few days old.
    • Increase the space of the cage to a minimum of 10.5 square feet to accommodate for the baby guinea pigs as they grow. The more space you can provide the happier they will be.
  5. There are several variations of guinea pigs breeds differentiating from coat length, colour, and texture. Choose two guinea pigs of the same type rather than cross-breeding. This will ensure that you're producing a high-quality litter. There are generally three types of guinea pigs, which include:
    • Short-haired breeds such as the American standard and Abyssinian, of which are two of the most common breeds. Teddy, Texel, Crested, and Rex guinea pigs are also a few more short-haired breeds.
    • Long-haired breeds, such as Sheltie, Peruvian, Silky, and Coronet.
    • Hairless guinea pigs, also known as skinny pigs. These breeds are much less common and are generally marketed at prices between $80 and $100 US dollars.

    Warning : Dalmatian and Roan breeds should never be intentionally bred as they carry a lethal gene that causes microphthalmia in offspring. [4]

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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Choosing a Healthy Guinea Pig

  1. A female guinea pig needs to be sexually mature to breed but also not too old to give birth. This allows an extremely small window of opportunity. The recommended breeding age for sows is anywhere from six to eight months. [5]
    • Choosing a sow older than eight months to breed is dangerous due to the stiffening of the pelvis that occurs when the female reaches adulthood. [6] Doing so will put your sow at risk of requiring a Caesarean section, which are rarely successful in small animals.
  2. While it's less important for a male guinea pig to be of a certain age at the time of breeding, choose a boar over six months of age and no older than two years of age. Boars that are too old to breed decrease reproductive quality and may cause potential health defects in young. [7]
  3. Pedigrees, sometimes referred to as purebred, have documented bloodlines, characteristics, and a general history you can look back on that will help you better predict the outcome of the breeding you have planned. [8]
    • Purebred pedigrees are crucial for guinea pigs of show-class quality. Otherwise, the history of pet guinea pigs are not of the same importance. However, the medical history of a guinea pig is still important for the purposes of ethical breeding and the desired outcome of a high-quality litter.
    • The intention of pedigree breeding is to ensure a litter that out-produce themselves in the hope that the offspring will be of better quality and meet the ideal of the breed standard more closely than their parents. [9]
    • Even having two pedigree and purebred guinea pigs does not ensure a good cross. You must carefully evaluate your pairing to make sure your guinea pigs complement each other in confirmation. [10]
  4. Guinea pigs have several hereditary diseases that could affect their offspring and cause deformities in health. When breeding two guinea pigs of unknown heritage, there is a bigger potential for birthing problems and genetic defects. [11]
    • Never breed related guinea pigs.
    • Never breed Dalmatian or roan guinea pigs. These breeds carry a lethal gene that causes microphthalmia in offspring, also known as "lethal whites". [12]
  5. When selecting a breeding pair, it's important to examine your guinea pig for any health defects or unappealing traits. Assess the eyes, nose, ears, teeth, weight, and genitals of your guinea pig.
    • Guinea pigs should not be underweight or overweight as this affects the success of breeding. An adult sow should weigh 700-900 grams and an adult boar should weigh 900-1200 grams. [13]
    • Your guinea pig's eyes should be clear and clean, not crusty or lustreless. Their teeth should be clean and unstained and the long incisors in the upper jaw should overlap and just touch the bottom incisors. [14]
    • Check the feet to be sure they are well formed and move easily. The feet should be uninjured and without flakes, red spots, or scars. [15]
    • Select a boar and sow with a broad head, bold eye, and a good muzzle. Look for a thick coat that correlates to the texture of the breed.
  6. A healthy guinea pig should be plump, alert, and docile towards you and other guinea pigs. Your guinea pig may initially appear fearful or skittish but should, in a short time, respond positively to gentle stroking. [16]
  7. Back to back pregnancies are dangerous and risky. Sows should be given enough time to rest in between each litter and should only be bred at maximum twice within their lifetime, providing the pregnancy was successful. Sows need at least 4 months to rest to help ensure the quality of subsequent litters.
  8. You'll want to ensure you have a boar and a sow before pairing the two. Check directly above the anus while holding the guinea pig on it's back. A female's genitals will look like a Y shape while a male will have an I slit where you can see the testes.
    • If you're unsure, have your guinea pigs professionally sexed by a qualified veterinarian.
  9. Book an appointment with a qualified veterinarian to ensure both guinea pigs are healthy and do not warrant any underlying symptoms of illness or disease.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Introducing Your Breeding Pair

  1. It's recommended to keep both guinea pigs in separate cages for two weeks to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and parasites. Illnesses in guinea pig's often have long incubation periods where symptoms may not present themselves within the first few weeks.
  2. If you haven't done so already, set up a suitable enclosure where your breeding pair will be interacting for the first few months. A neutral environment will prevent issues with territorial behaviour and allow both guinea pigs to assimilate comfortably.
    • Provide multiples inside of your guinea pig's cage, including food bowls, hiding spots, and toys.
    • Distract your guinea pig's with plenty of food, such as large bundles of hay and vegetables scattered around the cage.
  3. While a male and female pair are generally easy to introduce and acclimate, keep a watchful eye on your guinea pigs in case any fights erupt. Occasional bickering and displays of dominance are normal and should only be interrupted if blood or serious damage occurs.
    • Avoid multiple introductions. These are likely to cause greater tension. It's easier and less stressful to devote a day to bonding and complete the introduction period as soon as possible.
  4. You may notice certain patterns of behaviour that indicates your guinea pigs are sexually active, including displays of dominance, vocal cues, and mounting. These are good signs that indicate your pair are ready to breed.
    • Allow your boar to remain with the sow for several weeks to ensure they bond and reproduce in a stress-free environment. Multiple introductions can affect the breeding process. Remove the boar halfway through the sow's pregnancy to prevent back to back pregnancies.
    • 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. [17]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What could happened if I breed the sow under 4 months old?
    Amy Harrison
    Top Answerer
    Sows have a high mortality rate, at 20%. The best time to breed them is when the sow is at 4 - 7 months of age. If she is too young, she might not be at the best weight to carry and give birth to a healthy litter of pups. This only opens risks of her having stillborn pups or suffering from toxemia.
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  • Question
    Can different breeds of guinea pigs breed?
    Amy Harrison
    Top Answerer
    Yes, however, roan and dalmatian breeds shouldn't be bred by inexperienced breeders, as they carry genes that can pass deformities to pups.
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      Tips

      • A guinea pig's litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. [18]
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      • Female guinea pigs can become pregnant soon after giving birth. It's important to remove the boar before then. [19]
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      • Avoid breeding during winter times if your guinea pigs are housed outdoors. Colder weather makes it difficult to keep guinea pig pups warm.
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      Warnings

      • Breeding often reduces the lifespan of female guinea pigs. [20]
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      • Breeding a female guinea pig for the first time after she reaches 8 months of age can be very dangerous because of the normal stiffening of the pubic symphysis. [21]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html
      2. ↑ https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html
      3. ↑ https://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html
      4. ↑ http://www.cavyangelsguineapigrescue.com/microphthlamia-lethal-gene.php
      5. ↑ https://www.thesprucepets.com/breeding-guinea-pigs-1238878
      6. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs
      7. ↑ https://thereptileguide.com/when-is-a-guinea-pig-too-old-to-breed/
      8. ↑ https://qualitycage.com/blogs/quality-rabbit-care/the-basics-of-breeding-rabbits-part-one
      9. ↑ https://qualitycage.com/blogs/quality-rabbit-care/the-basics-of-breeding-rabbits-part-one
      1. ↑ https://qualitycage.com/blogs/quality-rabbit-care/the-basics-of-breeding-rabbits-part-one
      2. ↑ https://qualitycage.com/blogs/quality-rabbit-care/the-basics-of-breeding-rabbits-part-one
      3. ↑ http://www.cavyangelsguineapigrescue.com/microphthlamia-lethal-gene.php
      4. ↑ https://www.guinealynx.info/weigh.html
      5. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/selecting-a-guinea-pig
      6. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/selecting-a-guinea-pig
      7. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/selecting-a-guinea-pig
      8. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs
      9. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs
      10. ↑ https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html
      11. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs
      12. ↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs

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