Handraise baby guinea pig?

Question

I'm about to get a baby guinea pig from a friend, and were thinking of getting her tomorrow, which will be four weeks after hir birth. first question: is this too early? should she stay with her mother longer (she no longer relys on the milk, stopped drinking it about 3 days ago) and second question: how do i hand raise her? (if this is possible) or do i just handle her alot and get her used to her surroundings? this will be my third guinea pig :)

Answer 1

its fine to seperate and u cant really handraise u can handle her like u sed every day to get her usedto ur sent

Answer 2

Four weeks is perfectly fine, guinea pigs should be separated by s*x at three weeks.  Tell your friend to make sure that she has separated all male guinea pigs from the females.  Males can be sexually mature as young as three weeks and can impregnate their mom.

You`ll just have to handle her a lot and get her used to being in your home.  Go slow at first and remember to bribe her with lots of yummy veggies.  Have her sit on your lap and work up to gently petting her, this is where veggie bribes definitely come in handy.

Just a couple of things about comments others have made.  Exercise balls are not safe for guinea pigs.  They are sold in stores but are actually dangerous.  A guinea pig has a rigid spine and cannot safely bend in the necessary way to run in an exercise ball or a wheel.

Also, the mom will not eat her young.  I`m not sure where that thought came from, but it just isn`t something that happens with guinea pigs.

Answer 3

NO, not at all. I work for Verizon Wireless, so you may not value my answer...but I have been in a family that owns several pet shop chains throughout California.

Guinea Pigs are born completely with all the instincts they need to survive. They can be separated from the mother as early as 3 days old. They don't require her milk...even though they enjoy it. They already eat on their own.

Play with her all you want. Maybe even get her a hamster ball, while she is a youngster. Young Guinea pigs have the appearance of a full grown hamster.

The first day, maybe two days...you should allow her to settle in. Let her get use to where her food is. Let her make friends or whatever.

Then have fun and play with her.

Answer 4

no, its not too early to get her because if you WAIT too long her mom would maybe eat her, and hand raising her, you dont want to handle her TOO much just let her get used to her surrounding let her feel like home and make sure the other guinnea pig dont wrestle her around too much :D good luck with getting you guinnea pig!