My guinea pig had babys and did not care for them and they died but why did she not take care???

Question

i did not know what to do !one died when it was born and one died again then the last one died!but why wasn't the mama taking care of her?

i thought it was because she was to young what do u think?please answer!) - :

Answer 1

she could have been in-experienced or just depressed. if guinea pigs think that their young will die then they will kill them so that they dont suffer. they also could have been sick. or she could have been very upset about the first baby dying - especially if you took it out of the cage. i hope that helps!

Answer 2

maybe because you always touch her babies?? because guinea pigs mom is sulking whenever you touch her babies, or got anger..

or maybe you put them into a huge cage, so the babies is crawling anywhere, and the mother can't take care of them..

before I put my guinea pigs into aquarium or small cage, and I put a cloth as their bed and put a thin wood as a border, so that the babies would not crawl around...

I hope it helps.. Good Luck..!

Answer 3

She's a bad mother... that would seem like a logical answer...

Answer 4

Susan gave you a very good answer.

It is possible that there was something wrong with them that you couldn't see, but that the mum could.

It is also possible that she was just too young.

Guinea pigs are typically good at rearing their young, as their natural instinct usually kicks in, which makes me believe there was something wrong with the pups. For this reason alone, you should not breed her.

It wasn't anything you did, I'm sure. Touching the pups does not cause the mum to reject them. Sometimes, complications occur during pregnancy or birth that cannot be helped.

I'm sorry your piggie babies didn't make it, but I'm glad your mum piggie is okay.

Answer 5

Have you read http://www.cavyspirit.com/breeding.htm and http://www.guinealynx.info/breeding.html ?

She may have been inexperienced but the fact they were born then died not at the same time, means there was likely a congenital issue and she rejected them for a reason.