2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
Guinea pigs - these peaceful and funny animals originally from South America have long become favorite pets in many families. An important role in this was played by the fact that caring for guinea pigs does not require much effort. Kids can handle it too.
This land-dwelling animal was named Piggy for the screech it makes when frightened, as well as for the characteristic "grunt" when it is calm.
Guinea pig housing
Guinea pigs can live in a cage or a terrarium, depending on the breed of the animal. One or a pair of pigs will get along well in a cage-box 40-50 cm high and 40x70 cm in area. But for breeding animals, special cages with two floors are required: the lower one is solid, the upper one is slatted. With group keeping in one cage, one male is settled for 5-6 females. Guinea pigs are quite peaceful animals and get along well with each other.
According to veterinarians, caring for guinea pigs is not difficult, but it is important to remember that the litter plays an important role in keeping animals. It is recommended to use smallsawdust only from hardwoods, as sawdust from softwoods can cause allergies in these animals.
Guinea pig menu
When keeping a guinea pig, you must carefully monitor its diet. These animals should receive various types of feed (juicy, solid) and hay. Usually they are fed with: grass, hay, beets, carrots, oats, slightly moist wheat bran with the addition of s alt, dairy products, bone meal or chalk. Also, a vitamin complex should be mixed into the food or water of guinea pigs daily.
Due to the fact that guinea pigs eat a sufficient amount of root vegetables and succulent herbs, they do not need water. However, a pregnant female needs to provide a drinker with clean water about 2-3 days before lambing.
Guinea pig: care and maintenance
Guinea pigs' homes should be thoroughly cleaned twice a week. However, do not forget about the daily cleaning that needs to be done before feeding (change the water, wash the feeders, remove the toilet corner).
Guinea pigs must be carefully cared for to keep lice out. To do this, wash them with baby shampoo. Also, as necessary, you need to cut the nails of the animals. At the same time, only the light tip of the nail is cut off, without affecting its dark part.
Mating
It is not recommended to mate these animals before 4 months. Pregnancy lasts about two months, after which 2-4 fully formed, covered with hair are born.cub. When dry, the kids are already able to stand firmly on their feet. They feed on their mother's milk for a month.
Guinea pigs and children
Caring for guinea pigs is an enjoyable activity that brings only joy to children. But it is important for them to explain that these cute animals need careful treatment. They can not be lifted by the scruff of the neck, shaken. And the fall of a guinea pig, even from a slight height, can lead to her death. It is especially necessary to protect these animals from other, larger domestic animals, such as cats.
Following these simple but important guidelines for keeping and caring for guinea pigs, you can enjoy the company of these funny and cute animals for a long time.
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