How to Prevent Guinea Pig Litter From Coming Out of the Cage

If you find that your guinea pig is pregnant you should acquire suitable housing for the family to ensure that the baby guinea pigs or pups do not escape. Breeding guinea pigs is not recommended, as the animals can have difficulty giving birth, especially if they suffer from a condition called symphisis, in which the pubic bones have joined together with tough cartilage. This is common in guinea pigs over the age of 6 months. According to GuineaLynx.com, these guinea pigs are generally unable to give birth unaided and often require a Caesarean.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden hutch
  • Tank
  • Fencing material
  • Plastic sheeting
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a secure cage for the sow before she gives birth. A wooden hutch with a window secured with wire mesh will provide a suitable environment. The hutch should also have a private nesting area. The spaces between the wire in the hutch window should measure no more than 0.4 inches. Alternatively you can house the family in an open top glass or plastic aquarium, but you must provide shelter inside the enclosure such as a small cardboard box for the mother and pups to nest in. It is important to provide this secure environment before the sow gives birth as baby guinea pigs are able to run almost immediately. Avoid cages with a raised floor grid as babies will be struggle to walk on these and they are not suitable for guinea pigs.

    • 2

      Set up a secure pen around the cage to allow the mother and babies to exercise without escaping. The walls of the pen should be 18 inches tall to ensure that the guinea pigs can't jump over them. You can construct a simple pen using sturdy fencing material wrapped in heavy duty plastic sheeting to cover up any gaps.

    • 3

      Separate the males and females of the litter by the age of three weeks old as this is when they become sexually mature and begin mating if they are not rehoused separately. You can determine the guinea pigs' gender by by squeezing the genital area. In males this will cause the penis to protrude. Provide an environment similar to the one that the guinea pigs were born in to ensure that they do not escape. A cage should measure 4 by 6 feet to hold a pair of guinea pigs.