made of l/2- to 3/ 4- inch-mesh wire netting. In a dark corner a shelf 

 ahout 4 inches high should "be provided for the aniraals. Ttiej Y/ill 

 v-suallj- sleep on the top, and the space "below is a safe retreat for 

 the female, 



lEEDIlTG 



Gu-inea pigs should he fed t\7ice daily on regu.lar schedule and mth- 

 out waste. They req"uj.re ahout the same kinds of feed as do rahhits* 

 A aiixture consisting of equal parts of oats, wheat, and oarley, and a 

 sufficient quantity of soyhean meal, peanut meal, or linseed ireaJ. to 

 form 1© percent of the total, proves satisfactory. Good-qvxility leg-ume 

 hay shotild "be supplied freely. A salt spool and fresh v/ater should al- 

 ways he availahle. Such green feed as garden vegetahles or lavm clip- 

 pings is an excellent conditioner. 



3RESDI1TG 



Well-developed females are sexaally mature at 1 month of ago, 

 Dut the;- should not he ored until 5 or 5 months old. Tlie gestation 

 period is 53 to 70 days. Consequently, under the "best of circuListances 

 not more than 5 litters can he produced within a year. The average 

 numher of young per litter is 3, and the maximum ahout 5. A female in 

 hreeding prime can he e:-cpected to prodtice ahout 12 or 15 yoting annually. 



The young are horn 7/ith eyes open and are fully furred. Tlie mother 

 weans them after aoout 3 -voeks. When the young are taken from the 

 mother, the sexes should he kept separate until mating time. A ^oen 

 holding. 30 to 40 is satisfactory for this purpose. It is always hest 

 to keep animals of aoout the same size together as the older cjid 

 stronger males are likely to injure those just weaned, 



Prom 3 to 5 females should he mated permanently with one male. 

 The females should he so grouped as to get along among them.s elves agrec- 

 ahly. This they usually do, and frequently they nurse young animals of 

 ahout the same age as their own indiscriminately. If the animals ha-'y-e 

 no hereditary wealcness, inhreedirig for a few generations is not harmful. 



MA1IA.GEL511-T 



. The quarters for guinea pigs should always he kept clean and sanitarj'-'. 

 Hutches should he cleaned regularly twice a week, of toner if necess-ar*-. 

 This may he done mthout removing the animals. It is a good plan to 

 ftuaigate and disinfect the hutches once or twice a year. 



The general healthiness of the stock will oe sustained if a imiformly 

 moderate temperature is provided and if the animals arc o-lv/ays kept dry. 



