RAISING GUINEA PIGS. 



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about 3 young each. The first Utter produced by a female usually 

 consists of but 1 or 2. Subsequent ones are commonly larger^ but 

 they rarely number more than 5 or 6. A female in her breeding prime 

 may be expected to raise about 12 to 15 young each year. 



Young guinea pigs are well developed when born, have the eyes 

 open, and are fully furred. They are soon able to run about freely 

 and within a day or two begin to take food other than the mother's 

 milk. When they are about 3 weeks old the mother ceases to 

 give them attention, but it is better to leave them in the hutch with 

 the parents three or four days longer. The weaned animals should 

 then be placed, each sex by itself, in separate cages. Large hutches 

 accommodating 50 or more of the young are desirable, but it is not 

 well to keep males of different sizes in the same cage, as the stronger 

 are apt to fight and injure the weaker ones. 



Fig. 5.— Open indoor runs. 



When 5 or 6 months old the young females may be distributed 

 to breeding pens. From three to five should be kept permanently 

 with one male; but the best results will probably be attained with 

 the smaller number, since the young when newly born will be in less 

 danger from overcrowding. The male should be chosen from among 

 animals older than the young females. Inbreeding is not considered 

 harmful unless continued for 8 or 10 generations. Usually the 

 females agree well together, and when two have young at about the 

 same time both nurse the progeny indiscriminately. Occasionally 

 two females are antagonistic, and then it is desirable to separate them. 



The hutches should be thoroughly cleaned twice a week and fresh 

 litter supplied for the floors. Oat straw, chaff, fine hay, and sawdust 

 all make excellent bedding for the animals. It is not necessary to 

 remove or handle the animals while cleaning the hutches, but this 

 should be done when it is desired to fumigate either hutches or runs. 



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