Meeting the dad

Question
My sow gave birth just a week ago, and the vet told me not to introduce the father to the babies just yet. I have 3 females (the mother and the two babies) and I definitely won't let the mother play with the father, but when can I let the daughters meet him? I want to do so before they are weaned but how will they react? The dad rumblestruts (mating behavior) at their scent but will it pass after a few minutes of play? Will the babies accept him and become attached or will they spend their time crying for their mother?

Thanks for the help

Answer
Amanda,

I wouldn't recommend introducing the father to the female babies at any point. If they are still young, he will be be interested in them sexually because of their mother's scent on them, and she may reject them when you return them because of the father's scent on them. If you wait until they are weaned, he will be interested in them sexually because of their own scents and try to mate with them; this could cause injury or a complicated pregnancy because of the girls' small size. By all means, hold them up to his cage so he can see them, but don't let them in. I realise this may be disappointing to hear, but guinea pigs do not really have family values and he won't see them as things to look after the way their mother does.

If you have any other questions ... just ask!

Best wishes,
Jenny.