Is my female pregnet or sick or lazy

Question
yes please all the info i can get most of the places I go to online don't give me good information she is rathaer smaller than a full grown piggy so I think she is still young
-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
I recently got a male and female piggy at a sale barn they came in a box together and so I just went ahead and housed them together and the first couple days the male hunched the female  and now the female just wants to make her a bed and lay around all the time I'm experienced in breeding rabbits mice and dogs cats and goats but new with piggies

Answer -
She most likely is pregnant, as long as she was in heat when they mated. One thing that you do have to worry about now though is she might be too old to safely have babies, if she hasn't been bred before she was 10 months old then her pelvic bones have fused making it hard for the babies to come out of the birth canal, if she is under 10 months though she could have other problems, but you shouldn't have to deal with that. If she is pregnant she should start to show around the 2nd week, maybe later depending on how many babies she has. Gestation period is 68 days, I know alot of sources will tell you between 63-70 days, but all of my pigs that I have had always deliver the 68th, some the 69th. The babies will start to move in her belly 4 weeks before they are due, some babies are a little slow and will move 3 1/2 weeks before, when they start moving though count ahead so you will know the due date. Also I would count ahead from the day that you saw them mate to get an estimate too. Females can absorb their babies, especially if she is older, she might grow to have a big belly then over a week slim down again. Also there is a possibility that the male could be sterile, or they could have not successfully mated, you really won't know until she starts to show. The babies are born fully haired and with their eyes open, they can also eat some solid food from day one. It is best to try to be there when the female delivers, try to keep washcloths by the cage to help clean the babies, if you'd like more information on setting up a baby kit and cleaning them off let me know. Babies are typically weaned between 3-4 weeks, depending on how bad the mom wants to wean them, some moms tend to spoil their babies. I would make sure to have a vet phone number ready though if the mom is over 10 months, also if she is I can give you directions on how to do a water birth with the guinea pig when a baby is stuck. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Brittany


Answer
I will start out with what I use for a baby kit for my pregnant females.
1 small plastic tub or crate, to be used to hold supplies, and to put the babies in when they are born.

At least 6 washcloths, try to have twice as many as you think she has babies. To use the washcloths- break open the sac around the baby, then rub the baby vigorously until it starts breathing.

1 human baby nose aspirator, this is used to suck any fluid from the baby's nose and mouth, try to get one with a small tip.

1 pack of septic powder, Kwick Stop, to stop the bleeding of the umbilical cord if it is cut too short or mom bites it off too short.

2 grocery sacks, 1 for trash and 1 for dirty washcloths

Optional- a pair of human toe nail clippers, these are used to cut the umbilical cord, it is much better to tear the cord with your hands if you are not afraid of blood, there is less bleeding with this method.

A heating pad is also nice to have but not neccessary.

The babies will come out each in their own sac, They each have their own placenta too, the placentas usually come out all at the end, sometimes though 1 might come out in the middle of the birth, from one side of the uterus. The babies are typically born 5 minutes apart, some faster some slower, however if the female goes for more than 15 minutes of continous contractions without a baby you need to perform a water birth explained later. When the babies come out the mom will remove the sac and lick the baby, also remove the cord, I like to take the babies out and do all of that work my self, but if she is doing a good job just let her go. When you do think that a baby is stuck, after 15 minutes of contractions, go in the nearest bathroom and fill the sink with warm water, and place the female in the sink, with only her head and front legs out of the water. Most of the time this will work, the mother will have a few contractions and the baby will come out, always look for the baby though in the water, then clean it off. If that doesn't work within 10 minutes though call a vet and prepare for a C-section, they typically cost around $500. If you need to know any thing else let me know.
Brittany