Nothing like Hershey and Fudge to brighten up a day

Coconut has his 'boys' with him...and he is (now) happy (again).  HERSHEY, COCONUT, and FUDGE

Guinea Pig Depression - no more

Coconut is a mellow guy. Sorta slow. Wobbly. Big. And low-key. But, after we took him out of the cage so Camel could have the pups, he was alone for about a week. And during that week, the poor little guy became so "depressed."

Initially, he would come out of his house on a regular basis and squeak/whistle at us. Protesting his new living accommodations. Protesting being all alone. He was interested in the kids...happy to get out of the cage like never before. And after human interaction, he seem okay...for a day...

THEN, after a few days, he stopped coming out of the house. The little food dish was barely touched. The water didn't need to be changed everyday. And he stopped whistling.

Poor guy.

***

So it was chocolate to our hearts when, after the male pups were confirmed male and placed in his cage...he danced around. He purred, and he walked in circles around the pups. He sniffed, and chased, and seemed to actually kick up his heels.

Then he started eating again...and the water began getting low.

And he was happy!


INTRODUCING:  Hershey and Fudge - perfect remedy for a 'depressed' spirit.  

Two boys and a girl.

So, we had a vet home health visit thanks to our friend (Dr. Altom) and determined the gender of our piggies. There are two boys and one girl.

This is a FEMALE. Y shape, no 'penis'. No 'doughnut'




This is a MALE. With a penis at 12 o'clock, and a round doughnut surrounding the whole thing







Pup 1 is a BOY
Big trucks and everything 'boy.'





Pup 2 is a BOY
Pup 2 on Night Fury Toothless





Pup 3 is a GIRL
Pup 3 is the Princess




And this is Papa Coconut. Confirmation received that HE indeed has testicles, although he is too 'chubby' for his 'foreskin' to be retracted enough to actually reveal his penis - even for the veterinarian.

But there's the doughnut and the penis is felt inside of all that foreskin (which may be why the pet store folks got all mixed up).

The Three Little Piggies

Just as suspected...she was pregnant!!

"Was" being the operative word.

Welcome to the world little Piggies!!













Pup 1






Pup 2



Pup 3

Isn't it amazing how BIG they are. Those 3 Piggies look like collectively they occupy more space than their mother after a large meal. Fully developed, walking, eating "adult" food....

....much different from the Kits.

Fun facts:
Guinea pig's process of giving birth is called farrowing.
Boar: Male
Sow: Female
Pup: Baby
A guinea pig pack is called: Group

Carmel and Coconut

"I think Carmel (the guinea pig) is pregnant" was the text message.

***



For Christmas, we got Ian 2 guinea pigs. See, we only wanted one...but every source tells us "you have to get a least a pair, they're social animals and will get depressed if alone."

Ian holds Coconut on Christmas morning

We don't want to cause guinea pig depression...so we got two. Because it was so close to Christmas (and coordinating giving the gift of live animals is never easy) we had to get the GPs from two different locations. So they were different ages. And even though we checked their genitalia, because they were so different in every other obvious way (size, color, hair "style", temperament) we assumed the breeders knew what they were talking about...and allowed the GPs to live in their Town-home together.

Sure. It was a bit suspicious when we saw Coconut (the big one) mount Carmel (the small one)...but in all of my internet "research" I learned that the mounting is an exhibition of 'dominance' not necessarily sexual. And it's not terribly unusual, as 2 GP are 'getting to know each other' that one mounts the other...even if they're both the same gender.

***

Then yesterday, we noticed that Camel's "growing" wasn't just "bigger" but rather significantly *wider*. See, at first we attributed her 'rapid growth' to just being young...and with our excellent care and nurturing, she was thriving so well...and growing so quickly, that were were indeed doing good work.

But then...her girth is just ridiculous. And although we're still not *sure* she's preggers...I mean, come on!

So we decided to sell Cola, Flour, and Cinnamon (!!) to (another) feed store. Made a bit of money...and promptly purchased a few new supplies for the guinea pigs (because now we had to separate the two before she gives birth).


According to my reliable internet research, we should expect that she has 1-4 (probably 2) babies, and the stress of Papa around may cause pre-mature labor, or still-birth.


Now we have Coffee, Popcorn, Pepper, and the two GPs.


Next rabbit we'll get will (likely) be a Flemish Giant so our little guy can start participating in animal shows thru 4-H.

The kits get schooled

Show and tell at school today! The Kits get to experience kindergarten hands!!

$$ Buy Buy Bunny

Day 42. 2/21/12.

The feed store bought all FOUR of the kits that we were looking to give away/sell. It was nice to actually get a check doing something that you would have done for free! They are going to sell each kit for $45!! AND they don't sell rabbits to everyone. So we feel good that the kits will find good homes.

Since we frequently visit this feed store...we will keep you updated.

Ready to go...all boxed up.



Here we are at the feed store



Their new (temporary) home



Bunny display

As we were leaving the store managers say: "If you want to breed again in another month or two, we'll take those too!!!

I think our little guy has a new 'business.'

Forty Days and Forty Nights

It has been forty (one) days! 2.21.12

The kits continue to thrive, and seem to no longer need Mama's milk.
They've been moved out to the garage, and seem to be happier in some ways. Maybe it's just that they SEEM happier because when we do SEE them...they are so happy to see us!!

The time is drawing near...the young kits are almost ready to leave the nest.

Flour

Flour Feature




Flour then and now: from the smallest, tiniest, near-death kit TO the largest, funniest, most social young bunny.


35 days old





16 days old





6 days old

group shot

2/16/12. Day 37

The Bunnies Now

Popcorn, Cola, Flour




A Bunny Pyramid





Group shot (left to right): Flour, Kit 4, Popcorn, Tisty (Kit 6), Thumper (Kit 3), The Fat One, and Cola

Are you a girl, or are you a boy?

We realize we're still sorta guessing here (being rabbit 'breeding' novices and all) but we THINK Flour is MALE:


The little 'slit' doesn't go all the way to the 'base' of the ?penis.


And here is The Fat One (who we caught 'humping' another kit, which motivated us to evaluate his genitalia. And it looks MALE, right?




Contrast to what we think is female

And Popcorn is FEMALE:

See how the 'line' goes all the way down, sorta like a 'hood'?

It's Valentines Day

Love is in the air. Roses and chocolates, giving and receiving.
Today the kits are 35 days old.

The final decision has been made regarding the kits we intend to keep: Cola, Popcorn and Flour. These three are gentle, calm, cooperative, happy little bunnies who enjoy human hands, the energy of children, and tend not to spazz out and scratch in aggression.



Beautiful red roses signify LOVE on Valentines day.

Don't EAT the rose, Cola.

Flour enjoys the aroma of the rose



Popcorn isn't a big fan of roses, but cooperates (reluctantly) for a photo






These are the FOUR that will be leaving us for new adventures:

Kit 4, Kit 6, The Fat One, and Kit 3

The local feed store really wants the kits ASAP. The only requirement is, they have to be able to thrive without Mama's milk. As recommended by the 'rabbit specialist' there: we're going to get another cage, and put two of the kits we are planning to give away sell in there...and monitor their progress. This way, if they fail to thrive, Mama still has plenty of milk and we can transfer them back into the big Condo.

More great news is: They agreed to buy rabbits from US all the time! So Ian is going to start his 'rabbit breeding' business, and has a willing first client.

(Note: We are comfortable with selling them to the feed store because they sell them for >$45 each, and $45 is an expensive piece of meat if all one wants to do it butcher for food. These are *pets*, and PETS are worth $45.)



We have two more names:
The first two we'll sell to the feed/pet store are:


Kit 3

Thumper

This little one LOVES to thump around. S/he will try to 'thump' you if you tickle his belly.



And Kit 6

Tisty (short for Twisty)

This little one twists and turns until you (come super close) to dropping her. She doesn't appreciate being held, and really prefers to be left alone with her bunny siblings.

They will be the first to go.

A Condo with a yard

2.12.12 - Day 33

The Condo is getting a bit small for 8 rabbits, so we frequently open the gate, connect an 'indoor kennel' of sorts to the opening, and allow the bunnies to stretch their legs.

Hopping out

"C'mon Flour. It's nice out here."

More space is nice.