Six little piggies are growing

The littlest guinea pigs I've ever seen are growing!  Thanks to Peaches loving care and maybe I'll take a little credit too. They were intially fed 2 hourly during the day and 3 hourly at night, then 3 hourly and now 3-4 hourly including nighttime.  Peaches is also feeding them and her little pig boobies will never be the same!  They all snack on solid food and I declare their survival - now at 10 days, and their apparent good health, a miracle.  It's been touch and go but I'm hopeful they're all going to make it, even the littlest weeniest girly with the sore eyes!

They're precocious and tenacious and now won't sit still for photos...so these are the best I could do.  I'm in love with each and every one of these furry little critters. I have named them (from smallest to largest) Ruby, Petal, Blossom, Beatrix, Rosebud (all girls) and Thumper (the only boy).

Six little piggies

Today, Monday, there are still six little piggies. The three largest seem to be thriving as does one of the smaller ones.  The jury is still out of the two little coronets. They are so little. I've never seen baby guinea pigs this tiny. Perfectly formed, enthusiastic about life...but so small they have along way to go.  Milk, milk and more milk! Some mashed vegetables and tiny pieces of grass, but mainly milk. Peaches and I will get through this together as Sweetie keeps a watchful eye on his little family through the wire of his 'boys only' cage.

Birth Announcement

Friday 14th October at approximately 6.30am Sweetie's girlfriend, Peaches, delivered SEVEN adorable babies. Yes SEVEN.  Unfortunately baby one has gone to heaven which still leaves little Peaches with half a football team.  They are all precious little creatures, perfectly formed and eager to live. They are just so tiny - between 35-55 grams each.  Their tiny little mouths are going to find solid food difficult so they are being supplemented with special formula around every four hours (if they were orphaned it would need to be every two hours, but I don't want to interfere with their desire to feed from mama. Sweetie said 'rumblegurglegigglegurgle' which I think means I'm very happy. He then licked and snuggled the baby I showed him.

Peaches is beside herself with a mixture of pride, fear and is STARVING.  I'm doing all I know how to do which is offer everyone food! Lots and lots of yummy treats and encouragement.  Fingers crossed we all survive this miracle.

Allow me to Introduce Sweetie - the World's Oldest Guinea Pig

Meet Sweetie

Sweetie is the World's oldest living Guinea Pig.  He is a black coloured Shelti with a saffron coloured streak (and a few grey hairs) and he is 15 years old.  Sweetie was born in October 1996 to his previous owner, Dolores.  He is gentle, loving and very healthy.  He doesn't look his age and if you don't tell him he's living on borrowed time then he just may never realise. Because of Sweetie's longevity, he is now a celebrity....checkit!!

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/10/01/oldie-is-a-sweetie/

Sweetie lives with his girlfriend Peaches (so named because she is...just peachy) and his first child, Big Pig, an abyssinian male, who is black all over except for a saffron coloured nose.  Big Pig is called Big Pig because he is, well, fat BIG.  Big Pig is also a loving and chillin' dude. (Don't tell Sweetie, but Big Pig is also in love with Peaches...when Sweetie isn't looking they steal kisses through the bars of their adjoining cages - it's like a guinea pig version of The Bold and the Beautiful.)