Piggies on the Move

So, I got a hair up my butt to do some rearranging this weekend. I moved my 2-ton desk from my office to the bedroom.

Which left me with a large open space in the office.

I had intended to make the play pen one large area, but then I got to thinking. I spend a lot of time in my office, temperature control is easier, and there is plenty of space for the cage. So, I moved the cage into the office and set up the pen in the living room. The pen is much easier to stow if needed, the piggies can be near me more often, I can move them into the pen if I spend an evening in the living room, and , when I throw a dinner party, I can shut the office door so the noise doesn't bother them. 

An unintended benefit seems to be that the adults are more comfortable is a more enclosed space. They have been chillaxin outside their hidie houses, which I've never seen them do. This is the best picture I could get. Morgause took off when I walked over with my cell phone. Winnie tensed up but stayed where she was.

I did sex check #3 today, and I'm still pretty sure both the pups are female. Between the squirming and the crying, it's hard to get a really good look at their parts. As we are moving into week 3, I'll have to keep an eye on them to check for mounting behavior. Assuming I am right and all goes well, I'll have them for two more weeks before rehomeing them.

Pups - 1 Week

Everyone is doing well. The pups are quick little squeakers! Bon-Bon is OK with sitting in my hand and letting me pet her. Truffle just cries, but I force affection on her for a few minutes. She obviously takes after her mamma. I checked them out again today, and I'm still fairly certain they are both female. I'll wait another week and check again.

As for the adults, they have both learned to get in the Cuddle Cup to travel from cage to pen and back again. Morgause is very good at this. Winnie is OK going from pen to cage, but not so much going from cage to pen. On the trip back today, they couldn't decide who was going to get in first! Winnie actually nipped me the other day when I was carrying her by hand. I just don't think she's going to be the cuddly type. Morgause, on the other hand, climbed up into the hollow of my shoulder the other night and laid there for about 45 minutes, happily purring away.

As you can see, nobody is shy when it's salad time.

Pup Progress

The pups are doing very well. Very much talkers and explorers I did an initial sexing today, and I *think* they are both female, but I'll check again in a couple of weeks. The older ones have taught the babies to chew on their houses, much to my chagrin. At least they don't do it at night. I have decided to name them Bon-Bon and Truffle for the time they are with me (see video to tell them apart). Although, I keep calling them my little gremlins since they are all legs and ears right now.

I've seen them nursing, which is great, also eating pellets and timothy. I give them a bit of alfalfa, but I'm not sure they're eating it. I've also seen one of them drink from a water bottle, so everything appears to be going well.

I'll leave you with this short video of everyone in their extended play pen.

A Valentine's Day Present

Well, two, actually. Winnie had her pups!

They are such wee little things, and already curious about everything.

Both are fine as far as I can tell, as is mama. I'll try to get some better pictures when I move everyone to clean the cage later today.

Pup-date: The Extended Version

So, to give a little more info. When Dr. Lewer walked into the exam room, the first thing he said was, "Apparently, I need an anatomy lesson." I assured him that I did not think he had mis-sexed Morgause. Winnie was too far along for that. Nevertheless, he reexamined Morgause then had three other vets check, too! He said she was either a very undeveloped male, or definitely female. In any case, he X-rayed Winnie to see if he could tell how far along she was. Ossification begins at about 50 days, so if the pups showed up on X-ray, she is at least seven weeks along. Obviously from my last post, they did. And her pelvis is spread so she could have them at any time. It's cool to feel and see them move. Dr. Lewer said to bring the pups in and he would find homes for them.

On a non-pregnancy note, Morgause climbed into the Cuddle Cup all on her own two days in a row when it was time to go back to the cage. I had not expected that at all! I thought it was a fluke the first time. It took a little coaxing the second time, but not much.

I had an early eye appointment this morning, so Morgause and I had some cuddle time.

Actually, I'm just trying to butter her up to clip he nails soon :)

Pup-date

I promised an update yesterday and forgot. Here it is: Two. 7-8 weeks. And I'll just leave this right here.

Padding, Play, and...Pups?!?

I received my second set of felt flipper covers/liners and put them in place today. Obviously, I am sticking to a secondary color scheme.

It was much easier to get the cage cleaned and turned around with a second set.

When I got the existing cage, I also got two felt strip balls for the girls to play with (you can see one in the picture above). One is in the cage and one is in the playpen. They get moved around, but I'd never seen either of the girls actually playing with one...until the other day. I had them in the pen, and I happened to glance over just in time to see Winnie rolling one around with her nose! She stopped as soon as I tried to take a picture, of course.

You can see Morgause being chill, and Winnie glaring at me for interrupting. You may notice something else about Winnie in that picture. Here, let me show you a couple more...

Looking a bit round, isn't she? Yes, dear friends, I am 99% sure those are puppy pouches. I'm taking her to see Dr. Lewer tomorrow for "confirmation," although I don't think it's necessary at this point. I'm still certain that Morgause is female. If I'm right, Winnie is about six weeks along, which means she was pregnant when I got her. If it turns out she is, the Humane Society will be getting a piece of my mind...and some guinea pig pups if I can't find anyone to adopt them. I'll update tomorrow after the vet visit.