59. A New Year and New Arrivals

16th January 2019

A New Year and New Arrivals

Today we welcomed our first baby guinea-pigs to Kookaburra Nook Homestead.

We were astonished to find that first time Mum 'Cherry' had delivered 5 babies. Three of them were healthy little bundles of joy but there was a set of identical twins which were tiny. One of these was already dead when we first discovered the babies, the other was barely clinging to life. 

'Cherry' was feeding the three healthy babies (all weighing between 42-45g) but it soon became clear that she had chosen to reject 'Wilbur' who weighed in at a mere 33g. 

As the day got warmer 'Wilbur' was showing signs of dehydration. We held 'Cherry' and attached 'Wilbur' who drank weakly but if we didn't hold her she refused to feed him. It was becoming clear that if we didn't intervene, 'Wilbur' was not going to make it.

Jamie sort advice from our local vet about hand rearing 'Wilbur' and armed with tiny syringes and critical care formula we have taken over caring for 'Wilbur'.