Raising Guinea Pigs Page: 7
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RAISING GUINEA PIGS.
breeder undertaking to supply animals to laboratories must give
absolute assurance as to their suitability for experiments. If he
can do this and furnish the animals as needed, he should be able to
command good prices for them and to establish a permanent and
lucrative business.
MANAGEMENT OF GUINEA PIGS.
Few animals are as easily raised as guinea pigs. They are much
less subject to diseases than rabbits. The more important items in
their management will be explained under the headings: Selection of
stock; Hutches and pens; Food; Breeding; and Diseases and enemies.
SELECTION OF STOCK.
For all purposes, except show, the only kinds of guinea pigs that
should be grown are the smooth-haired varieties. These are of
several colors. Those with pink eyes are albinos, usually pure white,
but sometimes more or less marked with obscure spots. Occasion-
ally an individual guinea pig is of a single color other than white.
Thus they may be red, gray, brown, or glossy black, but it seems
impossible to produce a pure strain of self-colored stock, except the
white. The majority of domestic cavies are spotted, the common
colors being fawn, light gray, red brown, dark brown, and cream,
interspersed with white or black or both white and black. The pig-
ment of the hair extends also to the skin, which is white only under
white or cream areas of fur.
If guinea pigs are raised for table use, light-colored kinds are to be
preferred; if for scientific purposes, color is of little importance,
although distinctive markings are desirable. When raised as pets
or for show, the fancy of the breeder may be followed. In any case
strong healthy animals of good size should be chosen for breeding
stock. A full-grown cavy in good flesh should weigh nearly 2 pounds.
This weight will not often be attained under 18 months of age.
Instances of 3 pounds weight for males at 3 years have been recorded.
As a rule females, except when pregnant, are lighter than males of
the same age. The chief point in selecting stock is to obtain healthy
animals that will mature quickly and attain a good size.
HUTCHES AND PENS.
Two general methods of managing guinea pigs have been advo-
cated--courts and hutches. In court management the animals are
kept in open or covered courts in which they have considerable room
to exercise. The courts are divided into smaller runs, each of which
has its own hutches or sleeping shelters. The size of the runs is
525
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Lantz, David E. (David Ernest). Raising Guinea Pigs, pamphlet, 1913; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc85739/m1/7/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.