Guinea pig breeding records: what to write down for every animal and litter

Why records matter

Records let you check relatedness before a pairing, see which pairs produce healthy litters, answer buyers’ questions and spot a health problem early. Without them, the information lives only in your memory.

What to record for every animal

Create one record per animal as soon as it joins your herd.

• Name, gender, breed, colour and coat type
• Date of birth, or the date you acquired it and where from
• Parents, so the pedigree builds up
• Registration number and microchip ID, if any
• Weight, tags and free-text notes such as temperament
• A photo and a cage or QR identifier

What to record for every litter

Record a litter when you pair the animals, not only when the pups arrive.

• Boar, sow and the breeding date
• Expected birth date, and the actual one
• Number of pups by sex
• How many were weaned and how many survived
• Average birth weight and any comments

Planning around the due date

A guinea pig pregnancy typically lasts around two months, roughly 59 to 72 days, so write down the breeding date and set an expected birth date you can count down to. Recording the actual birth date over time shows you how long your own sows really carry.

Health and money records

Weigh animals regularly and write down vet visits and medication, so a trend is visible before it becomes a problem. If you sell animals, record every sale with its payment status, and costs such as food, vet and equipment, so you know whether the breeding pays for itself.

Paper, spreadsheet or an app

Paper and spreadsheets work for a few animals, but they do not calculate relatedness, remind you of a birth or link a pup to its litter. If you already have a spreadsheet, import it instead of typing everything again, and keep a backup of whichever system you use.

Frequently asked questions