Buckle up Buttercup

[renonvsparky]

Starting a new thread for Buttercup, the female Abby that was (kinda) forced on my herd. I was not happy about the way she came to be my guinea pig, but all of that has been put aside because she's a guinea pig in need and I can't turn my back on her now that she's here. She's a pretty good eater and seems to be healthy. She's about a year old and doesn't mind being handled. She doesn't come up to the front of the cage to greet me but she doesn't run away when I reach in to pick her up either.

I don't think it's possible she's pregnant but I don't know what her situation was before my daughter got her. She had a cage mate but her previous owners had already re-homed that guinea pig. I don't think she was paired with a boar but missexing happens all the time with guinea pigs. Her belly is a little harder than the boys. I have no knowledge about sows, so don't know if that's a sign of pregnancy or just a thing with sows. It's also possible that I'm just letting the worry get to me.

I was out of town for a graduation and to look at property in Missouri when she came here so it was about a week after she arrived that I got to meet her. She was kept clear of the boys as far as I was told, so if she is pregnant, it happened before she got here. I'll keep an eye on that. None of the boys seem aware that she's there. She's about 15 feet away from them, which is about as far as I can put her in the room. She can't go anywhere else, which is why I didn't want any female guinea pigs. I'm not sure how aware she is that she's in a room full of boars. She knows she's not the only piggie because of the wheeking that goes on a lot in there but she may not know that there are 7 boars across the room. Either way it doesn't seem to bother her.

I just want her to be happy and healthy so I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen.

[renonvsparky]

This is Buttercup. Beautiful Abby.

[Sef]

Aw, isn't she a cutie? Fingers crossed for a non-pregnant piggy.

[janlovingcavies]

She is gorgeous! Hoping she's not pregnant and lives a long happy life bringing you nothing but happiness and joy!

[renonvsparky]

I'm pretty sure Buttercup isn't pregnant. Her belly is soft again. It wasn't rock hard when I first picked her up. More like it was firm and not squishy. They had fed her shortly before I got home, so that could account for it. I'm probably just paranoid. She's getting a little more active now too, so the apprehension towards her new environment is wearing off. Still doesn't seem to be bothered by her 7 male roommates because she looks pretty relaxed when she comes out to eat, drink or explore her cage and she's very reactive to food and rattling plastic.

[janlovingcavies]

So nice she is settling in nicely! Guess she will be a permanent resident? Hoping boys are OK when she comes into season. BUT living on her own she might not, especially if her cage mate was the dominant female.

When It comes to food girls learn fast and food conquers all fears! Keep us posted on what you decide to do with sweet Buttercup!

[Sef]

Best of luck to the sweet girl!

[renonvsparky]

I found out that Buttercup was with another female who bullied her. Might explain why she hides a lot of the time, yet doesn't mind being picked up and handled. She's going to be ok. Just needs some time and TLC. I put her out in the grass yesterday. I put her hidey in the pen with her in addition to the usual cover over the pen so she could have extra overhead security. It took some time, but she did come out to explore the pen and eat some grass. She doesn't know much about grazing yet, but she'll get it soon enough.

[Sef]

I'm sure she'll catch on in no time.

[renonvsparky]

She's already catching on. She actually came out and nibbled on the cage wires for food this morning. She wheeks too. All it takes is the slightest sound of anything resembling food to get her going. She still runs to her house when I get close to the front of her cage. I'm still working on gaining her trust. It's a slower process with her than it was with the boys, but we're making some progress.

[janlovingcavies]

Really happy she is coming along and knows already you're the walking fridge. Have noticed girls are slow in the trust department. With you she'll come along in leaps and bounds.

[renonvsparky]

She still runs to her house, but not until she sees that I'm approaching her cage, as opposed to right when I enter the room. That is a bit slow progress, but it's progress nonetheless and I'll take it.

[Sef]

[renonvsparky]

linksharing.samsungcloud.com/fNs17MkqvTjC

Buttercup was pregnant. Newborn guinea pigs are so adorable.

[renonvsparky]

My phone with the imgur app got a broken screen and quit working, so I am unable to embed what limited photos I was able to get of the little ones but here are a couple of links to my Google photos which I hope will tie you over until my replacement gets here.

photos.app.goo.gl/86SJ1KsrjXANe1K46

photos.app.goo.gl/bTczTQt7bq2EctGT8