The
Raising and Care
of
Guinea Pigs
A Complete Guide to the Breeding
Feeding, Housing, Exhibiting
and Marketing of Cavies
by
A. C. SMITH
Published by
A. C. SMITH
712 West 74th Street
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Copyright
1915
by A. C. SMITH
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Introduction | Page 5 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Varieties | Page 6 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Uses of Guinea Pigs | Page 9 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Food and Feeding | Page 12 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Housing | Page 14 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Breeding | Page 20 |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Exhibiting | Page 23 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Selling and Shipping | Page 26 |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Diseases | Page 28 |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| Profits in Cavy Raising | Page 31 |
Guinea Pigs or CaviesGUINEA PIGS
CHAPTER I[5]
INTRODUCTION.
The Guinea Pig or Cavy belongs to the rabbit familyand is a native of South America. Why they arecalled Guinea Pigs, no one seems to know, unlesstheir shape suggests a small pig and the name Guineais a corruption of Guiana, a country in SouthAmerica. In size, shape and texture of fur they resemblea squirrel or rabbit. They have large bodies,short legs, small feet, no tails and a wide range ofcolors. A full grown Cavy weighs between two andthree pounds, which weight it attains at about 18months of age. The males are usually larger thanthe females.
When white people first visited the Andean regionof South America they found the Cavy domesticatedand living in the houses of the Indians, by whomthey were used for food. They were introducedinto Europe in the 16th Century and since that timehave spread all over the world. In South Americathere are still several species of wild Cavies. Theseare hunted as game and are considered a greatdelicacy.
Cavies are wholly vegetarian in diet, eating about...