Cavy Project
- Eligible Members: Ages 9-19
- Clubs offering Cavy: Rushing Rivers, Chilliwack Rabbit
Cavy is an alternate term for guinea pigs. In this project members will learn how to feed, house, train and show their animal, as well as learning the parts of a cavy. Units are divided into breed-type categories and breeding projects.
4-H Cavy Units
Unit 1- Short Coated Cavy
This project is designed for members who wish to gain more experience into the practical aspects of raising cavies. The objectives are to have members learn about the responsibility involved in caring for animals, develop patience through working with 4-h cavies, and increase their understanding of the qualities desirable in breeding stock. Cavies in these units should be exhibited at achievement day. Records for this project should cover a period of 4 months.
Unit 2- Long Coated Cavy
This project is more challenging than Unit 1 because of the intensive grooming required by long coated cavies. Unit 2 is designed for members who wish to challenge themselves to gain more experience into the practical aspects of raising cavies. Members taking on this project need to be prepared to spend time daily grooming their cavy. The objectives are to have members learn about the responsibility involved in caring for animals, develop patience through working with 4-h cavies, and increase their understanding of the qualities desirable in breeding stock.
Cavies in these units should be exhibited at achievement day. Records for this project should cover a period of 4 months.
Unit 3- Sow With Litter
This unit is for members wishing to learn about cavy breeeding and reproduction. The objectives are to learn about sire selsction, breeding, nutrition of the pregnant sow, parturition, care of newborn pups, lactation and weaning. Sows enrolled in this unit should be exhibited at achievement day with all their pups. Complete feeding records for this project must cover a period of at least 4 months. The record book should also reflect member involvment events from sire selection through to kindling.
Unit 4- Cavy Behavior Project (Senior Management)
This project is for senior members interested in challenging themselves to higher level learning on the subject of cavy behavior for a 10-12 month period. The object of this project is for members to do research and/or carry out a project related to cavy behavior: natural, situational, or learned behavior or a combination of the three. This unit is considered a senior management project and requires approval and must be evaluated by Youth and Community Development Staff. Depending on the nature of the project, it may be exhibited or evaluated at the members home. Detailed record keeping is expected to be an integral part of this project.
Unit 5- Cavy Senior Management
This project is for senior members interested in challenging themselves to learn about any new aspect of the cavy industry. Objectives are for members to do research and/or carry out a project of their choosing for 10-12 months. This unit is considered a Senior Management Project and requires approval and must be evaluated by Youth and Community Development Staff. Depending on the nature of the project, it may be exhibited or evaluated at the members home. Detailed record keeping is expected to be an integral part of this project.
Possible Senior management Projects include:
- Designing and building a caviary
- Participating in an open show circuit with purebred cavies
- Examining the effect of genetics on coat color
- Comparisons of crosssbred and purebred cavies
- A study of breeds and their characteristics
- Parasites, diseases, and other health problems
- Any other topic of interest related to cavies
- Clubs offering Cavy: Rushing Rivers, Chilliwack Rabbit
Cavy is an alternate term for guinea pigs. In this project members will learn how to feed, house, train and show their animal, as well as learning the parts of a cavy. Units are divided into breed-type categories and breeding projects.
4-H Cavy Units
Unit 1- Short Coated Cavy
This project is designed for members who wish to gain more experience into the practical aspects of raising cavies. The objectives are to have members learn about the responsibility involved in caring for animals, develop patience through working with 4-h cavies, and increase their understanding of the qualities desirable in breeding stock. Cavies in these units should be exhibited at achievement day. Records for this project should cover a period of 4 months.
Unit 2- Long Coated Cavy
This project is more challenging than Unit 1 because of the intensive grooming required by long coated cavies. Unit 2 is designed for members who wish to challenge themselves to gain more experience into the practical aspects of raising cavies. Members taking on this project need to be prepared to spend time daily grooming their cavy. The objectives are to have members learn about the responsibility involved in caring for animals, develop patience through working with 4-h cavies, and increase their understanding of the qualities desirable in breeding stock.
Cavies in these units should be exhibited at achievement day. Records for this project should cover a period of 4 months.
Unit 3- Sow With Litter
This unit is for members wishing to learn about cavy breeeding and reproduction. The objectives are to learn about sire selsction, breeding, nutrition of the pregnant sow, parturition, care of newborn pups, lactation and weaning. Sows enrolled in this unit should be exhibited at achievement day with all their pups. Complete feeding records for this project must cover a period of at least 4 months. The record book should also reflect member involvment events from sire selection through to kindling.
Unit 4- Cavy Behavior Project (Senior Management)
This project is for senior members interested in challenging themselves to higher level learning on the subject of cavy behavior for a 10-12 month period. The object of this project is for members to do research and/or carry out a project related to cavy behavior: natural, situational, or learned behavior or a combination of the three. This unit is considered a senior management project and requires approval and must be evaluated by Youth and Community Development Staff. Depending on the nature of the project, it may be exhibited or evaluated at the members home. Detailed record keeping is expected to be an integral part of this project.
Unit 5- Cavy Senior Management
This project is for senior members interested in challenging themselves to learn about any new aspect of the cavy industry. Objectives are for members to do research and/or carry out a project of their choosing for 10-12 months. This unit is considered a Senior Management Project and requires approval and must be evaluated by Youth and Community Development Staff. Depending on the nature of the project, it may be exhibited or evaluated at the members home. Detailed record keeping is expected to be an integral part of this project.
Possible Senior management Projects include:
- Designing and building a caviary
- Participating in an open show circuit with purebred cavies
- Examining the effect of genetics on coat color
- Comparisons of crosssbred and purebred cavies
- A study of breeds and their characteristics
- Parasites, diseases, and other health problems
- Any other topic of interest related to cavies