3 Month Old Weight Worry Normal?

[Laura0709]

Hi everyone,

I have an approx 3 month old sow as a new friend for my 1.5yr old adult sow. They get on great, my older one obviously being the dominant pig. My 3 month old is growing very fast, she is almost the same size as my adult and is Peruvian. However I have noticed she has quite prominent hip bones. I have been a bit naughty and haven't weighed her yet, as she is extremely nervous of being handled still. I can see she is getting bigger but she just feels a bit skinny. I will of course start a weekly weight check today.
Is this normal for young pigs whilst they grow have people found, with them bulking up later? Or is this a Peruvian thing?

She is on meadow hay, farm hay and Timothy hay all ad lib. I also give her Oxbow alfalfa hay in the run by herself as I don't want my adult pig having that (she doesn't eat a huge amount of it though unfortunately). Also on readigrass and pets at home pellets, plenty of salad veg and leafy greens too, and is in the run to access fresh grass most days.
I do watch them together and the adult sow isn't preventing her accessing food, she is a bit bossy if the young one gets in her way, but she doesn't restrict access to anything.

Just wondering if this skinny feel at this age is normal!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

I have an approx 3 month old sow as a new friend for my 1.5yr old adult sow. They get on great, my older one obviously being the dominant pig. My 3 month old is growing very fast, she is almost the same size as my adult and is Peruvian. However I have noticed she has quite prominent hip bones. I have been a bit naughty and haven't weighed her yet, as she is extremely nervous of being handled still. I can see she is getting bigger but she just feels a bit skinny. I will of course start a weekly weight check today.
Is this normal for young pigs whilst they grow have people found, with them bulking up later? Or is this a Peruvian thing?

She is on meadow hay, farm hay and Timothy hay all ad lib. I also give her Oxbow alfalfa hay in the run by herself as I don't want my adult pig having that (she doesn't eat a huge amount of it though unfortunately). Also on readigrass and pets at home pellets, plenty of salad veg and leafy greens too, and is in the run to access fresh grass most days.
I do watch them together and the adult sow isn't preventing her accessing food, she is a bit bossy if the young one gets in her way, but she doesn't restrict access to anything.

Just wondering if this skinny feel at this age is normal!

Hi! Piggies at that age will put anything into growth. Please don't overdo the diet; all you achieve is that the period of quick growth is over sooner and the big weight gain starts slowing down/stopping altogether earlier as your youngster is coming closer to their genetically determined adult size/weight. Please don't overdo the readigrass, as too much can be fattening in the long term.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet (contains tips for various ages where appropriate)
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig (here is a way of weighing skittish/wiggly piggies without having to handle them)
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...ng-ideal-weight-overweight-underweight.38805/