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Advice Needed!

  • Thread starter Thread starter rebecca79
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rebecca79

Iv just had a lady bring me 1 mum pig with 5 very small babies maybe 2 or 3 days old. She said she had found them on a field in a box.
i am concerned that they have mites/fleas but dont know what product, if any, is safe to use on such young babies?
also i am worried they aren't getting all the nutrients they need from mum, with there being 5.
has anyone got any advice.
thanks in advance.
 
Same as above shame on the people who thought it was ok to leave them in a field though, hopefully someone will be on soon with some advice good luck and i hope they are all ok. xx
 
I am not experienced either, but when my one of Gunieas had a unexpected litter i had to hand rear one of them and help out with the other two. I used what was like a pepet to feed him, i think i used cat milk i think i may of watered it down. You would be able to find that info out on the net. Also something that i read that was important was that if the mother is not feeding she wont be stimulating bowel movement of the babies. They do this by licking the the babies bits, this stimulates them to wee and poo. If the are not pooing or weeing get a damp cotton bud this will have the same affect at stimulating them. Just be careful you dont get covered in it in i did!

Like i say i am not expert but these things worked for me and the little boy i reared appears to be the healthiest out of the litter.

Good luck with your babies, hope they all remain healthy! x
 
Basic information since I've gotta run:

The babies will be getting enough nutrients from mummy so long as mummy is fed right. Now she's with you, drown her in pellets (high in calcium alfalfa-based pellets if you can) and give her and the babies alfalfa hay mixed with your normal hay. This will help the babies to grow big and strong as alfalfa is high in calcium. Also, drown the piggies and mummy in lots and lots of hay to help support mummy. You'll also notice, depending on the babies age, that they will also eat whatever mummy has.

Weigh the babies each day - that's how you can tell if mum is feeding them enough or not. If they are gaining weight, you don't need to intervene and mum is doing great without you. You can, however, handle them daily anyway to get them use to people and make then friendlier.

Is there any way you can tell how old the babies are? Remember that the boys should be separated from mum and the sows at 3 weeks when they sexually mature, sows (girls) can stay with mummy after this period.

I don't know of any products that are safe to be used on pregnant sows or babies that will get rid of mites or lice. I've heard conflicted reports; some people will dose the mum and not the babies and others say that the danger is too great and to wait until either it's a confirmed - and bad - case or until everyone is old enough.

Here's a good source of information of babies:
http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html

Note: pictures or it didn't happen!! rolleyes
 
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