Babies of different sizes & weight/weighing advice please

[MrsB]

Hi, one of my babies is 5 weeks tommorrow and the other one will be 5 weeks 3 days later. One is bigger it is noticable but not hugely. Their pregnant mothers were dumped so their nutrition until my sister took them on is unknown but for that final bit of their pregnancy they received excellent fresh food, fruit, veg. hay etc.

I am feeding them ad lib excellent quality hay and natures harvest with fruity guinea I think it was (I will be weaning them onto pellets very soon) along with veg and some small amounts of fruit. They are out in a well insulated hutch with a heat pad (snuggle pad is it called?!) during the day and in the garage over night in a similar set up. I am planning to bring them in next week into the conserveratory once all the set up arrives. I am happy with things as they are atm and they certainly are warm and cosy when I put them to bed and when I get them out first thing. I read Alfa alfa to be good for growing guineas but can't find any apart from silly tiny little 'treats'!

I realise I should be weighing them reading on here but I'm not sure what they should weigh at their age - I believe they are regular smooth coated guinea's - am I just looking for any gain right now?

thanks x

 

[ema3080]

hi dont know if this helps but ive got three babies that are 2 days old and they weigh 110grams each, and are nibbling pellets ect and are very active if i was you i would weigh them its the best way of knowing how they are doing, hope they are ok

 

[Suzygpr]

Hi there

5 week old babies would normally weigh around 350g-450g depending how many were in the litter (bigger litters tend to have smaller babies) but as long as they are gaining weight and are fit and active then there is little to worry over if they are on the small side. Weighing them should show a steady weight gain over time, if you feel they need building up you can add a little hot water to their pellets to soften them and the babies seem to really enjoy them and get tucked in.

HTH

Suzy x

 

[MrsB]

that does help guys thanks v. much x

 

[MrsB]

Hi there

5 week old babies would normally weigh around 350g-450g depending how many were in the litter (bigger litters tend to have smaller babies) but as long as they are gaining weight and are fit and active then there is little to worry over if they are on the small side. Weighing them should show a steady weight gain over time, if you feel they need building up you can add a little hot water to their pellets to soften them and the babies seem to really enjoy them and get tucked in.

HTH

Suzy x

Hi Suzy, weighed the boys thursday eve. for the first time so 5 1/2 weeks ish (one is 2/3 days younger) and was shocked. One is visably bigger yet one was 355g and the other 356g how could that be so? lol! So a tad on the small size :{ they are active, alert eat and poop for England expecially the latter and I am not worried.

Their history-they are not littler brothers hence a few days between them. Their mother were 2 out of 4 gp's found dumped in the woods by a dod walker...the dog found them. One was dead (don't know if this one was male of female) one wasn't preg. and obviously 2 were. They were all taken on and housed together and looked after very well in their conserveratory by my sister. But they were only with her in their final weeks of preg. so who knows about their nutritional staus prior to that? They were said to be very young mums by vet and a rescue lady and I can vouch for the fact that this seemed right as they were all indeed small. Maybe that's why they only had 2 boys each?

Anyway what should I do weigh them weekly and just keep an eye? They are currently on a dry mix, Gerty or something (hubby bought it) mixed with Woodlands food and forage and their sunxhine mix I think it is which is cruched corn and carrot slices as well as frech fruit and veggies and of course lots of unlimited hay. Could I give them anything extra or should I be doing something differently? Just to add they have just come inside to our conserveratory thursday on fleece snuggle pad etc but were housed outside in the day with fleece and snuggle pad stuffed in box of straw etc etc and in garage at night prior to this and I really am adamant they were not cold in their old set up so don't think this is a factor in lower average weight. Finally sorry for long winded post, thanks for reading to the end!

 

[Connie]

Hey there! thanks for the update.

to start with, while the food your feeding them is absolutly fine for now (dont panic) It would be better long term to get them onto pellets, (excell, science selective, wagg do these) This stops sellective feeding as all the pellets are the same size and shape and made of the same stuff. (its best to change over gradually, mixing a little of the pellets into there normal food, a little more each time, untill its all pellets)

If they were first time mums, litters are often smaller (as in less pups) and if they wernt well fed babies may be small. As long as they are putting on weight (yes weighing them weekly would be ideal, maybe start a piggy diary writting down their weights, when you clip their nails, trips to the vets and treatment etc) then there is nothing to worry about.

It may be that they were burning some calories keeping warm, which they now wont be indoors, so they may grow a little faster now yes.

Hope that answered all your questions, and you seem to be doing a great job.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I don't think they are bad weights at all! Daisy was from a litter of 4, her weight at 6 weeks was 316g rolleyes She was about 8 1/2 weeks when she weighed the same as yours. She is a Rex & they are supposed to be a large breed I think, but she now weighs around 640g & looks huge at 16 weeks! She certainly is a "solid" piggy

 

[MrsB]

Thanks guys, didn't get to write earlier but we will be going onto pellets once the end of the other food is near anyway, but will still mix in a bit of something different from time to time for more variety for them