Handling of Baby Piggies /mum

[lea_peake]

Hi, my name is Lea and I'm new to the forum.
My beautiful black agouti, Tiggy (short for Mrs Tiggywinkle because her markings remind me of a hedgehog), gave birth to 4 lively mini-pigs on Saturday (and they are all gorgeous of course). :smitten:
I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to when I should start handling the babies and how long for. Same goes for mum, she is a very loving piggy and use to spend a couple of hours on my knee every day (grooming me usually). I don't want to be dragging her away from her babies for too long, but i also don't want her to think that she doesn't get loves anymore!
I've handled mum and babies already for cage-cleaning and health-checking and mum and babies have instantly started wheeking for each other.
Any advice welcome!

 

[Pumpkinpiggie]

HI welcome to the forum
You can handle mum and babies pretty much straight away after the birth give them all a cuddle mum will not mind and Mum might like a few cuddles too I bet she misses them Have you cleaned the cage/hutch out since the birth? if not transfer mum and babies into a box give it a good clean then give them all a quick cuddle then put them into a nice clean home

 

[lea_peake]

Yeah they've been cleaned out twice and have been upgaded to an indoor rabbit cage, she was in a ferplast cavy cage which was great cos the whole front lifted up but mum and little ones really needed more space - it was worth upgrading the cage, i've been rewarded with hours of entertainment watching babies popcorn and chase each other! ;D
I will get them all out today for cuddles - Thank you!

 

[sokel]

I handle babies once they are dry and then a couple of times every day.How old are the babies now?

 

[lea_peake]

They are 3 days old. We have started handling the babies individually for about 5 minutes and they are taking to it OK.
Handling mum is more of a problem, she is OK for two minutes then starts wheeking for her babies and trying to get away - not like her at all, one of the most docile, lap friendly guineas I've ever had. If I try and keep her out she just gets more and more agitated.