Time to split them up

[Estele]

I posted a few weeks ago that Jonesy had had 5 babies, of which three have survived. Matilda, Nancy and Briony. It came to my attention that Briony is in fact a Brian, who has swiftly been removed. Brian lives with Harold at the moment. Harold is a friendly soul who happily welcomes any piggy.

Wanda, my dinnerplate piggy was indeed pregnant and gave birth to a single ENORMOUS baby. Way to go Harold, I dont even know when he got her! I suspect children putting them in the run together when I'm not looking - they like the noise and shimmying of a fruity boar (Brian did this, which is what alerted me to my failure to correctly sex him). Luckily Harold can no longer father anymore. Brian is soon to be moving to friends as I dont want to neuter another boar.

Jonesy's girls are almost 6 weeks and theyre all happy and popcorning away. Wanda's baby (Smiffy) is 1 week old and half the size of Matilda and Nancy.

Wanda is a very good mummy but a grumpy girl. How long should I leave it to try her and Smiffy with Jonesy and her girls. In an ideal world all of them would spend their time together, we have made an enormous hutch and run. I would like to see Harold and his harem all together. Smiffy will be staying if female, if not will hopefully bond with Brian and live with him and another couple of boars at my friends.

How old should Smiffy be when I move them? I am concerned that Wanda will become very annoyed at being moved and desert her baby.

 

[Suzygpr]

Hi there

You can wait until Smiffy is 3 weeks old then weaning should be the natural break (especially is Smiffy is male), but it may be worth trying the families together out in the sunshine and see how it goes when they have plenty of grass to distract them.

Baby piggies should be 6 weeks before rehoming to ensure they are thriving after weaning and no health problems are evident.

Did you check the sex of Brian by looking at his genitalia rather than just behaviour? When girls come into season they can behave like males - including rumblestrutting and mounting.

HTH

Suzy

 

[Estele]

Hi there

You can wait until Smiffy is 3 weeks old then weaning should be the natural break (especially is Smiffy is male), but it may be worth trying the families together out in the sunshine and see how it goes when they have plenty of grass to distract them.

Baby piggies should be 6 weeks before rehoming to ensure they are thriving after weaning and no health problems are evident.

Did you check the sex of Brian by looking at his genitalia rather than just behaviour? When girls come into season they can behave like males - including rumblestrutting and mounting.

HTH

Suzy

Thank you for your swift reply.

I will give them all a day out in the run when Smiffy hits 3 weeks.

Brian is definitely a male, I'm not too good at sexing, but now that he is older it has become more apparent.

Rumblestrutting! I never knew it was called that, another new word to my vocabulary, although not as cute as popcorning!