Weaning question

[flips]

Couldn't decide which section to put this in so will try here.

Bounce had 2 babies the day before yesterday. Their sexes haven't been established yet but I read on the forum that a male pup needed to be separated from mum at 3 weeks. However, my Peter Gurney book says baby guineas aren't fully weaned until 6 weeks. If it turns out either of the babies is a boy what do we do?

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Boys come away at 3 weeks, sooner if they are rumbling!

Girls can stay with mum for longer, but they will be feeding off her very little by then anyway.

You will see them start to eat solid foods at a few days old, and use a water bottle at 2 - 3 weeks - if there are any boars, keep an eye to make sure they can use a bottle, then when you have to take them away they should be fine.

Sophie
x

 

[flips]

Boys come away at 3 weeks, sooner if they are rumbling!

Girls can stay with mum for longer, but they will be feeding off her very little by then anyway.

You will see them start to eat solid foods at a few days old, and use a water bottle at 2 - 3 weeks - if there are any boars, keep an eye to make sure they can use a bottle, then when you have to take them away they should be fine.

Sophie
x

Thanks Sophie. Just to pick your brains further though regarding water bottles. When we got our pigs the shop had a bowl of water in the cages as well as a bottle so we did the same when we got them home to make sure they had something they could drink from. I never see them drink from the bottle and the water level doesn't dip. I want to get rid of the bowl as it takes up room and gets dirty quickly as they kick up bedding, etc. Should I just go for it and take the bowl out (they're 14 weeks old now) or take it out for short periods to see if they'll use the bottle instead? They know the bottle's there and sniff at it occasionally, especially when I put it back when I refill it everyday.
Any advice gratefully received,
Cheers, Sharon. x

 

[Wiebke]

By three weeks, babies are fully able to survive completely on adult firm food. From about three weeks onwards, mummy is actively discouraging the pups from suckling and they have to hunt her down for a drink.

Baby boys can start fathering babies from three weeks onwards and baby girls can get pregnant from four weeks onward. Most don't, but accidents DO sadly happen only too often! We see far too much of that in our pregnancy section.

For sexing pups: girls have alway got a little "y" thing under the nub and boys have a straight slit under their button like an "i". If in doubt, see a vet.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm
http://www.guinealynx.info/sexing_pups.html

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Thanks Sophie. Just to pick your brains further though regarding water bottles. When we got our pigs the shop had a bowl of water in the cages as well as a bottle so we did the same when we got them home to make sure they had something they could drink from. I never see them drink from the bottle and the water level doesn't dip. I want to get rid of the bowl as it takes up room and gets dirty quickly as they kick up bedding, etc. Should I just go for it and take the bowl out (they're 14 weeks old now) or take it out for short periods to see if they'll use the bottle instead? They know the bottle's there and sniff at it occasionally, especially when I put it back when I refill it everyday.
Any advice gratefully received,
Cheers, Sharon. x

Hmmm, that's a tricky one - most pigs learn to drink from a bottle, but if they're using the bowl they probably don't see the need. I would remove the bowl when you've got some time to sit and watch them, and see if they use the bottle if there is no alternative. Sometimes pigs learn from other pigs - the adults need to be using a bottle really, then the babies will - or so I've found

Sophie
x

 

[flips]

Hmmm, that's a tricky one - most pigs learn to drink from a bottle, but if they're using the bowl they probably don't see the need. I would remove the bowl when you've got some time to sit and watch them, and see if they use the bottle if there is no alternative. Sometimes pigs learn from other pigs - the adults need to be using a bottle really, then the babies will - or so I've found

Sophie
x

Thanks. This is what I had in mind but it's nice to have some reassurance.

 

[flips]

By three weeks, babies are fully able to survive completely on adult firm food. From about three weeks onwards, mummy is actively discouraging the pups from suckling and they have to hunt her down for a drink.

Baby boys can start fathering babies from three weeks onwards and baby girls can get pregnant from four weeks onward. Most don't, but accidents DO sadly happen only too often! We see far too much of that in our pregnancy section.

For sexing pups: girls have alway got a little "y" thing under the nub and boys have a straight slit under their button like an "i". If in doubt, see a vet.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm
http://www.guinealynx.info/sexing_pups.html

Thanks for this.
I completely understand about the need to separate as Bounce was one of 4 pet shop girls. They were apparently 6 weeks when we got them so she must have been caught at 4 weeks old. We've since used the guinealynx site and re-checked they're all girls. None of the others have shown signs of pregnancy but we've got a couple more weeks to be absolutley sure. Fingers crossed it was just poor little Bounce. Will only ever get rescue pigs in the future.
We'll definitely double-check with the vet if there's any doubt. Am reassured now about the weaning issues.
Thanks again, Sharon. x