Separating cavy-babies from mom

[ParanoidEv]

I currently have 7 piggies. 2 that I've got from the start (about 6 months old now) and 5 babies from one of the two piggies. The babies are now about 3,5 weeks. That means they should be able to do fine without their mom. Because I haven't got one large cage I separated the pigs. The 2 smallest piggies with the mom, and the 3 bigger babies with the other 6 month old pig. But they are still in the same room, the small ones are quiet right now but they can really put up that 'Where is my mommy!?'-wheek. Should they be just fine like this, or would it be better to put all piggies together? (The babies are leaving next week so it's only for another 5 days).

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Definately separate all baby boars from mom and don't let them back in with her. The baby sows are fine to stay with mom.

 

[Katie]

Agreed, any boars should have been removed by 3 weeks, if they weren't, theres a chance that the mom or baby sows are already pregnant.

 

[ParanoidEv]

Thanks all, I separated the little boars, put them in another room for the night, and they have never been so quiet.

 

[Krysanthemum]

My understanding was that five weeks for seperation is acceptable, even necessary for the development of the piggie.

And while mum can get pregnant from her boar babies, baby sows are not sexually mature until at least two months, so they cannot get pregnant at this stage.

 

[ParanoidEv]

Mom and babies seem to be doing ok, so I'll keep it like this. After all, they all they are already used to live without her now.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Sows can get pregnant at 4 weeks. Please do not repeat that incorrect info. Besides, risking the momma sow getting backbred is reason enough to separate.

My understanding was that five weeks for seperation is acceptable, even necessary for the development of the piggie.

And while mum can get pregnant from her boar babies, baby sows are not sexually mature until at least two months, so they cannot get pregnant at this stage.

 

[Katie]

They are perfectly capable of getting pregnant at 3-4 weeks of age. Boars are sexually mature at 3 weeks, sows usually 3-4 weeks. However, it's not healthy for them to get pregnant at this age, which is why they really don't become "sexually mature" until they are 3-4 months.

 

[ParanoidEv]

That is how my mommy-pig got pregnant, she was in a cage with males about 5 weeks old (this was before the shelter got her). Anyway, things are seeming to be going okay, except that my little piggies have trouble with finding the water bottle.. I already attatched two of them to the cage but there isn't that much water less in it everytime I check! That is really strange, because I had seen one pig drinking ou t of it before I moved them from their mom.

Anyway, I can't tell the difference with pigs that are with mom anymore because ALL 5 ARE BOARS!! Good thing I moved them away from mom..

 

[citronsoul]

Oh wow! All five! Which ones are you going to keep then? I remember you posting about the two sows not getting along so well & wanting to possibly pair then up with one of the bubs.

 

[ParanoidEv]

None of the babies. Maybe I will swap one pig for an older (because mine are in piggy-puberty) female or older neutered male but I am not sure yet.

 

[ParanoidEv]

God, I now found out the difference between babies ready to mate and babies that are not. Babies that are go berzerk when they even get to see a female! In this case, their mom. And no, their behinds tell me they wouldn't go for the milk.