Are The Average Weight For Sows Accurate?

PiggieHerd

PiggieHerd

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I'm curious if the average weight for sows is accurate? Because my girls fall above average in that department.

I only give 1/8 cup of pellets per guinea pig, unlimited hay, one treat a day (usually a baby carrot) and fresh veggies in the morning and evening.

Aristotle 907 g
Snowball 1047 g
Skittles 1171g
Lady 1422g
Pumpkin 1106 g
Coconut 1352 g
ButterCup 1311 g
Willow6 1104 g
Pride 1328 g
Patches 718 g (8 months old)
Aspen 880 g (8 months old)
Oakley 887 g (8 months old)
 
Lady is the same weight as Tia, she's a Aby cross so I think it's her hair makes her heavy
These are approximate weights try not to worry if yours goes over.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
Lady is the same weight as Tia, she's a Aby cross so I think it's her hair makes her heavy
These are approximate weights try not to worry if yours goes over.
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Just me being overly concerned about their weight. I checked all of them 2 days ago for any physical lumps/masses just in case if it were tumor related. No bald spots or crusty nipples. Lady being the heaviest already had her ovaries taken out earlier in the year.
 
They all look fine to me! I’ve had two sows around the 1500g mark and my current three are all under 950g with one a tiny 850g!
 
here the best vets are concentrated not only in weight, but in body mass and the amount of fat. But it is difficult to explain here... you should not see a too round abdomen... there are pictures on the web, maybe you can find them...
fat produces estrogens... in a sow this can be dangerous... how much is 1/8 cup pellets? the limit is 10-20grams... and vegs, too, should be limited because of the sugars. Anyway, search online the ideal shape of a piggie's body, there are several images. If your piggie has short hair it is easy to check this shape...
 
rome_italy said:
here the best vets are concentrated not only in weight, but in body mass and the amount of fat. But it is difficult to explain here... you should not see a too round abdomen... there are pictures on the web, maybe you can find them...
fat produces estrogens... in a sow this can be dangerous... how much is 1/8 cup pellets? the limit is 10-20grams... and vegs, too, should be limited because of the sugars. Anyway, search online the ideal shape of a piggie's body, there are several images. If your piggie has short hair it is easy to check this shape...
Click to expand...

1/8 cup of pellets per day are guidelines in the US. In terms of vegetables, I also follow the feeding guidelines for vegetables. The treat is only 1 baby carrot because of the sugar content.

Guinea Lynx :: Diet
 
PiggieHerd said:
1/8 cup of pellets per day are guidelines in the US. In terms of vegetables, I also follow the feeding guidelines for vegetables. The treat is only 1 baby carrot because of the sugar content.

Guinea Lynx :: Diet
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I prefer a pellet free diet or a teaspoon of grainless pellets as a treat, unlimited hay and grass and only very few vegs. I see the piggies grow up normally and not fat. But the diet is also a personal choice, the important thing is following the good rules in order to avoid what has been demonstrated clearly it is bad. Guinea Lynx is my Bible... :)) I had followed its useful calculator, but the quality of wee and poo looks better if eating much grass which has also the right ratio Ca: P , is rich of vitamins and can be served illimited (it has no sugars).
Anyway the shape of a body always talks clearly... in humans too :D there are no excuses for anybody and the diet should be adjusted according with our shape and hormonal balance.
Of course we cannot compare two different piggies and two different breeds, but if you like to know, just out of curiosity, I have two peruvian sows 10months old and they weigh 840g and 920g :)
 
I think it varies so much from pig to pig and breed to breed. With my girls I have three who sit around the 1000-1100 gram mark and then there's little Bella who's around 850/870. They all have the same diet and yet Bella is a tiddler!

As long as they move around okay and aren't having excess food then I'd imagine they're good! Do you use grain free pellets? :)
 
Until I got little Holly I’d never had a piggy that weighed so little. Holly tips the scales on a good day at 850g and has been as low as about 700g when she was very poorly earlier in the year. She’s a tiny piggy with a tiny head. Poppy, on the other hand, is a fatty at around 1280g and a waddle. Mabel is around 1150g and looks slightly under weight.
Previous piggies have varied from around the 1,000 mark to Mrs Fudge (aka fat face) who weighed in at not far short of 1500g.
 
rome_italy said:
I have found it
View attachment 72238
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If you go by that chart my Chocolate Agoutis are obese for sure!
Thought they were when I rescued them a few months back but theyd never been out of a cage! Thought theyd excercise it off once they came to live with me as mine all have access to outdoor runs and floortime BUT they are just not active at all! Photo of Tansy somewhere on the Forum but cant upload one as Ipad not working and I'm back to the old laptop!
 
Janice C said:
If you go by that chart my Chocolate Agoutis are obese for sure!
Thought they were when I rescued them a few months back but theyd never been out of a cage! Thought theyd excercise it off once they came to live with me as mine all have access to outdoor runs and floortime BUT they are just not active at all! Photo of Tansy somewhere on the Forum but cant upload one as Ipad not working and I'm back to the old laptop!
Click to expand...
they are lazy pets, they are preys... and, just like humans and other pets, if they are a bit fat, they don't move around and become easily tired. Also my sows, despite their shape and good muscles, prefer being lazy (like me, sob!). I put some pellets around the kitchen, then I stay far from the kitchen when they have floor time... usually it works and they run and walk around.
I have noticed that when I arrange the balcony for them, using tunnels and hideys, they don't move that much; maybe the balcony is not their favourite ambient, they don't feel save there. Maybe also your piggies feel scared during the floor time: try to leave them alone.;)
Of course if they are lazy we cannot do miracles!:roll:
But a diet of a lazy piggie or a lazy owner like me cannot be the same of an active piggie/owner... we need to eat LESS. Less carbs, I mean (and pellets are probably rich of carbs never declared in the label). Also for saving our joints.:)
 
rome_italy said:
they are lazy pets, they are preys... and, just like humans and other pets, if they are a bit fat, they don't move around and become easily tired. Also my sows, despite their shape and good muscles, prefer being lazy (like me, sob!). I put some pellets around the kitchen, then I stay far from the kitchen when they have floor time... usually it works and they run and walk around.
I have noticed that when I arrange the balcony for them, using tunnels and hideys, they don't move that much; maybe the balcony is not their favourite ambient, they don't feel save there. Maybe also your piggies feel scared during the floor time: try to leave them alone.;)
Of course if they are lazy we cannot do miracles!:roll:
But a diet of a lazy piggie or a lazy owner like me cannot be the same of an active piggie/owner... we need to eat LESS. Less carbs, I mean (and pellets are probably rich of carbs never declared in the label). Also for saving our joints.:)
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Do agree! The choc girls are Very laid back and not in the least worried about me being close to them so I think they are just lazy by nature! Absolutely adorable though - they look at me as if they’ve been on the planet before - very wise looking little piggies
 
Janice C said:
Do agree! The choc girls are Very laid back and not in the least worried about me being close to them so I think they are just lazy by nature! Absolutely adorable though - they look at me as if they’ve been on the planet before - very wise looking little piggies
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yes! adorable!:luv: and maybe their "lazyness" is due to their weird shape... very thin legs and a chubby body, maybe it is not easy for them to move around :))
share some new pictures of your beauties! :love:
 
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rome_italy said:
yes! adorable!:luv: and maybe their "lazyness" is due to their weird shape... very thin legs and a chubby body, maybe it is not easy for them to move around :))
share some new pictures of your beauties! :love:
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IPad working again so can find Tansy and Bluebell again! Posting one that includes darling recently gone Willow.x
 
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