We are in Texas where the weather is lovely this time of year. I am not concerned about heat or stroke. I just offered the ice thinking maybe they would like to lick it to get some water; maybe they don't know how to drink out of a water bottle yet? However, they didn't.
They are not orphans, rather the mom was a rescue and pregnant when she arrived. She only had 2 babies, and because they were large and growing, we were told they were ready; in addition, because they were boys, they needed to be away from mom at 3 weeks. Is this not accurate? Should we return the babies to their mom for a few more days? They will be 3 weeks old tomorrow.
All of this info is very helpful! Thank you so much!
Piggies learn how to drink from a bottle by watching and imitating their elders from around weaning age. A bowl with water would be a better option than an ice cube that can cause major injuries if the tongue is getting stuck to the ice (and yes, it has happened to a forum member piggy!)
Boars start making babies from around 3 weeks of age so that is the normal separation age; so unfortunately that window has closed.
But what you could consider discussing with the rescue if they let you foster a suitable single (ideally adult and not teenage) boar to use as guardian and teacher for your baby boys during the formative 'school weeks', which is the time babies learn to master the environment by shadowing an elder piggy. They reach teenage around 4 months when strong hormone spikes signal the decent of the testicles.
The importance of the school weeks period is grossly underestimated and widely unknown because piggies are traditionally sold as babies. You only notice how much happens when you see babies growing up in a group or with an 'uncle boar' - and how much the babies rely on the company and guidance from an older piggy.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sexing-separating-baby-boars-and-rehoming-babies.109391/
Unfortunately most boar trios with baby boars fail during the teenage months, so I would strongly recommend that you work out a return option for one of the boars that ends up as outsider during that time - it can turn out to be the adult or one of the babies.
But that would be a workable option for the rescue and for you to give your boys the socialisation and guidance that they need but also allowing you to just keep one boar pair for the long term.
Here are some video link to when I let my adult ex-single Dylan meet two three weeks old brothers (which were incidentally born at mine when I emergency holiday boarded a highly pet shop pregnant sow for a local person) so he could choose with boy he was happier with. the other boy went to a local rescue and was chosen by a newly bereaved adult boar as his new friend there. As long as you give the babies space, they can't get harmed (they are far too agile for an adult), not to mention that many more gentle boars make wonderful nursery nurses. I hope that the videos give you a bit of an idea how the integration works.
Dylan and now 1 year old Llelo have both been neutered and live each with their own wife now.
PS: Could you please add your state to location in your account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar). This will make it appear with every post you make and allows us to tailor any advice to what is available and relevant for you, from climate to differing medical and other brand names, vet access etc. We have members and enquiries from all over the world but our default and our most active hours are UK based.
Just make sure that their cage is big enough and they have two of everything.