Question about behaviour

[Cherpi]

A little backstory will help here so here we go: okay so my friend got two white guinea pigs a few months ago and everything was great, she has always loved piggies and has had them in the past. She loved looking after them so she got another two, two black boars... Or so she thought! One turned out to be a sow! Typical isn't it... Anyway the sow got pregnant and two weeks ago today gave birth to four beautiful babies but one died two boars and a sow survived.

Right lets get to now. Her family booked a holiday and she has gone, she put the two white sows and black boar in a piggy hotel and because I will be having the two boars she thought I should look after the mum and babies, so I have them here! Right is it normal for the babies to be so attached to their mum, I know this might sound stupid but it's to the point that if they wander away from her they'll start squeaking like they miss her until they find her again, this is the same when I pick them up. Is it also normal for the mum to just stand on the babies and sometimes walk away when she's feeding, it's almost like she doesn't care about them sometimes. They're two weeks old how much should they weigh? One boy is quite small and I'm scared he's underweight and I don't wanna take him away from his mum after the three weeks if he's not ready but ill have to wont I? Can I keep the two boys with the mum until they are 25 or 26 days as that's when my friend is back from holiday and the mum and girl will be going back to hers or should I separate them? It's just I only have the one hutch and not sure what I could do? I could buy a cage from gumtree or preloved or something if I have to.

Also is this the right way to pick the babies and mum up? Babies: put two hands at either side and scoop up. Mum: hand under belly (just under arms) and then scoop from behind under her bum? It's just I have never owned pigs before and don't want to do this wrong. I've done loads of research but any help or suggestions about the babies would be amazing

 

[Dindypig]

"Right is it normal for the babies to be so attached to their mum, I know this might sound stupid but it's to the point that if they wander away from her they'll start squeaking like they miss her until they find her again, this is the same when I pick them up. Is it also normal for the mum to just stand on the babies and sometimes walk away when she's feeding, it's almost like she doesn't care about them sometimes."
That's an easy one, yes to both.
"Also is this the right way to pick the babies and mum up? Babies: put two hands at either side and scoop up. Mum: hand under belly (just under arms) and then scoop from behind under her bum?"
Ditto on that too.
As for the rest of your query, someone else with more knowledge than me should answer you soon.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Mums wean their babies at around 3 weeks old and start discouraging them before that. It is normal for any baby separated from its mum to call for her. You will find that guinea pigs are at their loudest and most vocal in the first weeks and months of their life when they are at their most vulnerable and could ultimately endanger the whole group.

Please be aware that you will need to separate any boar pups at 3 weeks old/250g or 8 1/2 oz of weight (which is about the normal weight they should have around that time); you can leave any boars below that weight with mum as their won't be any damage. However, don't just separate one boar; he will be very unhappy! What you can do is to give the small boar 2-3 times a day one-on-one time with mummy instead so he can get the full advantage of her milk for as long as there is any.

Offer the boys mushed up good quality pellets and don't feed them muesli. Make sure that all piggies have unlimited timothy or orchard hay (should make up to 80% of their daily food intake); you add a handful of protein and calcium rich alfalfa hay during the first few weeks for as long as they grow quickly. Please don't feed shop treats that contain seed, honey or sugar or dairy products like yoghurt. make sure that their cupful of daily mixed veg per piggy contains one high vitamin C veg like a slice of pepper of any colour, some broccoli (any part) or some fresh herb like cilantro/coriander, parsley, dill, mint or basil. Please vary. if you want to give extra vitamin C, please don't add it to the water or syringe young pups - if doen wrongly, it can kill them.
You can find out more about a good diet on here: http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

Make sure that the little boys have a cosy and/or a safe cuddle toy that smells of mummy to snuggle into at first.
How much is your problem boy weighing now? it is important to weigh your piggies once weekly throughout their lives. Weight loss is often the first sign of illness.

I assume that dad is currently living separately from the sows? If your friend is thinking about having him neutered?

I guess that you are from the US? Could you please add your state to your details; it makes it much easier for us to give the appropriate advice and links to members from all over the world. You can do so in private messages (on the green bar at the top)/my settings/edit profile/location. Thanks!

 

[Cherpi]

Hi! Mums wean their babies at around 3 weeks old and start discouraging them before that. It is normal for any baby separated from its mum to call for her. You will find that guinea pigs are at their loudest and most vocal in the first weeks and months of their life when they are at their most vulnerable and could ultimately endanger the whole group.

Please be aware that you will need to separate any boar pups at 3 weeks old/250g or 8 1/2 oz of weight (which is about the normal weight they should have around that time); you can leave any boars below that weight with mum as their won't be any damage. However, don't just separate one boar; he will be very unhappy! What you can do is to give the small boar 2-3 times a day one-on-one time with mummy instead so he can get the full advantage of her milk for as long as there is any.

Offer the boys mushed up good quality pellets and don't feed them muesli. Make sure that all piggies have unlimited timothy or orchard hay (should make up to 80% of their daily food intake); you add a handful of protein and calcium rich alfalfa hay during the first few weeks for as long as they grow quickly. Please don't feed shop treats that contain seed, honey or sugar or dairy products like yoghurt. make sure that their cupful of daily mixed veg per piggy contains one high vitamin C veg like a slice of pepper of any colour, some broccoli (any part) or some fresh herb like cilantro/coriander, parsley, dill, mint or basil. Please vary. if you want to give extra vitamin C, please don't add it to the water or syringe young pups - if doen wrongly, it can kill them.
You can find out more about a good diet on here: http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

Make sure that the little boys have a cosy and/or a safe cuddle toy that smells of mummy to snuggle into at first.
How much is your problem boy weighing now? it is important to weigh your piggies once weekly throughout their lives. Weight loss is often the first sign of illness.

I assume that dad is currently living separately from the sows? If your friend is thinking about having him neutered?

I guess that you are from the US? Could you please add your state to your details; it makes it much easier for us to give the appropriate advice and links to members from all over the world. You can do so in private messages (on the green bar at the top)/my settings/edit profile/location. Thanks!

Thanks for the reply, yes the dad is living separate and I think she will be neutering him. My scales are a bit rubbish but between 75g-90g and I think the other boy is 100g and the girl is 125g.