Separating Baby Boys?

[Sodapops]

Hi there,
On 25th May, my sow gave birth to 1 boy and 1 girl, when they were both 1 week old i noticed (and heard) the boy rublestrutting around his sister.

Ive kept a close eye on them all, but today i noticed him trying to mount his sister (he was exactly 1 week old tuesday just gone). At birth the boy weighed 106g while the girl weighed 116g. 4 days old the boy weighed 116g while the girl weighed 135g. I weighed them again yesterday at 10 days old and the little boy weighed 165g while the little girl weighed 185g.

Ive seen both babies happily eating dried food, eating hay from the hay rack and eating veg. I can't say ive noticed them drink from the water bottle.

What age should i remove the little boy from mum and sister - i got caught once and don't want any accidents. I realize 10 day old is very young to be taken from mum - but what's the ideal age/weight that i should be aiming for before separating.

Ive made the decision not to neuter my boar - but to pair him with his son (when his son is old enough) and keep my sow and her daughter together. I may eventually get the two boys neutered and pair them with the ladies - but if intro's go well - i may not go ahead with neutering.

Any advice on the separation age would be greatly appreciated

 

[Wiebke]

Your little boy is an early starter, isn't he? However, his sister won't be ready yet! The earliest documented brother-sister pregnancy is 24 days, according to guinealynx.

I would not separate the boy until you are sure that he is eating and drinking adult food for himself.

Mum will come into season from 15-17 days after giving birth again. I would certainly not separate before that! His weight is normal, and he doesn't sound well in advance for his age.

I hope that daddy will accept him!

 

[nutmeg]

I just use the 21 days as a guide, then see how the boys are. 18 - 26 days is about normal depending on size, humpyness, independence etc. Sounds like you have an early starter there. xx

 

[CiaraPatricia]

My guinea pig had one boy so someone recommended that I leave him with her for 4 weeks, instead of the usual 3, because he was the only boy, and would have to be on his own. But if you have the dad, then he can go in with him for company, so three weeks should be ok if he's eating away and healthy and gaining weight.

 

[nutmeg]

I know what you mean, it seems mean to separate at 3 weeks if it's a little boar on his own, but would still have to do that if he was a big lad and starting humping. Boys eh? Ha x

 

[chilwell]

One of my sows had 3 boys and I separated them from mum at 14 days because two of them were getting rather frisky!

They separated well with no problems.

 

[Sodapops]

Hi again,
Thanks for all the replies.

Over the last 4 days ive been keeping a very close on on our little boy and after a weigh in today he now weighs 218g (he's exactly 14days old now). The last 24hrs i've witnessed him now trying to mount his mum - so the question is - should i remove him now?

He can go in with dad - but i'm not sure whether he's too young yet.

He does eat veg, hay and fresh grass - ive also seen him eating the dried food (all my piggies are on the nuggets). Ive not seen him drink from the water bottle yet - however i rarely see any of my piggies use the water bottle.

I'll post a pic later - after my first fiasco with the pet-shop mis-sexing my sow - i want to make sure i'll be putting a boy in with father - don't want any more mistakes :o (his bits definitely look different to his sister - and his sister has the definite Y shape)