Ok so I left the babies with the mama too long

[ckcs]

Due to lack of cage space (should be rectified tomorrow), I have a litter of 3 baby lionheads that are still with their mamas. They will be 2 months old tomorrow. I haven't offered them for sale yet as I haven't weaned them. Since they are 2 months do you think they'd be ok to go to a new home without weaning them for 2 weeks? I plan to start moving them out of the cage tomorrow.

 

[Sinnfox]

By now the mother has probably already at least begun weaning them on her own. most times once the little ones can get out of the box mom is a buffet whenever they please till she gets tired of it and refuses. If you don't see them nursing anymore then they are probably already weaned if they are still nursing though, you have a very tolerant doe but I wouldn't think they would have any issues unless they are still treating mom as the main food source.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I think they are good to go. They've been eating for weeks now, so no worries there.

Just make sure the new owners know not to handle them excessively, and suggest that they limit pellets and offer hay and oats as the primary diet for the first few days.<br /><br />__________ Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:52 pm __________<br /><br />Oh! Make sure to send them home with a few days worth of the feed they are accustomed to, so the new owners can transition to the new diet gradually.

 

[ladysown]

they'll be just fine. Send them with a ration for their current feed and they should adjust quickly.

 

[ckcs]

Thanks for the responses. I feel more comfortable about offering them for sale now. Now I'm off to Home Depot to get the rest of the material I need to build another 3 tier rack for the breeders.

 

[OnTheBrightside]

I have never heard of two months being too long. That is the minimum time I keep my babies. :shock:

 

[phillinley]

I have never heard of two months being too long. That is the minimum time I keep my babies. :shock:

Same here.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have never heard of two months being too long. That is the minimum time I keep my babies. :shock:

Same here.

Most people wean from the mother between 4 and 6 weeks, but don't place babies into new homes until 8 weeks or older. The concern is that they have not had time to adjust to being without their mother before being rehomed.

 

[phillinley]

Most people wean from the mother between 4 and 6 weeks, but don't place babies into new homes until 8 weeks or older.

Maybe on here, but 4 weeks is not the norm for the vast majority of breeders I've met.

 

[trinityoaks]

Wow, when I read the title, I thought one or more of the little bucklings had been mounting Mama or their sisters. Nah, two months is just fine!

 

[Secuono]

I wean around 5-6wks, by then mom has either laid flat and refuses the kits or she's strung out and pissy that they are still around. As soon as the kits are gone, they start sleeping flat on their sides all relaxed and happy. Though, I've left some litters to 7-9wks before, mom didn't care, kits were fully weaned by mom and living their own solid food eating lives with her and not bothering her. Would of rather they were moved sooner, but didn't have the cage space.
You can always wean all the litters in together for a week or so. I like to have them weaned at least a week, no matter how long they stayed with mom, just to be 100% sure they don't end up with an issue later on.

 

[Jack]

Shoot, and here I though you had pregnant does....

 

[stone soup farm]

Like ChickiesnBunnies, I also wean between 5 and 6 weeks. I like to have 1 week weaned before selling, for time to adjust and make sure they are doing well. Haven't had any problems with weaning, that is just what I like to do.