Big Babies!!

[illinidairychic]

Okay so on 1/31/06 Vixen gave birth to 3 very large male hoglets. Sadly one died at birth. Well now it's 12 days later and they weigh 70 grams. This is larger then my 5 week old hoglets!! They can't curl into complete balls and I'm very worried about them. In the pic you can see he can't tuck his face away like others their age can do. Anything I can do? They are still blind and hairless on their bellies.

[Lc51290]

Huh..they are cute but not being able to roll into a boll is just a puzzling thing. Could it be that their muscles just aren't developed enough? It is just my guess...I hope everything works out alright!

[illinidairychic]

Normally they can curl up very early on, it's their defense against danger.

[Lc51290]

Yeah Em's last litter could...you said BIG litter. Do you actually mean that these hoglets are obese so young?

[illinidairychic]

actually the thread is Big babies, which they are. I just don't know if I should try and wean them early or what?? I'm worried they are getting too big too fast.

[miami hedgehogs]

We had one breeding female that only had small litters, always just 2 babies. Those babies grew much faster than normal. Typically at 3 weeks old they were nearly as large & heavy as 5 week old babies from larger litter sizes of 5-6 babies. Babies from small litters typically are born at a heavier birth weight and grow faster. As their diet is exclusively their mother milk then I do not think they can grow too quickly or get obese before weaning. It is just a natural advantage that babies from small litters-sizes have. More access to mom's milk with less competition. Hope your babies weaned well and are thriving.

Miami Hedgehogs

[illinidairychic]

They are both doing great :) still cubb butts but very cute, they have been weaned and are eating and drinking quite well on their own :)