I'm so much more relaxed about the guineas these days. Before I was taking notes on just about everything, birth weights growth weight gain, sizes at meaning and, for some sows, tracking their 'seasons'. All to make sure they were growing well and doing okay. But lately i've just sort of left them to it. At first I was annoyed that university was pulling me away from the cages too much but sitting down today with some weanlings I realise that the stud is thriving. Perhaps I was over-managing them... and the more i tried to manage them the more trouble i seemed to be having.
For the simple lifestyle they lead and their (what I had thought was a) pretty substandard diet it seems to have hit the nail on the head. Only two babies this year were under 90g at birth (and they were in a litter of 5). I weaned some abby X babies today- technically a little early- but they are almost 300g ea. I'm going to brag for a moment that a satin sow had her first litter yesterday at 16 months old. She wasn't supposed to be pregnant (A satin sow has to be pretty damn nice before I'd risk her) but the babies are big bold and healthy. Clearly I am doing something right.
Somehow it's taken the pressure off. for the horrible time I was having before I am bouncing along now thrilled to be where I want to be... having some financial issues sorted has helped with all this too. It's funny but despite the numbers they aren't costing me as much as you would have expected. The budget diet I 've had them on seems to be a better diet in general for them. They aren't fat by any means and only a few are in show condition but i've always preferred the "fit" look. It's nice to just sit back and enjoy the hobby for what it is
below: A few days aold and they are already calm, and a little floppy, to handle
For the simple lifestyle they lead and their (what I had thought was a) pretty substandard diet it seems to have hit the nail on the head. Only two babies this year were under 90g at birth (and they were in a litter of 5). I weaned some abby X babies today- technically a little early- but they are almost 300g ea. I'm going to brag for a moment that a satin sow had her first litter yesterday at 16 months old. She wasn't supposed to be pregnant (A satin sow has to be pretty damn nice before I'd risk her) but the babies are big bold and healthy. Clearly I am doing something right.
Somehow it's taken the pressure off. for the horrible time I was having before I am bouncing along now thrilled to be where I want to be... having some financial issues sorted has helped with all this too. It's funny but despite the numbers they aren't costing me as much as you would have expected. The budget diet I 've had them on seems to be a better diet in general for them. They aren't fat by any means and only a few are in show condition but i've always preferred the "fit" look. It's nice to just sit back and enjoy the hobby for what it is
below: A few days aold and they are already calm, and a little floppy, to handle